XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-1067 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Biodiversity]]+ 320034.67 320034.67 320034.67 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 960104 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-3135 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNEP National Environment Agency, The Gambia CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Environmental policy and administrative management]]+ 164333.33 164333.33 164333.33 0 UNEP National Environment Agency, The Gambia 0 UNEP National Environment Agency, The Gambia 0 UNEP National Environment Agency, The Gambia 0 UNEP National Environment Agency, The Gambia 0 UNEP National Environment Agency, The Gambia 0 UNEP National Environment Agency, The Gambia 493000 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-3368 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility IFAD Global Environment Facility AfDB DOSA, NEA CEO Endorsement Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Agricultural land resources]]+ 880000.00 880000.00 880000.00 880000.00 880000.00 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 4215595 IFAD DOSA, NEA 4215595 AfDB DOSA, NEA 0 IFAD DOSA, NEA 0 AfDB DOSA, NEA 4400000 GEF 4400000 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-3922 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. CEO Endorsement Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Biosphere protection]]+ 351638.00 351638.00 351638.00 351638.00 351638.00 0 UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. 0 UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. 0 UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. 0 UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. 0 UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. 0 UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. 1464285 UNIDO Gambia Renewable Energy Center (GREC), Department of State for Energy, the National Environment Agency, the National Water and Electricity Company. 1758190 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-3961 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Biodiversity]]+ 315000.00 315000.00 315000.00 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management 0 World Bank Department of Parks and Wildlife Management 945000 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-5406 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment CEO Endorsement Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia Nowleru 13.58333 -15.93333 Yonnah Musa 13.53333 -14.68333 Wassu 13.69094 -14.87884 Tuba Wappa 13.46667 -14.23333 Suwareh Kunda 13.50694 -16.08222 Sibikuroto Forest Park 13.61667 -14.93333 Seno Bajonki 13.4 -15.51667 Saba 13.51639 -16.04917 Dibba Kunda Fula 13.55 -15.46667 Njaba Kunda 13.55 -15.91667 Memmeh 13.51972 -16.23111 Mbulgurk 13.75 -15.28333 Lohen Forest Park 13.53583 -16.37889 Lamin Koto 13.55 -14.76667 Kuraw Kemo 13.4 -14.41667 Kunting 13.53333 -14.66667 Kumadi Forest Park 13.50028 -16.20472 Kucha 13.76667 -15.01667 Mutaru unda Forest Park 13.36667 -15.81667 Chissay Majaw 13.57944 -16.16 Kerewan 13.4898 -16.08879 Karantaba Duto Koto 13.58333 -14.56667 Kantong Kunda 13.33333 -15.95 Kani Kunda Tenda 13.55 -15.38333 Jifarong 13.3 -15.86667 Jarumeh Koto 13.58333 -14.78333 Jamagen 13.53361 -16.25306 Jalabiro Forest Park 13.51667 -15.93333 Gassang Forest Park 13.7 -14.9 Fass Njaga choi 13.56361 -16.42528 Demba Wandu 13.5 -14.46667 Changally Chewdu 13.36667 -14.33333 Bassik 13.53333 -15.5 Balanghar 13.66411 -15.39936 Genji Wollof 13.71667 -15.38333 Bakadaji Mandinka 13.65 -14.83333 Aljamdu 13.4 -16.45556 +![cdata[Rural land policy and management]]+ 613269.40 613269.40 613269.40 613269.40 613269.40 465947 FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment 351945 FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment 521921 FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment 676529 FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment 692296 FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment 130493 FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment 2843046 FAO Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forestry and the Environment 3066347 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-5466 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNIDO NEA, GTTI CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Biosphere protection]]+ 165000.00 165000.00 165000.00 0 UNIDO NEA, GTTI 0 UNIDO NEA, GTTI 0 UNIDO NEA, GTTI 0 UNIDO NEA, GTTI 0 UNIDO NEA, GTTI 403487 UNIDO NEA, GTTI 81203 UNIDO NEA, GTTI 495000 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-5529 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNDP Ministry of Environment, Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and National Resources Working Group CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Biodiversity]]+ 441436.67 441436.67 441436.67 0 UNDP Ministry of Environment, Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and National Resources Working Group 773876 UNDP Ministry of Environment, Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and National Resources Working Group 155175 UNDP Ministry of Environment, Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and National Resources Working Group 319374 UNDP Ministry of Environment, Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and National Resources Working Group 1321528 UNDP Ministry of Environment, Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and National Resources Working Group 