AGP Executive Report

Digital Payments for Aid: Circle Foundation announced grants to UNDP and WFP to test faster, cheaper digital payments for development and humanitarian work, including regulated payment stablecoins, aiming to move from pilots to repeatable systems. Malaria Funding Alarm: The African Leaders Malaria Alliance warned that a 30% cut in malaria financing could add 146 million cases and nearly 400,000 deaths in Africa by 2030, urging stronger domestic funding and multisector action. Climate Security in West Africa: ECOWAS parliamentarians warned that shrinking water, degraded farmland and shifting weather are worsening farmer-herder conflicts, displacement and insecurity, calling for resilience funds and better early-warning systems. Gambia-Specific Climate Risk: Tropical Storm Gonzalo is bringing a tropical storm warning for the Cabo Verde Islands and forecasts 1–3 inches of rain for parts of the region, including The Gambia, highlighting near-term weather preparedness. Local Governance & Security Clarity: ECOMIG said the rotation of Senegalese troops in The Gambia is routine and not linked to the upcoming presidential election, urging the public to rely on verified information. Health & Environment Link: The malaria financing warning also points to climate-linked risks like extreme weather and rising resistance that can undermine public health gains.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo: The Atlantic’s Tropical Storm Gonzalo has formed and is moving toward the Cabo Verde Islands, with a Tropical Storm Warning in effect; forecasters say it may pass near or over parts of the islands, bringing rain that could reach Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia and Senegal. Climate & security in West Africa: ECOWAS parliamentarians warn that shrinking water, degraded farmland and shifting weather are intensifying farmer-herder conflicts and displacement, turning climate change into a governance and security issue. Malaria funding pressure: ALMA says a 30% cut in malaria financing could mean 146 million more cases and nearly 400,000 additional deaths in Africa by 2030, as extreme weather and resistance threaten progress. ECOWAS in The Gambia: ECOMIG says the rotation of Senegalese troops is routine and not linked to the upcoming presidential election, urging the public to rely on verified information. Local governance & jobs: Analysts note The Gambia’s move to phase out non-Gambian bank staff is part of tighter compliance expectations across Africa. Health & development finance: Foreign Office funding for Afghanistan’s CHOICES program includes The Gambia, raising debate over abortion and contraception support. Tourism push: Gambia Tourism Board’s Ida Jeng Njie urges Nigerians to “come to the Gambia,” aiming to boost visitor numbers. Digital payments for aid: Circle Foundation backs UNDP and WFP to test faster, lower-cost digital payments for humanitarian and development work.

Climate & Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Gonzalo has formed in the Atlantic and is under a tropical storm warning for the Cabo Verde Islands, with forecasts of gusty winds and heavy rain that could also trigger flash flooding along parts of western Africa including The Gambia. Climate Security: ECOWAS parliamentarians warn that shrinking water, degraded farmland and shifting weather are intensifying farmer-herder conflicts, displacement and insecurity across the region. Malaria Funding: The African Leaders Malaria Alliance says a 30% cut in malaria financing could mean 146 million more cases and nearly 400,000 deaths by 2030, urging stronger domestic budgets and multisector action. Gambia Banking & Jobs: The Gambia’s central bank directive to phase out non-Gambian employees at commercial banks is highlighted as regulators tighten rules for foreign-owned institutions across Africa. Fisheries & Food Systems: A report flags foreign fishing fleets as draining West African countries of key nutrients, raising concerns for food security and marine health. UN & Development Finance: Circle Foundation backs UNDP and WFP digital payment trials to move aid faster and cut costs, while UNGA debates push for stronger climate justice and development support for least developed countries.

Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Gonzalo is strengthening in the Atlantic and has a Tropical Storm Warning for the Cabo Verde Islands, with winds around 50 mph and possible gusts, plus rain and flash-flood risk for the islands and parts of West Africa including The Gambia. Regional Climate Action: ECOWAS Parliament urged stronger climate-change action after a seminar in Accra, calling for a Regional Climate Resilience Fund and better early-warning systems, with The Gambia among countries sharing impacts. Funding & Aid Delivery: Circle Foundation announced grants with UNDP and WFP to test faster, lower-cost digital payments (including regulated stablecoins) for development and humanitarian support. Health & Resilience: African leaders called for stronger domestic malaria financing and multisector action as progress stalls amid extreme weather and funding gaps. Governance & Security: Nigeria, via UNGA speeches, renewed calls for UN Security Council reform and stronger cross-border cooperation on threats—messages that also touch climate and development stability.

