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Introduction
In rural Gambia, where agriculture forms the backbone of the economy, communities face a multitude of challenges that hinder development and exacerbate poverty. The effects of climate change, particularly the increased frequency and intensity of flooding during the rainy season, have made life increasingly difficult for villagers. Floodwaters often inundate farmlands, destroy homes, and cut off vital access to schools, hospitals, and markets. For many rural Gambians, this annual disruption not only threatens their livelihoods but also limits opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic advancement. However, innovative solutions are emerging to help bridge these gaps. The construction of culverts—structures that channel floodwaters and maintain critical access routes—represents a key strategy in the country’s efforts to adapt to the changing climate and improve the quality of life for its rural population.
The Climate Challenges Facing Rural Gambia
The Gambia, a narrow strip of land nestled along the Gambia River, is one of the most vulnerable countries in West Africa to the impacts of climate change. Its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which employs over 70% of the population and contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. However, the sector is highly susceptible to climatic variations, particularly floods, which have become more frequent and severe due to changing weather patterns.
The rainy season, which typically lasts from June to October, brings with it not only the promise of water for crops but also the threat of widespread flooding. In many rural areas, basic infrastructure is lacking, and roads quickly become impassable when heavy rains cause rivers to overflow. Villages are often isolated, leaving residents unable to access essential services like education, healthcare, and markets. The resulting economic and social disruptions are profound, particularly for smallholder farmers who rely on consistent access to markets to sell their produce and sustain their livelihoods.
The Role of Climate-Adaptive Infrastructure
Recognizing the urgent need to mitigate the impacts of flooding, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in collaboration with its partners and with funding from the European Union, launched the Jobs, Skills, and Finance (JSF) for Women and Youth Programme. This initiative is designed to equip rural Gambians with the skills and resources needed to build climate-resilient infrastructure that can withstand the challenges posed by a changing climate. Central to this effort is the construction of culverts—engineered structures that allow water to flow under roads and other infrastructure, thereby preventing floodwaters from cutting off access to critical services.
The culverts, which are financed through the Local Climate Adaptive Living (LoCAL) Facility, serve a dual purpose. First, they provide a practical solution to the immediate problem of flooding, ensuring that roads remain passable even during the peak of the rainy season. Second, they represent a long-term investment in the resilience of rural communities, helping to safeguard their access to vital services and economic opportunities.
Gidom Sabally’s Journey: From Struggles to Skilled Labor
Amid these challenges, the story of Gidom Sabally stands as a testament to the transformative power of climate-adaptive infrastructure and skills development. Gidom, like many other villagers, struggled for years as an unskilled laborer, barely making ends meet. The lack of stable employment and the constant threat of flooding made life difficult for him and his family. However, in 2018, Gidom’s life took a turn for the better when he joined the JSF program.
Through the program, Gidom gained valuable technical skills in constructing culverts—a critical piece of infrastructure in flood-prone areas. These structures are designed to channel floodwaters away from roads and settlements, ensuring that villages remain accessible even during the rainy season. For Gidom, the training provided by the JSF program was more than just an opportunity to learn a new trade; it was a pathway to economic empowerment and a chance to contribute to the development of his community.
As Gidom and his fellow trainees worked on building culverts in their villages, they saw firsthand the impact of their efforts. Roads that were once impassable during the rainy season became reliable year-round, allowing children to attend school, residents to access healthcare, and farmers to transport their goods to market. The benefits of these culverts extended far beyond flood prevention—they became lifelines that connected communities to essential services and economic opportunities.
Economic Empowerment Through Skills Development
In addition to the direct benefits of improved infrastructure, the JSF program has had a significant impact on local economies by providing training and employment opportunities for rural residents like Gidom. The program’s focus on skills development is particularly important in a country like The Gambia, where unemployment is high, and many people, especially young men and women, struggle to find meaningful work.
By participating in the JSF program, villagers gain technical skills in areas such as construction, engineering, and project management—skills that are in high demand as the country continues to develop its infrastructure. This training not only enables participants to contribute to the construction of culverts and other climate-adaptive projects but also opens up new employment opportunities in related fields. As a result, many rural Gambians are finding themselves better equipped to support their families and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
The economic impact of this skills development extends beyond the individuals who receive training. As more villagers gain the skills needed to build and maintain infrastructure, the entire community benefits from improved access to services and increased economic activity. Markets become more accessible, allowing farmers to sell their produce more easily, and children are able to attend school even during the rainy season. In this way, the construction of culverts and other climate-adaptive infrastructure contributes to long-term economic development and poverty reduction in rural Gambia.
A Broader Perspective on Rural Development
The success of climate-adaptive infrastructure projects in rural Gambia highlights the importance of locally led, sustainable development initiatives. By focusing on practical solutions that address the immediate needs of communities, these projects not only improve resilience to climate change but also lay the foundation for broader socio-economic development.
The LoCAL Facility, which provides the financial support for these projects, is a key element of this approach. By channeling resources directly to local governments and communities, LoCAL empowers them to take ownership of their development and ensures that projects are tailored to the unique needs and priorities of each area. This bottom-up approach contrasts with more traditional development models, which often impose solutions from the top down and fail to account for local conditions and capacities.
Moreover, the success of these initiatives in The Gambia underscores the importance of integrating climate adaptation into broader development strategies. By linking infrastructure development with skills training and economic empowerment, the JSF program and LoCAL are helping to create more resilient and self-sufficient communities that are better equipped to navigate the challenges of the 21st century.
International Partnerships and Sustainable Development
The success of these initiatives also highlights the critical role of international partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals. The collaboration between the UNCDF, the European Union, and local Gambian communities demonstrates how global support can be effectively mobilized to address local challenges. By providing the necessary funding, technical expertise, and training, these partnerships enable communities to implement solutions that are both effective and sustainable.
As climate change continues to pose significant risks to communities around the world, the lessons learned from The Gambia’s experience can be applied to other contexts. The LoCAL Facility, in particular, offers a model for how locally led, climate-adaptive projects can be financed and implemented, providing a blueprint for similar initiatives in other vulnerable regions.
Conclusion
The construction of climate-adaptive infrastructure, such as culverts, is transforming rural Gambia by improving access to essential services and creating new economic opportunities. By addressing the immediate challenges posed by climate change, these projects are helping to build more resilient communities that are better equipped to face the future. The broader impacts on rural development, economic empowerment, and social well-being underscore the potential of sustainable infrastructure projects to drive meaningful change. As The Gambia continues to navigate the challenges of climate change and development, the success of these initiatives offers a promising path forward, not just for the country, but for other vulnerable regions around the world.