AfDB-the Gambia - Country Strategy Update and Portfolio Review

31 May 2017
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)

An African Development Bank (AfDB) mission visited Banjul from 8-12 May 2017 to hold talks with the Government and other stakeholders on updating the Second Joint Assistance Strategy (JAS-II 2012-2016). Key among activities undertaken during the mission, was the Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR), which was found satisfactory.

Led by the Bank Group's Deputy Director General for West Africa, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, the mission met with Gambia's President Adama Barrow, as well as government officials and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Banking and microfinance institutions, Civil Society Organizations and key development partners present in the country.

The mission examined the progress with the implementation of the partnership strategy (JAS-II) to identify results, key challenges, and lessons learnt as well as their contributions to the country´s development. The mission also delved into the challenges facing the country at this critical period, and engaged in a dialogue with authorities and civil society organizations as well as the private sector to see how it can best support The Gambian people to rebuild the economy and contribute to the process of development.

Concerning the assessment of the quality and performance of the Bank's on-going portfolio, the mission took stock of the progress made in the Country Portfolio Improvement Plan (CPIP) and identified specific actions required to improve the performance of the portfolio. A Portfolio Review was jointly organized by the Government and the Bank on May 10th, 2017.

Two loan and grant agreements were signed during the mission between the Government of The Gambia and the Bank Group: The Gambia Inclusive Growth Promotion Institutional Support Project (IGPISP) of UA 3.665 million (USD 5 million) and The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project-supplementary grant (RWSSP) of UA 400,000 (USD 548,408). The IGPISP project will concentrate on strengthening capacities in the area of private sector development, while the RWSSP will finance the gap identified in the original RWSSSP grants to erect 3 multi-village water supply networks.

Since the beginning of its operations in The Gambia in 1974, the Bank approved 74 operations with a cumulative amount of UA 300 million (USD 411 million). To-date, the Bank's active portfolio in the country comprises 11 operations of approximately UA 125.6 million (USD 172 million). The portfolio includes the Trans-Gambia Bridge project valued at UA 63.55 million (USD 91 million); and one private sector operation amounted to USD 8.2 million.

The mission also comprised Adalbert Nshimyumuremyi, Acting Country Manager, Senegal Office, and a team of Bank experts.

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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