Atlantic Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Gonzalo has formed in the far eastern Atlantic, with a tropical storm warning for the Cabo Verde Islands and possible heavy rain/flash flooding risks extending toward western Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania. Climate Policy for West Africa: ECOWAS Parliament is pushing urgent regional action on climate change, calling for a Regional Climate Resilience Fund, stronger early-warning systems, agroforestry, renewable energy, and better access to climate finance. Green Procurement in The Gambia: The International Trade Centre validated Green Public Procurement guidelines for The Gambia’s tourism and creative industries, aiming to steer public spending toward environmentally preferable goods and services. Fisheries & Food Security: A new report warns foreign fishing fleets are draining West Africa’s nutrient-rich seafood, worsening micronutrient deficiencies and food insecurity. UN & Climate Justice (Regional relevance): Malaysia urged greater burden-sharing for Rohingya hosting countries and backed The Gambia’s ICJ case, while UN talks also highlighted the need for finance and climate justice for least developed countries.

Climate Action in West Africa: ECOWAS Parliament urged urgent, coordinated steps to tackle climate change impacts like droughts, floods, coastal erosion and displacement, calling for a Regional Climate Resilience Fund, stronger early-warning systems, agroforestry and renewable energy. Coastal Fisheries Under Pressure: Tanji fishermen demanded tighter regulation of fishing at the landing site, warning that unauthorized trawlers damage nets, cut catches and deplete fish stocks. Fertilizer Safety Alarm: NACOFAG condemned the distribution of untested, unapproved fertilizers, warning they could harm soils, crops and food security and urging a halt until inputs are officially certified. SME Support for The Gambia: The International Trade Centre and Access Bank/Access Africa Office launched a three-year partnership to expand SME financing, market access and skills across 14 countries, starting with a Ghana pilot and including The Gambia. Heat Risk for the Sahel: A report on a “Super El Niño” warns the Sahel—including the Gambia—could face major increases in heat-related deaths in coming months. Agroecology Forum: ActionAid held Agroecology Forum 2026 in The Gambia, pushing soil-protecting farming and more equitable fertilizer access to build resilience.

Fishing & Coastal Livelihoods: Tanji fishermen are calling for urgent government regulation of fishing at the Tanji Fishing Centre, saying unauthorized trawlers are damaging nets, cutting catches, and depleting fish stocks. Farm Inputs & Soil Safety: NACOFAG warns that some political leaders are distributing untested, unapproved fertilizers, warning of risks to soil health, crop failure, and food security unless only certified inputs are used. Agroecology Forum: ActionAid held Agroecology Forum 2026, pushing agroecology and equitable fertilizer access to protect soil, conserve biodiversity, and build resilience for farmers facing climate change and rising input costs. Composting & Waste Reduction: A waste management project at Bakoteh Market is turning spoiled produce and organic market waste into compost, aiming to cut dumpsite pressure and create affordable fertilizer for farmers. SME Support (Gambia included): ITC and Access Bank announced a three-year partnership to expand SME financing, skills, and market access across 14 countries, starting with a Ghana pilot and including The Gambia. Health Research Boost: WANETAM-4 launched a five-year West Africa programme to strengthen TB, malaria, and HIV research, training, and lab capacity. Climate Risk Alert: A report on “Super El Niño” projects major heat impacts across the Sahel, including the Gambia.

Power Crisis Hits Coastal Livelihoods: Prolonged blackouts since June are disrupting fish storage at Tanji, with ice shortages driving down sales and leaving vendors unable to afford basic needs as protests grow ahead of December elections. Fishing Pressure at Tanji: Fishermen at the Tanji Fishing Centre are urging urgent government regulation to curb unauthorized trawlers that damage nets, deplete fish stocks, and squeeze artisanal incomes. Fertilizer Safety Alarm: NACOFAG warns that some political leaders are distributing untested, unapproved fertilizers, saying they could harm soils, trigger crop failures, and threaten food security and market acceptance. Agroecology Forum 2026: ActionAid held an agroecology forum calling for better soil health, equitable fertilizer access, and scaling climate-resilient farming practices. Market Waste to Compost: At Bakoteh Market, the O-Waste Project is turning organic waste into compost for farmers, cutting dumpsite pressure and lowering municipal waste costs. SME Finance for Trade (Gambia Included): ITC and Access Bank launched a 3-year plan starting in Ghana, covering The Gambia and focusing on SME finance, skills, and market access for women and youth.

