The World Bank Group has approved $45 million in grant financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to support The Gambia in enhancing domestic revenue mobilization, developing key infrastructure, strengthening the regulatory and skills environment for private sector growth, and improving climate resilience. The funding aims to help the government implement transformational reforms to sustain growth and improve living standards amid structural weaknesses and climate vulnerabilities.
This development policy support operation is the first of its kind in The Gambia, designed to underpin reforms for inclusive and sustainable growth. The program is structured around three pillars. The first focuses on increasing government revenue by broadening the tax base and rationalizing tax expenditures. The second aims to promote private sector-led growth by addressing bottlenecks in critical sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and the business environment, while advancing human capital development with an emphasis on women and youth. The third pillar strengthens the country’s climate resilience by establishing a robust institutional and legal framework for climate action and coastal zone management.
World Bank officials emphasize that the financing will help The Gambia build fiscal space, facilitate development in key sectors, improve human capital, and enhance the business environment to increase private sector participation. The operation is expected to improve access to essential services, create employment opportunities for women and youth, and support environmental sustainability.
The project aligns with the Gambia Recovery-Focused National Development Plan 2023–2027 and supports the country’s green, resilient, and inclusive development agenda. By integrating climate adaptation and disaster risk management into territorial and sectoral planning, the program aims to strengthen institutional and legal frameworks, ensuring long-term resilience and sustainable growth.
