The Government of The Gambia and the African Development Bank Group have launched the 2026 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR), a joint exercise to accelerate the implementation of Bank-financed projects and improve development outcomes across priority sectors.
The review comes at a pivotal moment as the Bank approves a new five-year (2026-2031) Country Strategy Paper (CSP) designed to support the country's economic transformation and resilience.
Held over two days, 10-11 February, the CPPR combined a high-level strategic workshop with technical sessions. More than 100 participants attended, including Finance Minister Seedy Keita, other senior government officials, Project Implementation Units, oversight institutions, and representatives of the African Development Bank Group. The forum assessed portfolio performance, identify implementation challenges, and outlined corrective actions to be consolidated into a Country Portfolio Improvement Plan (CPIP).
Opening the session, Finance Minister Keita reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving execution of development programmes.
"The African Development Bank has been a committed partner in our development journey, supporting impactful projects and programmes in The Gambia. My Ministry remains committed to ensuring effective and efficient implementation of these projects, as this is a top government priority." he said.
The African Development Bank Group's Deputy Director General for West Africa, Joseph Ribeiro, emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in strengthening results.
"The CPPR is grounded in mutual accountability. Enhancing portfolio performance is not only about improving procedures--it is about improving the lives of citizens, building confidence among partners, and mobilizing additional resources to support The Gambia's development vision," he noted.
The exercise aligns closely with the Bank's forthcoming 2026-2031 Country Strategy Paper, approved on 11 February, by the Committee on Operations and Development Effectiveness. The strategy prioritises investments in energy, transport, and economic and financial governance to address structural constraints, strengthen macroeconomic resilience, and promote inclusive growth.
As of February 2026, the Bank Group's active portfolio in The Gambia comprised 17 operations grouped into 14 projects, including four multinational operations and one non-sovereign operation, with total commitments of UA 125 million ($ 162.5 million). Agriculture accounts for the largest share (54%), followed by social sectors (16%), transport (13%), power (12%), finance (2%), multi-sector operations (2%), and communications (1%).
During the review,participants underscored the need to strengthen project readiness, enhance monitoring and evaluation systems, and improve inter-agency coordination to reduce start-up delays and accelerate procurement and disbursement.
The African Development Bank Group reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Government of The Gambia to translate the CPPR outcomes into decisive, actionable steps that deliver tangible and lasting benefits for citizens.
