Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow on Tuesday presided over the official launch of the Climate-Resilient Banjul: Enhancing Urban Resilience in the Greater Banjul Area (CLIMB) Project at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
The program brought together Cabinet Ministers, representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), members of the diplomatic corps, heads of UN agencies and international organisations, as well as local government officials.
Valued at over $12 million and funded by the Global Environment Facility through UNEP, the CLIMB Project is the first large-scale urban climate resilience initiative of its kind to be implemented in Africa. The project aims to strengthen governance and urban planning, safeguard wetlands and mangroves through ecosystem-based adaptation, and empower communities with knowledge and early warning systems to withstand climate shocks.
Speaking at the launch, Vice President Jallow underscored the government’s commitment to building a climate-resilient future for The Gambia. He noted that the CLIMB Project will not only protect vulnerable ecosystems but also enhance the capacity of urban communities to adapt to the growing threats posed by climate change.
The initiative is expected to serve as a model for other African nations, demonstrating how integrated urban planning and community-driven adaptation can mitigate the impacts of climate change while promoting sustainable development.
The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Hon. Rohey John Manjang, has hailed the launch of the CLIMB project as a landmark step in the nation’s fight against climate change.
Hon. Manjang underscored the urgency of addressing climate risks in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA). She noted that rapid urbanization, pressure on wetlands and mangroves, and rising temperatures are already straining ecosystems and livelihoods.
“Temperatures in The Gambia have increased by approximately one degree Celsius since the 1960s. Rainfall patterns are increasingly erratic, contributing to severe flooding. Coastal erosion continues to threaten our coastlines, with recession rates reaching up to two meters per year in some areas,” she said.
The Minister reaffirmed that the CLIMB project aligns with The Gambia’s long-term climate strategy and commitment to sustainable development. It also strengthens environmental governance, coastal protection, urban planning, and energy-based solutions.
NEA Executive Director, Dr. Dawda Badjie highlighted the urgency of addressing flooding, erosion, and environmental degradation in the Greater Banjul Area, worsened by rapid urbanization and rising sea levels. “This project is about building urban climate resilience through ecosystem-based adaptation and sustainable urban planning,” he said.
The project, which began in 2021, is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with partners such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It represents the first of its kind in Africa under GEF’s support, positioning The Gambia as a model for climate adaptation on the continent.
Badjie emphasised the importance of national ownership, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity building. “Projects come and go, but we must sustain them over time. If everyone plays their part, this initiative will succeed,” he noted.
He also underscored the role of GEF in supporting biodiversity, land restoration, climate adaptation, and waste management in The Gambia for over three decades. By leveraging GEF resources alongside other funding mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, the project seeks to maximize impact through synergy rather than fragmented efforts.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in The Gambia, Mr. Karl Paul Fredric, has emphasised the urgent need for climate resilience in the country, noting that The Gambia is among the nations most exposed to climate risks due to its geography, economy, and settlement patterns.
“We have seen how devastating floods can be here and in other parts of the world. Coastal erosion continues to threaten communities, infrastructure, health, and economic activities,” he said, stressing that vulnerable groups such as women, youth, children, and marginalized households bear the greatest burden of climate impacts.
Building Resilience Beyond Disaster Response
Mr. Fredric underscored that resilience is not built by responding to disasters alone, but through planning, investment, policymaking, and empowering communities to become active agents of change. The CLIMB project adopts a whole-of-society approach, bringing together government institutions, local authorities, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen climate resilience across the Greater Banjul Area