1324310 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-5609 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Biosphere protection]]+ 439878.33 439878.33 439878.33 0 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 0 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 0 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 461884 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 732278 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 64618 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 42450 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 5563 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 1268000 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 0 UNIDO Ministry of Energy (GREC), National Environment Agency, 1319635 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-9495 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date Actual Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Energy conservation and demand-side efficiency]]+ 593828.00 593828.00 593828.00 0 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 242891 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 576481 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 267021 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 587132 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 107959 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 1781484 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 0 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 0 UNIDO National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoPE), Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(ECREEE) 1781484 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-9570 Global Environment Facility NA Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNDP National Environment Agency (NEA); UNITAR CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Waste management/disposal]]+ 666000.00 666000.00 666000.00 224237 UNDP National Environment Agency (NEA); UNITAR 229525 UNDP National Environment Agency (NEA); UNITAR 395375 UNDP National Environment Agency (NEA); UNITAR 450229 UNDP National Environment Agency (NEA); UNITAR 180305 UNDP National Environment Agency (NEA); UNITAR 1998000 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-9772 Global Environment Facility Ecosystem services in productive and protected land/seascapes conserved by improved land use and marine spatial planning policies and land/seascape level management in Gambia. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.Global Environment Facility UNEP National Environment Authority (NEA) CEO Endorsement Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Agricultural policy and administrative management]]+ +![cdata[Biodiversity]]+ 1128937.00 1128937.00 1128937.00 1128937.00 1128937.00 1371911 UNEP National Environment Authority (NEA) 200000 UNEP National Environment Authority (NEA) 670255 UNEP National Environment Authority (NEA) 520653 UNEP National Environment Authority (NEA) 1039002 UNEP National Environment Authority (NEA) 5644685 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-10485 Global Environment Facility To strengthen institutional and technical capacity of The Gambia to respond to the Transparency Requirements of the Paris Agreement Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.The Government of The Gambia (GoTG) acknowledges climate change as critical threat to both the environment and the wellbeing of its people. Building human capacities through training and technical support to identify, respond and manage the current and future threats of climate change is therefore a valuable contribution to the future of the Gambia. Improvements in data collection, monitoring and analysis will support policy decisions and implementation, and the prediction of weather-related events and impacts of climate change. GHG data and information generated will help government agencies to design appropriate measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This early intervention will help make communities improve on their resilience and adapt to climate related shocks. In addition, increased reporting and data-based decision-making will enhance climate resilience and coping strategies of the citizens. The CBIT project brings to light Gambia’s efforts to reduce emissions and enhance its sinks despite the domestic circumstances and capabilities. It reflects how Gambia will adapt to climate change impacts and what other additional support they need from other countries to adopt low-carbon pathways and to build climate resilience through multi-sectoral and programmatic interventions. The coordination in planning and execution of climate change and development projects will greatly improve owing to the multi-sectoral focus of the project. Through the formalization and operationalization of working arrangements between government agencies and with non-state actors, more openness in addressing climate change issues and information exchanges are key ingredients to inclusive and integrated development, as well as gender mainstreaming in Gambia’s transparency agendaGlobal Environment Facility CI Ministry of Environment, Climate Change Natural Resources (MECCNAR) and Vital Signs (CSO) CEO Approval Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date ' Gambia Gambia 13.2415 16.3921 +![cdata[Environmental policy and administrative management]]+ 366666.67 366666.67 366666.67 21839 CI Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Natural Resources (MECCNAR) and Vital Signs (CSO) 0 CI Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Natural Resources (MECCNAR) and Vital Signs (CSO) 618161 CI Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Natural Resources (MECCNAR) and Vital Signs (CSO) 1100000 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-10572 Global Environment Facility To create an enabling environment for an integrated landscape approach in support of SLM and LDN implementation in The Gambia Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.1. The objective of the project is to create an enabling environment for an integrated landscape approach in support of SLM and LDN implementation in The Gambia, and directly benefit 9,608 people (5,715 (59%) women; and 3,893 (41%) men. Generally, land degradation threatens the livelihoods of billions of people around the world, particularly the rural populations, 80% of whom live extreme poverty, and 65% among them work in the agricultural sector.[1] For rural communities, land is a key asset for the livelihoods, as it provides key resources such as food, energy, shelter, and fodder, among others. Land degradation, however, constrains the supply of these ecosystem services and negatively impacts household income and consumption in many parts of the world, worsening poverty and widening inequalities.[2] Thus, land degradation negatively impacts on human wellbeing as it leads to a decrease in food availability, energy provision, groundwater recharge, soil fertility, carbon sequestration capacity, biodiversity and construction materials, among others.[3] Physical declines in ecosystem services have a direct impact on the capacity of households to generate income due to reductions in labour, livestock and land productivity, as well as on the capacity of households to harvest products from nature for their own livelihoods. 2. This project will invest in SLM and LDN to improve the productivity of production landscapes in targeted regions in The Gambia. The project acknowledges that land improvements support rural populations to generate income, contributing to the prosperity and equality of those at the bottom of the income distribution ladder through mechanisms such as sustaining the income of households largely dependent on land for their subsistence, increasing labour, livestock and land productivity and enabling resources for economic growth in the agricultural sector.[4] 3. The project recognises the relationship between poverty and environmental degradation. As has already been noted, The Gambia’s poverty rate remains at 48%, while food insecurity has risen from 5 to 8% over the past five years as a result of weak food production systems and the effects of successive shocks such as drought and floods. Due to COVID-19, poverty expected to increase by 9.6% percent in 2020.[5] Poverty rates remain highest in rural areas, where the poor typically work in the low-productivity agricultural sector, while in urban areas they work in the lowproductivity informal service sectors. In addressing the challenges of land degradation, the projects also seeks to address the poverty levels which remain stubbornly in rural Gambia. 4. The socioeconomic benefits for direct beneficiaires are trifurcated into capacity development, access to improved resource base, and direct handouts in form of equipment that will support them to reduce their exploitation of natural resources. The benefits include the following: · The project seeks to build the capacity of stakeholders through vocational education strategies and trainings tools that will benefit 4,200 people. Capacity development will also include the Songhai Centre and Farmers Field Schools. Additionally, the capacity of 7 communities; 50 women associations and technical services; and 150 extension services workers in 11 districts will be enhanced on SLM for climate resilient and low emission agriculture leading to improved agricultural and livestock production. The socioeconomic benefit in capacity development lies in the adage that knowledge is power. The project, through capacity development, will therefore empower beneficiaries. · The project will support 700 households to improve water and soil management practices that will have overall benefits in terms of food and nutrition security on 1,500 ha. Additionally, the productivity of more land (12,000 ha) will be improved, and bushfires controlled on 7,500 ha – further contributing to the provisions of ecosystem services that underpin livelihoods. Furthermore, the creation of woodlots using multipurpose tree species will be crucial in the provisioning of traditional medicines and fuelwood which they would otherwise have to fetch far away; · The project will distribute 1,000 Jambar cooking stoves distributed to 1,000 households to reduce the use of charcoal and fuelwoods which contribute to soil erosion and general land degradation. Jambar cooking stoves as improved biomass cooking stoves, as the name suggests, improves the consumption of firewood, and therefore, saves on the collection time of fuelwood. 5. It is reiterated here that, for rural communities that are financially constrained, the balanace between land management and poverty is delicate because the wellbeing of resource users is not only a function of the productivity of those resources, but the socioeconomic wellbeing also depends those resources. Thus, avoiding and reducing the negative impacts on land, as well as restoring land resources, will be crucial to conserve and protect biodiversity and maintain vital ecosystem services, while also ensuring shared prosperity and well-being. Generally, healthy and productive land plays an important role as an engine of economic growth and a source of livelihoods for billions worldwide, including the most vulnerable populations.