By Fatou B. Cham
The Department of Planning under the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with ECOWAS on Thursday 18th May concluded a three-day workshop on in-depth analysis of the Monitoring and Evaluation Systems (NAIPFNS).
The workshop is to strengthen the country’s existing M&E systems for a more robust agriculture sector monitoring and evaluation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at Baobab Holiday Resort Hotel, in Keur Sereign, Ms. Fatmata Seiwoh, ECOWAS CAADP M&E Specialist, on behalf of the Director of ECOWAS Agriculture Commission, explained that the ECOWAS Directorate of Agriculture hired a consulting firm to help determine the status of design implementation of each of the fifteen countries’ agricultural investment plans. From the study, she said it was discovered that there are many lapses, but that there was need for further analysis.
Participants at the Kerr Serigne forum discussed and interacted with the six stakeholder groups which include the farmers, financial partners, CSOs, private sector, farmer organisations, and research institutions.
Mr. Samba Barrow, Director of Economic Statistics, GBOS, noted the need to strengthen the country’s M&E system, especially in the agricultural sector.
Mr. Francis Mendy, is the Director of the Department of Planning, who doubles as the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) focal point. Representing the Permanent Secretary at the forum unveiled that it is an in-depth analysis of the M&E system for all the members of the ECOWAS member countries.
“The Gambia being part of the ECOWAS is the reason it is felt necessary for all the stakeholders of The Gambia who are involved in the CAADP processes to be informed of what is required of them to be able to provide adequate data which is also going to add value in terms of our performance as far as the CAADP process is concerned,’’ he said.
The Director of Planning stressed that the M&E has faced some challenges, especially for the Department of Planning, citing lack of adequate resources to be able to implement some of the monitoring and evaluation activities for the whole sector. He called on development partners to support the Department in setting up a robust M&E system to support data generation and management for agriculture and natural resources.
This, he pointed out, will also assist in informing policies with a view to improving resilience in agriculture, nutrition, and food security in the country and Africa.
