By: Aja Beyai
Turkey and The Gambia have deepened their bilateral ties in environmental protection with a specialized training initiative aimed at tackling desertification and soil erosion, key threats exacerbated by climate change in West Africa.
The five-day technical training program on “Combating Desertification and Erosion,” held from December 8 to 12, 2025, was organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in partnership with The Gambia’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources.
The program equipped participants with Turkey’s proven expertise in land management and in controlling land degradation. It featured theoretical sessions, practical field applications, and inter-institutional exchanges, covering topics such as erosion and flood control, carbon sequestration areas, and sustainable water and soil conservation techniques.
TİKA Coordinator Mr. Ali Kerim underscored the program’s role in building institutional capacity in The Gambia to better manage land degradation, plan natural resources, and build climate resilience.
Fifty Gambian environmental experts completed the training and received certificates during a closing ceremony on December 12 at the Senegambia Beach Hotel.
Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E. F. Türker Oba, praised the initiative, noting its direct contribution to addressing pressing challenges like desertification and erosion. He expressed confidence in expanding Turkey-Gambia collaboration on environmental and climate policies.
This effort aligns with TİKA’s broader Climate Action Program, designed to help partner nations mitigate climate impacts and enhance ecosystem resilience.
The collaboration reflects growing Turkey-Africa partnerships in sustainable development, with TİKA actively supporting projects across the continent to combat land degradation and promote resilience.
