The Gambia Transitional ICSP (January - December 2018)

T-ICSP approved by the ED in August 2017. Revision 01 approved by the CD in September 2018.

Despite a promising environment for improved growth, stability and partnerships, the Republic of The Gambia, with a population of 1.9 million, is faced with rising food insecurity, poverty and malnutrition. Progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 is limited, given the high level of vulnerability to food insecurity coupled with the high prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) in children under 5 and stunting rates above the national average, with a high of 24.9 percent in four districts. While more than 48.6 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line, 8 percent is food insecure. The Transitional Interim Country Strategic Plan (T-ICSP) will support The Gambia Government’s national development priorities to close the gaps in nutrition, health, education and food security.

Key documents referenced in the preparation of this T-ICSP are: the Draft Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) II (2017-2030); the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2017-2021); the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (2016); the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) survey (2016); and the UN Common Country Assessment (2015).

The T-ICSP targets the following Strategic Outcomes:

• School aged children in the most food-insecure areas have adequate access to safe and nutritious food throughout the year.
• Targeted children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in The Gambia have enhanced nutritional status throughout the year.
• National and sub-national institutions have strengthened capacity to manage food security and nutrition policies and programmes by 2030.
• Government efforts towards achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 are supported by effective (and coherent) policy frameworks.

The T-ICSP will contribute to the achievement of the Government’s National Development Plan, also referred to as Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment II (PAGE II - 2017-2020) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2017-2021). It is aligned with WFP’s Strategic Results 1, 2, 5 and 6, and the Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 17.

The T-ICSP will build on gains achieved through the current partnerships with FAO, UNICEF and other UN partners in building national capacity on social protection and resilience through policy dialogue for financial sustainability and improved design and implementation. Current activities, such as South-South cooperation initiatives through the WFP Centre of Excellence and Purchasing from Africa for Africans (PAA) on school meals and safety nets, shall be expanded for further promotion of knowledge sharing towards a gradual handover of beneficiary-focused, gender-sensitive programmes. There will be a gradual shift to a locally sourced, cash based home-grown school meals programme and stronger institutions for implementation of nutrition programmes.