Gambia and Senegal have officially launched the first Cross-Border Project Steering Committee. The Committee dubbed ‘Supporting cross-border cooperation for increased community resilience and social cohesion in The Gambia and Senegal’ launch ceremony was presided over by Salimatta E.T. Touray, the secretary general and head of the Civil Service of The Gambia at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre.
The project is a UN Peacebuilding Fund which is jointly implemented by International Organisation for Migration (IOM), The Gambia and Senegal and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), The Gambia and Senegal.
Objectives
The project’s main objective is to address the causes of instability and conflict in border communities of The Gambia and Senegal, which include weak border management practices fueling mistrust between border authorities and communities; rising transnational organised crimes, such as smuggling of migrants, arms, timber and drugs as well as trafficking in persons; and illegal exploitation of natural resources leading to environmental degradation.
“The Gambia and Senegal enjoy a long-standing relationship that is anchored on close cultural, social and family ties. This project will further strengthen the partnership and create greater social cohesion among communities along our shared borders. The project would further provide an opportunity for more catalytic cross-border cooperation and peace building initiatives for the benefit of the citizens of our countries and the wider sub-region for shared prosperity, peace, security and stability,” said Salimatta E.T. Touray.
Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator, The Gambia, added that the project would create foundations for peaceful co-existence in targeted border communities, promote dialogue and build grassroots structures that enhance social cohesion.
She added that the project would also contribute to SDGs, 1, 2, 5, 13, 16 and 17 which are geared towards ending poverty, reducing hunger, promoting gender equality, advancing climate action, building peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, and strengthening partnerships for development.
