Banjul, 12 May 2026: His Excellency President Adama Barrow on Friday, 8th May, bid farewell to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative to The Gambia, Madam Ndey Rose Sarr, at the State House in Banjul, following the completion of her four-year tenure in the country.
Speaking to journalists after the farewell meeting with the President, Madam Sarr, a Senegalese national, said she paid a courtesy call on President Barrow to officially bid him farewell after serving as the UNFPA Country Representative in The Gambia for the past four years.
She thanked the President for his leadership and support, noting that the work of a country representative becomes easier when there is strong backing from the Head of State and the government.
Madam Sarr explained that during the meeting, they discussed several achievements recorded over the past four years through collaboration with the Office of the President and various ministries, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Justice. She also highlighted collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, the National Population Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Gambia Bureau of Statistics.
She noted that significant progress has been made, particularly in improving reproductive health and the wellbeing of women, girls, and young people, although challenges still remain.
“I am very confident after talking to the President that these issues will continue to remain a national development priority for The Gambia,” she said, adding that the government is making efforts to improve the lives of women and girls across the country.
Madam Sarr further stated that important successes have been achieved through strong leadership in different ministries, although more work still needs to be done. She revealed that a Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health will soon be launched as part of efforts to help The Gambia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals on reducing maternal deaths.
She also highlighted that, during her tenure, The Gambia conducted its first-ever digital housing census. Unlike previous censuses conducted using paper-based methods, the latest census process was fully digitalized in 2024.
According to her, UNFPA also supported the government in building the capacity of midwives and collaborated with the National Population Commission on demographic dividend profiling and strategy development. In addition, UNFPA worked with the Ministry of Health to supply equipment across all regions of the country to ensure safer deliveries for women.
Madam Sarr added that UNFPA also contributed to peace and security initiatives, including support for the National Action Plan on National Security, which she described as the first of its kind in the region.
She further disclosed that The Gambia will soon establish a special gender-based violence court to help women and girls access justice more quickly than through the regular court system.
Speaking on the challenges facing the country, Madam Sarr said The Gambia still has a long way to go, especially given the current economic difficulties affecting the region and the world.
She emphasized the need to continue building the skills of young people so they can remain in the country and contribute to national development. She also stressed the importance of empowering women and girls, noting that during periods of economic hardship, women and girls are often the most affected.
“We want the government to continue focusing on youth empowerment and the empowerment of women and girls,” she concluded.
By Lamin Kujabi