Banjul, 27th November 2025: As part of ongoing efforts to enhance refugee protection and self-reliance, the Gambia Food and Nutrition Association (GAFNA), in collaboration with the Gambia Commission for Refugees (GCR) and the UNHCR Senegal Multi-Country Office, convened a high-level roundtable on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. The Honourable Minister of Interior, Mr. Abdoulie Sanyang, chaired the meeting.
The roundtable focused on disseminating findings from a recent Socio-Economic and Livelihoods Assessment of Refugees in The Gambia, which offers a detailed overview of the situation of refugees in selected rural districts of Foni in the West Coast Region and the Greater Banjul Area.
The engagement aimed to foster dialogue, share evidence-based insights, and strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote refugee self-reliance and integration into national development plans and programs.
In his keynote address, Minister Sanyang commended GAFNA and its partners for their dedication to advancing refugee protection, inclusion, and self-reliance. He stated, “This meeting is an opportunity for honest dialogue, evidence sharing, and joint planning. We aim to build a shared understanding of refugee livelihoods in The Gambia, agree on key priorities, and develop a roadmap for coordinated action and sustainable impact.”
The Minister concluded with a call to action: “Let us build a Gambia and an Africa where no one is left behind, and where every person, regardless of status, has the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in peace.” In his closing remarks, he reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to the principles of the Global Compact on Refugees and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
By: Antionette Mendy
