By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Gambia Mangrove REDD+ Project are reeling from despair following the suspension of multi-million dalasi funding by Ørsted Nature Based Solutions, the project’s primary donor. The halt, linked to an ongoing investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) into the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM), has left over 132 communities fearing for their socio-economic livelihoods.
The crisis stems from the arrest and detention of DPWM Director Mohamed Lamin Kassama in February, reportedly sanctioned by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR). Although released without charges, Kassama must report to the police every six weeks, pending the NAO’s audit report on the project’s fund management.
Astrid Hsu, Lead Climate Advisor at Ørsted, stated, “Under these circumstances, Ørsted is not comfortable entering into a new annual funding agreement for 2025 planting until the audit outcome is known.” Consequently, the 2025 planting season has been suspended, threatening the project’s continuity.
The Gambia Mangrove REDD+ Project, a collaborative effort by Sahel Wetlands Concern, West African Bird Study Association (WABSA), Kombo Foni Forest Association (KOMFORA), and DPWM, has transformed communities since 2022. Beneficiaries, including Sarjo Ceesay from Keneba, Faye Mboge from Dankunku, and Assan Cham from Foni Jonyerr, told The Alkamba Times that the project has provided school supplies, bicycles, and employment opportunities, thereby reducing rural-urban migration and the perilous “backway” journey to Europe. Over 30 communities in Kombo South, Kombo East, Foni, Kiang, Jarra, and Niamina have received over D340 million, empowering women, fishermen, and transporters, while funding community projects such as mosques and gardens.
Project officials, speaking anonymously, refuted MECCNAR’s allegations of corruption and mismanagement as “false and deceitful.” They detailed Ørsted’s rigorous funding process, where payments are tied to pre-approved invoices, verified expenses, and registered receipts. “Any expense differing from the agreed amount requires Ørsted’s approval,” an official explained, emphasizing the project’s transparency. They clarified that DPWM was invited to enhance resource mobilization, not as a primary fund recipient. They expressed frustration with the NAO for sharing a draft audit report solely with MECCNAR, excluding other stakeholders.
Beneficiaries are urging swift government intervention to resolve the crisis. “The suspension is devastating our livelihoods,” said Ceesay, highlighting the project’s role in supporting education, health, and community development.
Cham added, “Many rural women rely on this income to feed their families and fund community initiatives.” The lack of progress in Kassama’s case, lingering for over four months without charges, has further fueled discontent. Stakeholders also criticized the NAO’s perceived bias and the Gambia Police Force’s delay in resolving the director’s case.
Thomas Lyse, Vice President of Ørsted Nature Based Solutions, recently visited Gambia and praised the project’s impact. “The engagement and passion of the Gambian people are evident. We have a flourishing mangrove ecosystem vital for Gambia’s future,” he said. However, the funding suspension overshadows these achievements, leaving communities in limbo.
Efforts to engage MECCNAR and broker a resolution have faltered. Project officials reported that discussions with the Minister of Environment were unproductive, with threats to shut down the project permanently.
Attempts by The Alkamba Times to reach MECCNAR’s Permanent Secretary, Ebrima Jawara, were unsuccessful. The NAO confirmed the audit is ongoing, stating that sharing draft reports with key stakeholders for feedback is standard, but it failed to explain why only MECCNAR received it.
As the Gambia Mangrove REDD+ Project hangs in the balance, stakeholders and beneficiaries implore the government to expedite the audit, resolve Kassama’s case, and restore funding to safeguard a vital initiative bolsters ecosystems and livelihoods across rural Gambia.
