Project Background
The “Jobs, Skills and Finance (JSF) for Women and Youth in The Gambia” Programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC). The scope of ITC’s technical assistance focuses on improving the relevance, effectiveness, and accessibility of vocational and technical training to improve employability and job creation. The target beneficiaries are youth and women in the rural Gambia (North Bank Region, Lower River Region, and Central River Region). The project has an overarching focus on promoting a green economy which will guide the identification and selection of economic sectors of opportunities such as renewable energy, sustainable construction, and eco-tourism, soil and water management, climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, agro-processing, and agro-marketing, in line with the menu of investments of the local investments (Local) mechanism.
RATIONALE –
The horticulture sub- sector in the Gambia contributes about 4.2% to overall GDP, representing 24% of agriculture GDP, and employs over 65% of the agricultural labour force. An estimated 23% of the Gambia’s total arable land (117,329 hectares) is suitable for horticulture but less than 3% (3,519.9 hectares) is currently cultivated (FAO, 2021). Although, there is no authoritative data, it is clear that imports of vegetables and fruits to The Gambia are greater than what is exported, resulting in a significant trade deficit. Several factors are responsible for this low production and productivity including lack of knowledge among growers, traders and distributors, low technology usage limited response to consumer preferences, weak research, innovation and extension systems, limited access to high-end market (linkages), and limited access to finance and inadequate support from the government.
Ensuring the full and sustainable exploitation of the great potential of the sector will enable The Gambian population to be well nourished and healthy for national economic growth and prosperity, leaving no one behind.
To foster the linkage between producers and the market, ITC is seeking to execute a farmer training focusing on training participants on how to produce for the market. The training will embed market-led production planning, good agriculture practises and marketing.
The participants will be targeted from current Job Skills and Finance (JSF) supported gardens and Jokkalante supported gardens. The Community gardens are located in Kujew, Buranya, Jamwali Buayen, Madinaba, Kiang Nema and Conteh Kunda. A total of six gardens are expected to participate in the training each garden it expected to be represented by at least thirty (30) women gardeners thus, a total of 180 women farmers are expected to benefit from the training.
Download the terms of reference in the downloadable for more information.
To apply, please submit all quotes (technical and financial) by 16th September 2022 to rfofana@intracen.org and copy yusupha.keita@intracen.org & mamud.touray@intracen.org. with the subject “TRAINING OF FARMERS ON GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND AGRICULTURAL MARKETING”.