The Gambia: Low-Carbon high resilience infrastructure for sustainable

development

Ms. Fatou Ndey GayeMinister of Forestry and the Environment,

• one of the most vulnerable countries in Africa to the adverse impacts of climate change ,

• Approximately 50% of the total land area is less than 20m above sea level,

• One Third (1/3) of the country is below 10m above mean sea level and about 20% is annually flooded

• Mangrove ecosystems are affected by saline intrusion as well as flooding

Challenges

• Erratic rainfall patterns impact on freshwater reserves and increased evaporation affects groundwater replenishment,

• Government is obliged to repeatedly commit limited resources to rebuilding vital infrastructure for transport, energy, education, and sanitation and health services

• The capital city Banjul is under severe threat from coastal erosion and sea level rise

Challenges

Impact of Sea Level Rise in Banjul

Impact of coastal erosion on infrastructures

Impact of coastal erosion on infrastructures

Impact of coastal erosion on coastal communities

Polices and Measures in addressing adverse Impacts on Climate Change

The establishment of the National Climate Committee in 1992.

First National Communication to the UNFCCC (NCC/FNC, 2003),

National Adaptation Programme of Action (NCC/NAPA, 2007),

The Gambia Environmental Action Plan II (GEAP, 2010).

The Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NCC/NAMA, 2011

Polices and Measures in addressing adverse Impacts on Climate Change

The GEAP :• established the legal and regulatory framework

for environmental management. • aims to strengthen national capacity to

enforce the provisions of the Conventions on Desertification Control, Climate Change etc

The NAMA focuses on mitigation measures for greenhouse gas reductions

Polices and Measures in addressing adverse Impacts on Climate Change

The National Disaster Management Act was also passed in 2008 leading to the establishment of the National Disaster Management Agency

Polices and Measures in addressing adverse Impacts on Climate Change

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper II (PRSP II 2007-2011) was factored into the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). The successor to PRSP II, the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (2011-2015) integrated climate change in the development strategies

Polices and Measures in addressing adverse Impacts on Climate Change

The PAGE covers strategies to:• Improve and modernize infrastructure (Pillar 2) • Improve access to social services (Pillar 3) in

relation to climate change adaptation• Pillar 5 focuses on the environment and

Climate change and strives to ensure that priorities are factored into development policies and programmes through the NAPA

Major efforts at addressing adverse impacts of climate change • Adaptation to Climate Change – Responding to

Coastline Change in its human dimension in West Africa through Integrated Coastal Area Management (Regional: UNDP – GEF)

• Adaptation of Ecosystem Approach for Integrated Implementation of MEAs at National and Divisional Level Project (UNDP – GEF 2008 – 2012).

• Demonstrating and Capturing Best Practices and Technologies for the Reduction of Land –sourced Impacts Resulting from Coastal Tourism Project ( Regional ( UNEP & UNIDO – GEF)

Major efforts at addressing adverse impacts of climate change

Strengthening of the Gambia’s Climate Change Early Warning Systems (UNEP – GEF)Enhancing Resilience of coastal and vulnerable communities( UNDP-GEF

Proposed projects

Climate proofing development using infrastructure construction - Longer term policy program, and projects :

building design & coding, urban planning, housing, transport infrastructure)

Increasing the resilience of communities against natural disasters –

disaster preparedness (forecasting logistics of evacuation

post disaster recovery (reconstruction and rehabilitation

Proposed projects

Theme 1: Water, Sanitation and Agriculture (Irrigation systems, Water supply and sewage, Food Storage)Theme 2: Public works (Roads and bridges in rural areas, Coastal zone protection, Renewable energy facilities)Projects:•Public works Climate proofing of public and commercial buildings in Banjul•Improved road infrastructures and transport services•Promotion of Labour Based Technologies in Public works•Climate Change Resilient Power Generation and Energy Efficient Technologies for Peri-urban and rural Gambia

Proposed projects

1. Improved road infrastructure and transport services:• Integration of land use and long term transport

needs• Establishment of road hierarchy, demarcation of

intersections priorities and identification of roads, pedestrians etc

• Conduct a study for the development of a drainage master plan for the greater Banjul Areas

• Implementation of Banjul Drainage Master plan• Introduction of road safety audits procedures for

urban road improvement•

Proposed projects

• Implementation of Heavy Vehicle Management Programme

• Assessment of present level of public transport services and deficiencies and define short and long term transport routes and develop a model for competitive franchises

• Study of inter-urban road transport services, define key issues

• Development of an improved vehicle testing system

Proposed projects

2. Address infrastructural deficiencies at the identified Disaster Hotspots

Address the 7 hot spots highlighted in the last DRR survey in Banjul, WCR, BARRA, BANSANG, SOMA and BASSE.

Construction of drainages in the seven regional head quarters.

Dredging of Banjul canal

Way forward

Roles and responsibilities of each stakeholderImplementation of activitiesFunding mechanisms

• Mechanism for coordination and monitoring and evaluation

Sene-gambia coastal road

Thank you