The Gambia government through the support of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has launched a six-year project worth $25 million to respond to climate threats.

The project titled climate resilient fishery initiative for livelihood improvement will help benefit 167,643 vulnerable Gambians in the fisheries sector. 

Speaking during the launch of the project, Mustapha Ceesay, assistant FAO rep said the project is designed to help strengthen the Gambia’s response to climate threats.

According to him, it also offers a holistic, three-fold response to enhance adaptation and reduce the climate-related risks facing the country’s fisheries sector. 

Highlighting the project’s actions to fulfill Agenda 2030 and the Gambia’s National Development Priorities, Ceesay said the project seeks to reduce the high exposure and vulnerability of current artisanal fisheries infrastructure and equipment to address climate change fish losses in the value chain. 

“Supporting the development of aquaculture production to compensate for climate-induced decreases in captured fisheries; and restoring degraded mangrove forests, which are important breeding grounds and nurseries for many fisheries.

“Uncertainty of climate change hazards will not spare food systems and the natural resources sector dependent economies, however,  the Gambia is committed to safeguarding the socio-economic importance of livelihoods that depend on the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

“Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry Sectors  are vulnerable to climate change, we need innovative measures for  climate proofing.

“Each of these sectors have women participants in their value chain operations and hence the project did not lose sight of the gender dimension as a critical area worthy of redress,” he added.