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At a moderate ceremony at the State House in Banjul, The Gambia government in partnership with UNDP signed the implementation of the Programme for Accelerated Community Development – PACD, an initiative to fast track social service provisions to communities that are less privileged in line with the goal of the National Development Plan – NDP 2018 -2021.
With the overall objective of closing the poverty and inequality gaps in rural communities, the PACD will start with an initial $5 million provided by the Government of The Gambia and partners. It is expected that through the PACD, rural communities will have access to water, electricity, feeder roads and labour saving devices to boost food security in five regions, namely, NBR, CRR, LRR, URR and WCR.
The signing of the Programme is timely as many rural communities are in urgent need of such basic social services. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the access to water component of PACD is a real emergency for deprived communities and thus the urgency of the PACD processes.
Stakeholders in the implementation of PACD include the Ministry of Infrastructure and Works and the National Roads Authority, Ministries of Agriculture, Energy and NAWEC, Water Resources, Women, Children and Social Welfare, and Regional Government and Lands.
Source: State House