Power Cuts Hit Coastal Livelihoods: In Tanji, prolonged blackouts are leaving fish vendors without ice, forcing catches to spoil and driving up costs—AFP reports some outages last 12–48 hours, with knock-on effects for businesses, hospitals, and water supply. Waste-to-Compost Push: At Bakoteh Market, the O-Waste Project is diverting organic waste into compost by separating food waste at source, cutting market waste and aiming to sell affordable fertilizer to farmers. Climate-Resilient Tourism Link: The Gambia Tourism Board is sharing climate-change mitigation approaches at a COMCEC Tourism Working Group meeting in Türkiye, focused on making OIC tourism more resilient. Sustainable Heritage + Climate Risk: ASILI’s training includes Fort Bullen in The Gambia’s Kunta Kinteh Island Region as teams build site-specific climate and disaster risk analysis for heritage places. Green Skills for Youth: Africell Impact Foundation launched a free Robotics Club in Fajara after six months of training for nine young Gambians, boosting future tech capacity.

Market Waste to Compost: At Bakoteh Market, the O-Waste Project is helping vendors separate organic waste at source and turn it into compost instead of sending it to dumpsites, cutting market waste costs and creating a potential affordable fertiliser for farmers. Power Cuts Hit Livelihoods: Prolonged blackouts since June are crushing businesses and households, with fish traders in Tanji struggling to store catches as ice becomes scarce and costly, while hospitals and water supplies are also disrupted. Sustainable Tourism & Climate: The Gambia is taking part in COMCEC’s Tourism Working Group meeting in Türkiye, focusing on climate change impacts and mitigation strategies for more resilient OIC tourism. Local Waste & Fertility Push: A wider push for agroecology and local fertiliser production is highlighted as The Gambia looks to improve soil health, reduce dependence on imported inputs, and scale community composting models. Regional Cooperation: Gambia Revenue Authority and Liberia Revenue Authority signed an MoE to strengthen digital revenue administration, including a revenue collection dashboard prototype and staff capacity building. Education in Safe Spaces: PayCargo partnered with AREAS Foundation, which supports scholarships and education facilities, including scholarships reaching students in The Gambia.

Power & Food Security: Prolonged blackouts since June are hitting The Gambia hard, especially in Tanji where fish sellers can’t store catches without ice; AFP reports rotting fish, shuttered businesses, unreliable generators for hospitals, and even water cuts—sparking anger and protests ahead of December elections. Waste & Circular Economy: At Bakoteh Market, the O-Waste Project is turning organic market waste into compost by separating food waste at source, cutting dumpsite loads and aiming to sell branded fertilizer to farmers. Climate-Resilient Tourism: The Gambia is in Ankara for COMCEC’s Tourism Working Group meeting on climate change impacts and mitigation strategies, with a focus on making tourism more resilient. Local Governance Reform: After three years of hearings, a Commission of Inquiry into Local Government Councils has submitted its report; government’s upcoming whitepaper response is expected to push for real reforms in accountability, finance, services, and citizen participation. Youth Tech Skills: Africell Impact Foundation launched a free Robotics Club in Fajara after six months of training for nine young Gambians. Regional Competition & Markets: ERCA called for fair competition and deeper market integration across West Africa, with the conference held in Bijilo.

Power & Food Security: Prolonged blackouts since June are hitting hardest in coastal Tanji, where fish sellers say empty ice boxes mean rotting catch, fewer buyers, and rising costs—AFP reports outages of 12–48 hours and even water cuts up to 24 hours. Waste & Circular Economy: At Bakoteh Market, the O-Waste Project is separating organic waste at source and turning spoiled produce into compost for farmers, cutting market waste and aiming for affordable fertilizer. Climate-Resilient Tourism: The Gambia is represented at COMCEC’s tourism working group meeting in Türkiye, focusing on climate change impacts and mitigation strategies for sustainable OIC tourism. Agroecology & Fertilizer: A National Agroecology Forum push calls for more local organic fertilizer production and community composting, with government support needed to scale training, research, extension, and financing. Regional Policy & Markets: ECOWAS competition authorities meet in Bijilo, urging fair competition and deeper market integration—key for consumer choice and investor confidence. Youth Skills: Africell Impact Foundation launches a free robotics club in Fajara after six months of training for nine young Gambians.

