The NAMA for ‘Rural Electrification with Renewable Energy in The Gambia’ offers the country the opportunity to accelerate access to electricity through small-scale, off-grid, and stand-alone projects, as well as income-generating opportunities for the local population.

The NAMA is fully embedded within The Gambia's Vision 2020 and it will contribute directly to the country's NDC by providing stable solar energy throughout the day for businesses in Farafenni and Basse.

With a national electrification rate of an estimated 40 percent and with certain rural areas having an electrification rate as low as 6 percent, the guiding principle for the design of the NAMA is to increase or provide access to electricity across the country’s rural communities.

The Project Management Team of the NAMA Project together with officials from NAWEC, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Environment, and UNDP recently, embark on three days of monitoring visits to the project sites in NBR and URR and also pay courtesy calls to both Governors to update them about the current developments.

The overall target of the NAMA is to support The Gambia to achieve the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP). The NAMA is in line with the country’s prime objective for the energy sector to ensure an adequate supply of energy at affordable prices.

The outcomes of this NAMA with regards to Sustainable Development, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reductions, and Green Growth are strongly interrelated building blocks as a pathway of a change framework that shall ensure that the NAMA is fully embedded in the National Development Plan.

During the Courtesy Call to the Governor of NBR, Deputy Governor Hon Musa Kanteh said that The Government should adopt the PPP strategy by encouraging state-owned enterprises to invest in the energy sector.

He said that the NBR Region is now fully energy sufficient with electricity with the NAMA Project which will pave the way for economic growth in the region.

Isatou Jawara

Information Officer