Gambia
The Republic of the Gambia, on the North Atlantic Coast of West Africa, is the smallest country on the African mainland. Since 2003, the population has grown by 36 percent to almost 2 million people. Increasing urbanisation has seen a shift of 12 percent of the rural population to the urban areas. As of 2013, 57 percent of population live in urban areas where almost 35 percent of residents were estimated to be living in sub-standard conditions. The Gambia is classified as a low-income, food-deficit country; about one tenth of its population is food insecure, and almost one in three Gambians are vulnerable to food insecurity.
In common with southern Senegal, which surrounds it on three sides, the Gambia’s climate is characterized by short rainy seasons. Agriculture, under-resourced and conducted at subsistence level, is increasingly affected by climate change, with extreme weather events and rising sea levels driving down already unpredictable output.
What the World Food Programme is doing in the Gambia
Nutrition
WFP is working to reduce the prevalence of underweight and malnutrition in vulnerable communities. Targeting 144,500 people recovering from recurrent drought and floods, this involves the provision of highly nutritious foods to children under five and nursing mothers, as well as nutrition awareness activities to encourage dietary diversification and healthy feeding practices. WFP is also assisting communities affected by the 2016 heavy rainfalls and flooding through an emergency food assistance (cash based transfers) to 10, 000 people in need.School meals
WFP is helping the Government establish a home-grown school meals programme in areas where malnutrition is high and school attendance low. This is part of an integrated intervention, also involving UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). It addresses the health and nutrition needs of more than 100,000 students; promotes school gardens; and boosts smallholder production through commodity purchases.Building resilience to climate change
WFP is supporting government efforts to build communities’ capacity for climate resilience. As Chair of the UN Disaster Management Group, WFP also assists in coordinating a harmonized disaster preparedness and response
In focus
Gambia news releases and publications
Go to pagePartners and donors
Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in the Gambia is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:Find out more about the state of food security in Gambia
Visit the food security analysis pageContacts
Banjul
UN House, Koffi Annan Street, Cape Point, Banjul, Islamic Republic of the Gambia.
Phone: (+220) 4494782
Fax: (+220) 4495785