Banjul, 28th March 2025: Mr Ousman Dem, Programme Manager, Social and Behavioural Change Communication, at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), in an interview during the Nafa programme roll-out at some of the pay points in West Coast and Central River Region, highlighted the significance of health and nutrition, and their commitment to enhancing nutritional value, education, dietary, diversification and hygiene in the project intervention areas.
He observed that during Ramadan, a lot of people focus on themselves only, and not care for their young ones’ health and nutrition. “We are encouraging people to diversify and eat from all the four classes of food varieties like carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oil, vitamins and minerals,” he stated.
He went on: “Mostly, in Ramadan people consume a lot of meat, and poultry products, which have protein”. He said NaNA encourages people to eat fruits and vegetables, to be able to obtain all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to boost their immune systems and help fight against diseases.
Commenting on the ongoing cash transfer programme roll-out, Mr Dem said in order to ensure sustainability of the project, they have in place a monitoring and evaluation mechanism, through among others, the Interpersonal Communication Network Structures (IPCNS), which comprise 5 women, and 3 men stationed in communities.
“These are trained personnel in all the modules and are responsible for engaging their various communities in awareness creation and sensitisations. “To ensure efficiency and effectiveness, we also do engage trainers in a regular monitoring and coaching, so that we are communicating the right messages and education,” Mr Dem added.
He informed that there is a monitoring and evaluation directorate, which is responsible for post-distribution monitoring through the Beneficiary Satisfaction Survey, which also looks into the issues of beneficiaries and their success stories.
Fatou Drammeh from the Social and Behavioural Change Communication, National Nutrition Agency, also affirmed that there are village support groups; such as CPCPs, and mothers’ clubs, that are responsible for creating awareness on the RISE modules including health and nutrition, sexual and gender-based violence, and entrepreneurship and financial literacy, early antenatal booking of pregnant women, learning on pregnancy signs, and education on sexual and gender-based violence.
Ebrima Dibba, Programme Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation, Directorate of Planning, Resource Mobilisation, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (PRRM), National Nutrition Agency, said for this 13th cash transfer, partners chose to partly focus on dietary diversification, and Water Sanitation and Hygiene, because is Ramadan – “ a critical period to educate people on healthy diets”.
Reporting on the successful implementation of the project, Fatou S.M Ceesay, Assistant Community Development Officer at Mansakonko, Department of Community Development, commented on the progress of the Nafa cash transfer. He attested that the payment process has been smooth and well-coordinated albeit some minor challenges.
The Gambia Resilience Inclusion Skills and Equity (RISE) is World Bank-supported project with about 5 components and with the objectives of uplifting living conditions of the extremely poor households, health and nutrition, dietary, diversification and hygiene, increase access to job opportunities and create businesses for women, and income generating opportunities for the poor.
By Kumba Leigh
