Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow on Friday, September 18, received a World Bank Group mission led by the Bank’s Resident Representative to The Gambia, Franklin Mutahakana, for discussions on the implementation of the SWEDD+ project and the country’s broader health agenda.

The delegation included the World Bank’s Practice Manager for Health, Nutrition and Population and was in The Gambia primarily to prepare for the mid-term review of the SWEDD+ project, which the Bank expects to finalise in October.

Speaking to OVP Media after the meeting, Mr Mutahakana said the mission was taking stock of activities being implemented under the project ahead of the review.

SWEDD+ is a regional programme covering several countries and focuses on empowering girls and women through capacity-building and other interventions designed to strengthen their participation in national development.

Mr Mutahakana said the meeting with Vice President Jallow, who serves as the national champion for population and nutrition, provided an opportunity to brief him on the mission’s plans and progress under the project.

He said the Vice President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that implementation of SWEDD+ continues and improves.

According to the World Bank representative, Vice President Jallow also welcomed the timing of the mission, describing the review process as important for assessing progress, identifying challenges and developing a clear action plan for the next phase of implementation.

Mr Mutahakana further said the Vice President highlighted President Adama Barrow’s commitment to advancing the country’s health agenda.

He said the President’s public commitment to health has helped create a conducive environment for continued engagement between the Government of The Gambia and the World Bank in the sector.

The World Bank representative also disclosed that the institution has begun early preparations for a new health-sector operation aimed at strengthening national health systems.

He said ongoing discussions with government are helping to build the institutional commitment required to prepare and implement such initiatives.

The meeting therefore provided an opportunity for both sides to take stock of ongoing cooperation while looking ahead to the next phase of support for health, nutrition, women and girls in The Gambia.

The engagement comes ahead of the planned October mid-term review of SWEDD+, which is expected to provide a clearer assessment of progress and priorities for the remainder of the project.

By Adama Makasuba