Inadequate legal frameworks and weak enforcement of existing laws and regulations regarding land ownership, forest and other natural resources have resulted to conflicts over the past four decades. There have been various incidents of disputes over farmland, ownership and access to natural resources, as well as protests that denounce the destruction and degradation of the environment by new private-sector ventures.

Since the coming into office of the new administration in 2017, the problem has escalated. Tensions and instability related to new and existing unresolved disputes have increased. The problem is further worsened by citizens’ misinterpretation of “democratic rights” and the increasing demand for productive resources triggered by high population growth and the impacts of climate change.

Due to rapid growing tensions among rural communities in CRR North and South NBR and URR.The World Food Programme(WFP) with support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund was able to Partner with the Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS)and The Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Natural Resources(MECCNAR) to promote peaceful conflict consultative meetings among the communities due to land disputes.

The purpose of the project is to mitigate climate-induced conflict promote gender participation among communities and improve their livelihood skills .During the nationwide consultations various government stakeholders were involved, the team comprises members from govt stakeholders which includes The Red Cross, Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, Community Development and NARI.

The team held peacebuilding consultative meetings among communities of Sambang Fula and Mandinka CRR, Makkah Farafenni Bassick NBR. Most of the communities pledge to resolved land conflict among themselves.Urged govt to continue supporting them with capacity building trainings, job skills for the youths.The program will provide communities with seedlings to grow more trees to enhanced the natural resource sector.