[6] [1] Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, Conservation International, DIE. 2019. Land Degradation, Poverty and Inequality. Bonn, Germany [2] Idem [3] IPBES (2018): The IPBES assessment report on land degradation and restoration. Montanarella, L., Scholes, R., and Brainich, A. (eds.). Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Bonn, Germany [4] Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, Conservation International, DIE. 2019. Land Degradation, Poverty and Inequality. Bonn, Germany [5] World Bank. (2020). Poverty and Equity Brief: Africa Western & Central - The Gambia [6] UNCCD. (2019). Land and Sustainable Development Goals Global Environment Facility IFAD Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources CEO Endorsement Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Forestry development]]+ 729794 IFAD Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources 462246 IFAD Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources 4708582 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-10677 Global Environment Facility i) Provide technical support for developing ABS policy, legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks for The Gambia; (ii) Undertake to pilot of administrative or policy measures to implement community protocols, bioprospecting, and/or biotechnology research; and (iii) Promote ABS-compliant management of protected areas that support improvements in the conditions of biological and genetic resources for the Nyambai Forest Complex. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} Socioeconomic benefits at the national levelThe Government of The Gambia recognizes the economic potential of biodiversity in socio-economic development and has a strategy to develop and implement policies to support sectors of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products that meet international standards for conservation and sustainable use of biological resources (NBSAP 2015-2020, and the National Development Plan - NDP 2018 - 2021). To achieve these objectives, it also recognizes the need to establish conditions that facilitate the creation and development of linkage between stakeholders based on the sustainable use of biodiversity, particularly the use of biological, genetic, and derivative resources, and of biotechnology, which also ensures the fair and equitable distribution of those benefits derived from the use of those resources between the owners and users of the biodiversity. Sustainable use of genetic resources through the project will have direct socioeconomic benefits for the national economy through improved control over the benefits accruing from the use and commercialization of genetic resources in The Gambia. The ABS framework will establish a mechanism for fair and equitable distribution of benefits that will support both the central government and the local level. By implementing the Nagoya Protocol and implementing ABS regulations, a wide range of sectors in The Gambia, pharmaceutics, research and food industry, and forestry, will be able to receive benefits such as technology transfer, and research findings from the access of The Gambia’s genetic resources. This will have a positive impact on the national economy and will help to drive innovation. Socioeconomic benefits at the local levelCommunities that are custodians of genetic resources at the local level will benefit from livelihood support, skills training, and conservation methods to enhance the sustainability of genetic resource use and fair access to benefits. The social and economic feasibility of modifying existing and promoting alternative livelihoods and their likely impacts on achieving global biodiversity conservation have been assessed. Most of the communities to be involved at the pilot sites are ethnic minorities, renowned for their traditional knowledge of plant species and medicinal uses. The project will also ensure that there is a strong involvement of ethnic minority communities and that their traditional knowledge and beliefs are incorporated into the development of an ABS regime and demonstration activities. During the PPG, a thorough local-level socioeconomic assessment and consultation were conducted to obtain the consent of the ethnic minorities to participate in the project pilot. Full environmental and Social Screening was also conducted during the project preparation phase. The project has ensured that a strong gender concern is built into its actions, and a proper gender analysis was undertaken during project preparation. Especially at the local level, the project will strengthen women’s capacity needs as they are the gatekeepers of traditional knowledge and the primary providers/collectors/managers of natural and genetic resources. The project will ensure that the national ABS regime takes on a gender lens in the implementation of its program. The pilot and demonstration activities will also integrate gender focus and data in their design and monitoring processes to ensure that women are empowered to participate fully and also benefit from the use of genetic resources.At the selected pilot demonstration site, the use of non-timber forests products such as the medicinal plant and product collection is not currently a significant source of income for