The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matter, Buba Sanyang, has reminded leaders that water security in Africa depends not only on infrastructure, but also on the health of the ecosystems.
Sanyang made this remark recently in Cairo, Egypt, where leaders converged for the 8th Cairo Water Week.
PS Sanyang pointed out that water resources face pressures from climate variability, urbanization, and land degradation.
He said engineering solutions alone cannot meet these challenges. Thus The Gambia is embracing nature-based solutions as a core strategy for resilience and sustainable development.
Mr Sanyang highlighted key projects that the country is embarking on with support from the World Bank through the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA).
According to him, The Gambia is restoring the Kotu Stream in one of the most densely populated parts of the country. This intervention, the permanent Secretary said, reduces floods, improves water quality, and creates greener community spaces.
At the policy level, he said The Gambia has developed its first-ever National Land Policy and is revising the Physical Planning Act.
According to him, both reforms put nature-based solutions at the center, ensuring that land use, urban growth, and water management are harmonised with ecosystem protection and climate adaptation.
