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The Gambia is one of the countries where UNDP is working on sustainable development through Millennium Development Goals.

The Gambia is unfortunately famous now days because of Ebola, latest news reports the Gambia government has made a move to protect her citizens and visitors to the country. In what looked like a precautionary measure, the Gambia has banned the ferrying of air passengers into the country from areas in West Africa affected by the Ebola virus. 

 This week I want to share with you info about this Country of West Africa.

The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in West Africa, surrounded by the Republic of Senegal in all sides except the Atlantic Coast. The country stretches approximately 400 km eastwards, and its width varies between 80km at the Atlantic and about 28km in the inland east. The country is divided horizontally by the River Gambia and the total land area is 11,295 square km, 50 percent of which is arable land.

The climate has Sudano-Sahelian characteristics of short rainy seasons with rainfall varying from 900 mm to 500 mm and between 14degrees C to 40 degrees C. The population is approximately 1.7 million alongside a fairly high rate of growth at 2.8% per year over the last decade of which a youthful population (aged 0 -34) form the bulk of the population at almost 63%.

The Gambia’s economy is predominantly agrarian with a low per capita income of approximately US $510 in 2013.   The economy is primarily dominated by services and agriculture, which account for 59 percent and 29 percent of GDP respectively. Agriculture employs about 44 percent of the population.

Most of the population (57%) is concentrated around urban and peri-urban centers. The Gambia has maintained a reputation of relative stability and peace, although its sub-region has been marked by recurring instability and conflict.

sustainable development goals and the Gambia

 

 

The Millennium Development Goals and the UNDP work are relevant to The Gambia’s development context as they set clear targets for reducing poverty, hunger, illiteracy, disease, discrimination against women and environmental degradation as well as requisite global partnerships in support of such efforts. In effect, the objectives and pillars of the PAGE are very much correlated with the MDGs.

The Government of the Gambia, at the highest levels, has committed itself to integrating the MDGs into its planning processes. The Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE)is the main interface between the Government and The Gambia’s development partners and is fully aligned with the MDGs and is a medium term strategic plan leading to a developed and prosperous Gambia. The focus of PAGE is to accelerate pro-poor growth and generate employment.

 

 

Info: UNDP Millenium Development Goals http://bit.ly/VzbV9o
Photo: Wikipedia

Stay tuned, more info about Gambia will be shared soon

Sara