ECOWAS Vice President H.E. Mrs. Damtien L. TCHINTCHIBIDJA Leads Gambia Project Handover By Raymond Enoch
The Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, has led a high-powered delegation to formally flag off the closure of The Gambia Pilot Project under the Regional Stabilisation and Development Fund (FRSD), marking a major transition as key investments are handed over to the Government of The Gambia and beneficiary communities.
The landmark ceremony, held on March 24, 2026 at the Sir Dawda K. Jawara International Conference Centre, drew senior officials from across West Africa and international development partners, including representatives of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, led by Africa Director Christoph Rauh.
The event signaled the successful conclusion of the pilot phase of the FRSD initiative—an ECOWAS-backed programme designed to strengthen resilience in fragile communities, promote stability, and expand inclusive economic opportunities, particularly for youth and women.
In her remarks, Mrs. Tchintchibidja described the project as a “practical demonstration of ECOWAS’ commitment to peacebuilding through development,” noting that the interventions have directly impacted livelihoods while addressing root causes of instability in vulnerable communities.
“This is not just a handover of infrastructure; it is a transfer of opportunity, ownership, and hope to the people of The Gambia,” she said.
The German Government, a key funding and technical partner through BMZ, reaffirmed its support for regional stabilisation efforts, emphasizing the importance of sustained collaboration between ECOWAS and development partners in consolidating peace and economic growth across West Africa.
As part of the closure activities, the ECOWAS delegation, alongside Gambian authorities and implementing partners including GIZ and KfW Bank, undertook extensive field visits to commissioned project sites across the country.
Among the projects officially handed over were modern fish smoking facilities in Brufut aimed at boosting local fisheries value chains, a food processing centre at the Gambia Hospitality and Tourism Institute to enhance agro-processing skills, and newly constructed student accommodation blocks at the University of Applied Science Engineering and Technology annex campuses in Mansa Konko and Julangel.
The infrastructure includes an 80-bed dormitory in Mansa Konko and a 40-bed facility in Julangel, designed to improve access to technical education and support human capital development in rural areas.
Officials of the Gambian Government welcomed the handover, pledging to ensure sustainability and effective utilization of the facilities to benefit local communities and future generations.
Observers say the successful implementation and closure of the pilot phase positions the FRSD as a viable model for replication across other fragile zones within the ECOWAS region, particularly in countries grappling with socio-economic vulnerabilities and security challenges.
With the pilot phase now concluded, attention is expected to shift toward scaling up the initiative, as ECOWAS and its partners deepen efforts to link development interventions with long-term regional stability.
The ceremony underscored a broader message—regional cooperation, backed by strategic international partnerships, remains central to addressing West Africa’s evolving development and security landscape.
