By Lamin B. Darboe, Communication Officer, MoPS
The Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery (DSPD) under the Ministry of Public Service (MoPS) held the annual end-of-year review of the UNICEF-Gambia Government Country Programme 2024–2028 on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Bakadaji Hotel in Kotu.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Momodou K. Dibba, said the meeting provided an opportunity to assess progress in 2025, reflect on lessons learned, consolidate achievements, and set priorities for 2026 and beyond.
DCS Dibba emphasized that the Gambia Government and the United Nations system, including specialized agencies, will continue to collaborate under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), anchored in the National Development Plan ‘Yiriwa’ (RF-NDP 2024–2028). He added that the framework remains central to UN agencies’ strategies and their commitment to delivering results for children and communities.
“Throughout 2025, the government prioritized health, education, nutrition, and child protection as vital areas for socio-economic development,” DCS Dibba said. He noted that the review aimed to provide updates on programme implementation, highlight achievements, and strengthen collaboration to ensure the 2024–2028 programme delivers its intended outcomes.
UNICEF Resident Representative in The Gambia, Nafisa Binte Shafique, noted that as UNICEF marks 60 years of partnership in the country, it remains committed to the rights and well-being of every child. She emphasized the need for a strategic, multisectoral approach that strengthens coordination from national to community levels, leverages partnerships, and promotes equity and inclusion.
Ms. Shafique highlighted key 2025 achievements, including support for the Children’s National Assembly, the National Adolescent Girls’ Summit, the first Public-Private Partnership Dialogue for children and adolescents, and the formation of an Inter-Religious Committee to advance child rights. She also referenced The Gambia’s receipt of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding Observations in February 2025, following its 2024 State Party Report submission.
The UNICEF representative commended the Gambia Government, through DSPD, for its strong coordination and oversight of the Country Programme, adding: “Let us build a future where every child in The Gambia survives, thrives, and reaches their full potential.”
