By: Alieu Ceesay
Experts and stakeholders from nine African countries convened in Banjul this week for a key regional meeting to strengthen food and nutrition security in the Sahel, one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change and food crises.
The three-day Regional Technical Co-ordination (RTCC) meeting, hosted by Project 2 of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2-P2RS), runs from December 17 to 19. Delegates from countries including The Gambia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad, and others are discussing persistent challenges like land degradation, rising food imports, youth unemployment, and climate shocks. The goal: identify sustainable solutions and develop a unified 2026 annual work plan aligned with regional objectives for resilience and sustainable development.
“This gathering symbolizes our shared commitment to confront one of the region’s most pressing challenges – ensuring households have secure access to nutritious food despite climate shocks and global economic pressures,” said Gambian Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally in his opening remarks.
Sabally highlighted successes under the P2-P2RS initiative, emphasizing a shift in perception of agriculture. “We see agriculture not as a sector of the past, but as a dynamic, modern, and dignified avenue for wealth creation that will entice our youth for improved lives and livelihoods,” he stated. He credited government initiatives, including free certified seeds, fertilizers, and ploughing services for smallholder farmers, with contributing to a bumper harvest in the recent farming season.
Under President Adama Barrow’s leadership, The Gambia remains committed to reducing reliance on imported food, expanding local production, and building shock-resistant systems, Sabally added. He urged participants to be innovative and forward-thinking, celebrating successes while learning from setbacks to translate recommendations into actionable country-level changes.
Abdoulie Muhammad, Executive Secretary of the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), praised the nine beneficiary countries for their collaborative efforts to enhance resilience among Sahelian populations.
The P2-P2RS is a flagship joint initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and CILSS, part of a 20-year regional strategy to bolster resilience in the Sahel and West Africa. Its first phase targeted seven highly vulnerable countries – Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Chad – delivering significant investments that reduced vulnerability in affected communities.
Building on those gains, the second phase expands efforts to strengthen climate-smart agriculture, develop value chains, and improve hydro-meteorological services. Recent AfDB approvals, including a $14.64 million grant in November 2025 for climate adaptation, underscore the ongoing commitment to scaling “climate-smart villages” and disseminating resilient seed varieties.
As climate extremes intensify, threatening millions with chronic food insecurity, this Banjul convergence underscores a proactive regional push toward long-term stability, prosperity, and the eradication of hunger. Outcomes from the meeting are expected to accelerate growth and protect vulnerable households across the Sahel.