the people living in the West Coast Region (the district in which Nyambai Forest Park Complex is located). A long-term solution to the relationship between poverty and biodiversity that the demonstration will support is the sustainable use of agro-forest products through successful commercialization of their biological and genetic resources will result in fair and equal payments for the entire community. The project pilot aims to create a way that leads to monetary and non-monetary benefits to the state and the communities through creation and commercialization of indigenous medicinal plants with a distribution of those benefits that follows the provisions set out by The Gambia’s regulations and the Nagoya Protocol, and to use the case study to contribute as test some new legislative regulations relate to benefit-sharing. The demonstration pilots will contribute to the conservation and development of indigenous medicinal plants creating raw materials in order to improve the livelihoods of populations neighbouring the Nyambai Forest Park complex. At the end of the project, it is expected that at least 250 families in the West Coast Region district will receive income from cultivation of indigenous medicinal plant species. Similarly, the project will promote the local economy through contracts that are generated in the value chain (harvesters, transporters, supplies, etc.).Global environmental benefits Globally biodiversity is in decline and many factors are contributing to the decline. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report of 2005 identifies human activities as the main cause of changes in biodiversity and these include over-exploitation, pollution, and the impacts of Invasive Alien Species, among others. The Nagoya Protocol on ABS has the potential to reduce loss of biodiversity through access and benefit sharing arrangements that promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The Gambia is a Party to the Nagoya Protocol whose objective is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to the technologies, and by appropriate funding thereby contributing to the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. The implementation of the Protocol thus contribute to improving livelihoods especially of local communities, secure human wellbeing, and promote conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing of biodiversity. The proposed project, therefore, will enable The Gambia to make its national contribution to the global environmental benefit of conserving biodiversity and sustainably using its components by building national capacity to implement ABS. The implementation of a functioning robust, transparent National ABS mechanism in The Gambia will bring significant opportunities for research, technology development, innovation, products and processes with expected great economic and social returns. At the same time, adopting such green economic opportunities will provide durable incentives for biodiversity conservation. The consolidation of ABS will generate a wide variety of benefits, monetary and non-monetary, for providers of genetic resources and TK, some of which will be reinvested in the biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The resulting benefits will also support scientific capacity development, economic growth and the consolidation of The Gambia’s biodiversity.The project will, therefore, contribute towards the achievement of a number of CBD Aichi Targets, namely: Target 1, by increasing the awareness of people in Gambia about the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably; Target 12, by preventing the extinction and/or improving the conservation status of threatened species; Target 13, by maintaining the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and of wild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species, and by developing and implementing strategies for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity; and Target 18, by better involving and respecting the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.During the project development, consultations with local communities and institutional stakeholders led to the decision to combine the three parks (Nyambai Forest Park which is 202 hectares; Kabafita Forest Park with 243ha; and Bamba Forest Park with 389ha for) as one pilot area for the implementation of the project. It was also agreed that the Kiang West National Park should be added (area 11,526 ha under IUCN category II). This increases the area to benefit from project investment while diversifying the ecologies and genetic resources to benefit from biodiscovery and bioprospecting. The total area to benefit from project investment is therefore 12,360ha. Global Environment Facility UNEP Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) CEO Endorsement Date Actual Implementation Start Date Expected Completion Date ' Gambia +![cdata[Environmental policy and administrative management]]+ +![cdata[Biodiversity]]+ +![cdata[Site preservation]]+ 0 UNEP Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 400000 UNEP Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) 3074886 GEF XI-BRIDGE-6385676864-11460 Global Environment Facility Restore and conserve forest ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, improve livelihood, and build resilience to climate change. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.YesGlobal Environment Facility UNEP National Environment Authority of the Gambia CEO Endorsement Date ' Gambia 7142202 GEF