The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), through the Climate Change Secretariat, on Thursday 04 June, 2026 concluded a two-day training workshop for members of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and national experts involved in the preparation of The Gambia’s First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) and Fourth National Communication (NC4).

The training, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, followed the official launch of the BTR1/NC4 project and brought together sector experts, government institutions, and key stakeholders involved in the country’s climate reporting process.

The workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of reporting requirements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, while enhancing national capacity for data collection, analysis, and report preparation.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Ms. Ndey Fatou Jobe, commended participants for their dedication and active engagement throughout the training.

She noted that the workshop provided an important platform for stakeholders from different sectors to harmonize efforts and strengthen collaboration towards the successful preparation of The Gambia’s First Biennial Transparency Report and Fourth National Communication.

“Over the past three days, we have undertaken an intensive and productive journey, bringing together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss, harmonize, and strengthen our efforts toward the preparation of The Gambia’s First Biennial Transparency Report and Fourth National Communication,” she stated.

Ms. Jobe expressed profound appreciation to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for its continued technical support to The Gambia’s climate transparency efforts. She particularly acknowledged the contribution of UNEP representatives, Mr. Alphonse Mutabazi and Ms. Claire, who travelled from Nairobi to facilitate the workshop.

She also thanked sector leads, coordinators, technical experts, and members of the Technical Working Groups for their hard work and commitment throughout the process, describing the level of engagement and collaboration displayed during the workshop as a reflection of strong national ownership.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum as the country moves into the report development phase, noting that The Gambia is expected to submit both reports by the end of December.

“Time is not on our side. We are already in June, and our obligation is to submit these important reports by the end of December. Achieving this target will require dedication, teamwork, and collective effort from all stakeholders,” she said.

Ms. Jobe further called for sustained collaboration among the Technical Working Groups, the project management team, and all relevant institutions, stressing that the preparation of the reports is a shared national responsibility.

“This is not a competitive process; rather, it is a complementary effort where each stakeholder plays a critical role in achieving a common national objective. Through cooperation, coordination, and information sharing, we can ensure synergy in implementing project activities and delivering all expected outputs on time,” she added.

The BTR1 and NC4 project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by UNEP. The initiative supports The Gambia in meeting its reporting obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement while strengthening national systems for climate transparency, accountability, and evidence-based climate action.

The successful completion of the reports is expected to provide updated information on greenhouse gas emissions, climate vulnerabilities, adaptation measures, mitigation actions, and support needs, thereby informing national climate policies and enhancing The Gambia’s climate resilience efforts.