Waste & Composting: In The Gambia, the O-Waste Project is turning spoiled market produce and other organic waste into compost at Bakoteh Market, with vendors separating food waste at source and collectors taking it to composting sites—aiming to cut dumpsite pressure and sell affordable fertilizer to farmers. Power Cuts & Food Loss: Prolonged blackouts since June are hitting livelihoods hard, especially in Tanji’s fish landing where ice shortages mean catch spoils faster, prices rise, and businesses and hospitals struggle—sparking anger and protests ahead of December’s election. Climate-Resilient Tourism: The Gambia is represented at COMCEC’s Tourism Working Group meeting in Türkiye, focused on climate change impacts and mitigation strategies for sustainable OIC tourism. Competition Policy in ECOWAS: The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority wrapped up its annual conference in Bijilo, calling for fair competition and deeper regional market integration—an issue tied to investment confidence and consumer benefits. Gambia Lawmaking: The National Assembly advanced a Competition and Consumer Protection Bill to modernize rules on unfair business practices and strengthen consumer rights. Regional Cooperation: The Gambia’s President met the new ECOWAS Commission chief, discussing security, trade, energy, governance, and sustainable development.

Waste & Composting: In The Gambia, the O-Waste Project is helping Bakoteh Market cut waste by separating spoiled produce and other organic scraps at source and turning them into compost for farmers, with Kanifing Municipal Council saying daily collection costs have also dropped. Power Cuts & Food Safety: Prolonged blackouts since June are hitting livelihoods hard, especially in Tanji where fish sellers face empty ice boxes, rising ice prices, rotting catches, and fewer customers—while hospitals rely on unreliable generators and some areas see water cut for up to 24 hours. Climate-Resilient Tourism: The Gambia is represented at a COMCEC Tourism Working Group meeting in Türkiye focused on climate change impacts and mitigation for sustainable OIC tourism. Agroecology & Fertiliser: A push for local fertiliser production and agroecology highlights community composting as a model to improve soil health and reduce dependence on costly chemical inputs, calling for wider government support. Policy & Competition: The National Assembly advances a Competition and Consumer Protection Bill to modernise rules, curb anti-competitive practices, and strengthen consumer protections.

Power & Food Security: Prolonged blackouts since June are hitting The Gambia hard, especially in Tanji where fish vendors say empty ice boxes and soaring ice costs are spoiling catches and cutting sales, with hospitals forced onto unreliable generators and water supply disrupted for up to 24 hours. Climate-Resilient Tourism: The Gambia is in Ankara for COMCEC’s Tourism Working Group meeting focused on climate change impacts and mitigation strategies for sustainable OIC tourism. Regional Cooperation: President Adama Barrow met ECOWAS Commission President Birame Diop, discussing security, trade, energy, governance and sustainable development. Marine & Fisheries Pressure: Nigeria’s coastal crackdown on illegal fishing highlights how IUU fishing drains fish stocks across the region—relevant to Gambia’s shared Gulf of Guinea pressures. Agriculture & Soil Health: A push for agroecology and locally produced organic fertiliser is gaining momentum as The Gambia seeks more resilient food systems amid climate stress and rising input costs. Policy & Consumer Protection: The National Assembly advanced a Competition and Consumer Protection Bill to modernise rules on unfair business practices and strengthen consumer rights. Wildlife & Land Use (Context): A documentary on rewilding versus intensive farming underscores the wider debate over biodiversity loss and chemical agriculture.

Power & Livelihoods: In Tanji, prolonged blackouts since June are emptying ice boxes and spoiling fish, pushing up ice prices and cutting sales—vendors say customers stop buying when there’s no way to store catches, with knock-on effects for school fees and basic services. Public Order: Police warn that protests and public processions without authorization will face enforcement, after electricity-related gatherings in Banjul and elsewhere turned into unauthorized night movements toward sensitive sites. Climate-Resilient Tourism: The Gambia joins a COMCEC tourism meeting in Türkiye focused on climate change impacts and mitigation strategies for sustainable OIC tourism. Agriculture & Soil Health: A push for agroecology highlights local organic fertiliser and community composting as a way to cut costs, improve soil fertility, and reduce dependence on imported inputs. Regional Cooperation: ECOWAS and security/trade discussions continue as The Gambia receives the new ECOWAS Commission chief, with emphasis on diplomacy and stability. Health & Environment: A West Africa study flags high rates of unintentional pesticide poisoning, with The Gambia among the affected countries.