The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) today hosted the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) Annual Results Review & Validation Workshop at the African Princess Hotel. The event brought together government leaders, IFAD, UN partners, farmer organizations, development partners, and key stakeholders to reflect on national progress in transforming agriculture and improving rural livelihoods.
The ROOTS Project, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, supported and actively participated in the session.
The event was attended by:
IFAD Country Director, Madam Ann Turinayo
UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Karl Frédérick Paul
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Amb. Alhaji Nyangado
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Baboucarr Jobe
ROOTS Project Director, Mr. Mamour Alieu Jagne
…together with representatives from AFD, WFP, UNDP, development partners, and farmer organizations.
Highlights From the Speakers
IFAD Country Director, Madam Ann Turinayo, emphasized IFAD’s 40+ year partnership with The Gambia and commended national institutions and farmer organizations for their leadership. She celebrated milestones achieved under the COSOP: improved yields, expanded market access, youth enterprise support, strengthened cooperatives and reaffirmed IFAD’s commitment to inclusive, climate-resilient agricultural development.
UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Karl Frédérick Paul, highlighted the UN’s strong partnership with The Gambia through the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. He praised the ROOTS Project and IFAD–Government collaboration as models for climate-smart, people-centered rural transformation, stressing the UN’s ongoing commitment to food systems development, youth empowerment, and resilience building.
Permanent Secretary of Finance, Mr. Baboucarr Jobe, reflected on the country’s economic resilience despite global shocks. He reaffirmed Government’s dedication to investing in agriculture and commended IFAD’s long-standing partnership—especially the US$80 million ROOTS Project—as a key driver of productivity, rural incomes, and food security.
Permanent Secretary of Agriculture, Amb. Alhaji Nyangadou, underscored the alignment of ROOTS with national agricultural priorities and the Green Recovery–focused NDP. He applauded the COSOP achievements and urged continued coordination to scale up successful models in farmer support, climate adaptation, and institutional capacity.
ROOTS Project Director, Mr. Mamour Alieu Jagne, reflected on the ROOTS journey, its national significance, and its unique position as the first agricultural project launched personally by the President. He clarified the distinctions between the ROOTS and COSOP frameworks, shared progress made, highlighted lessons learned, and praised the dedication of farmers, youth, women, and project staff across all regions.
Key Achievements Highlighted
Over 17,000 farmers supported with improved production inputs
12,000 vegetable farmers accessing productivity-enhancing technologies
7,000 farmers trained in climate-smart and good agricultural practices
Rice and vegetable yields doubled since baseline
183 youth-led enterprises supported
60 cooperatives formalized and 12 AVIPs established
The workshop ended with a renewed commitment to strengthening food security, building climate resilience, empowering women and youth, and scaling up agricultural innovations across The Gambia.