The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) and Action Against Hunger (AAH), on Monday, 15 November, 2021 inaugurated over a million dalasi solar-powered borehole water well project in the community of Jagula in Upper River Region.
The borehole, which is expected to address what is said to have been “many years of hardship in accessing safe drinking water” in Jagula Village, is co-funded by European Union (EU) office in The Gambia and Thani Bin Abbdullah Al Thani Humanitarian Fund, under the ‘Konkobayo’ (leaving hunger behind) project. The latter is a nutrition sensitive project being implemented in 40 communities in URR and Central River Region (CRR)–24 communities in URR and 16 in CRR North.
EU funded 75 percent, while Al Thani Humanitarian Fund funded 25 percent, as per the official version.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Jagula Village, GRCS Secretary General Mr. Alasan Senghore, urged the community to ensure the sustainability of the project, and use the borehole effectively and efficiently.
“We can come together to work on our comparative advantage to develop the country. We will continue lobbing for funds to do more for this country”, he told his audience.
Ablavi Madeleine Djossou, Country Manager Action Against Hunger-Gambia also highlighted the importance of the community taking care of the borehole.
The Chairman of Basse Area Council, Mr. Foday Danjo, thanked the project’s sponsors and implementers for providing clean drinking water for his tax-payers. He advised the community to form a water committee that would be responsible for the maintenance of the borehole.
Mr. Momodou E. Jallow, Program Manager for AAH, said the project was not a standalone but part of a bigger project they have been implementing for the past three years; adding that the Konkobayo project covers five districts in URR and CRR, covering 40 villages.
Alkalo Foday Bah of Jagula vouched, “We had water shortage which is now addressed”, as he used the opportunity to salute those involved in the project for providing his community with a clean and safe drinking water, which, he noted, would contribute to the health of the villagers.
Jagula Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairman Sowe, for his part, intimated that since the establishment of the project in Jagula village, it has brought so many improvements there.
Madam Juma Bah, the Women President of the village, told the gathering the project has provided backyard garden and trained them on how to cook quality and [nutrient-] rich foods. She commended both partners for bringing this wonderful project in their community.
Also speaking was Mr. Kebba Sillah, Executive Director of Wuli and Sandu Development Association (WASDA), who made it clear that the said intervention is not based on any favoritism but on a ‘real felt needs’.
“The community water project is part of a nutrition sensitive food security initiative for the Gambia,” he said.
Executive Director Sillah informed the ceremony the objective of the project is to improve the food and nutrition security of vulnerable communities, households and individuals in the targeted districts of Upper River Region (Basse) and Central River Region (Kuntaur) in Eastern Gambia. He highlighted the main areas of intervention as increasing availability and access to quality food through backyard or kitchen garden, community and school garden, productive water, promotion of high nutrient field crops and livestock food safety nets, improving nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive practice like community based IYCF, cooking demonstrations, hygiene, sanitation, access to water, and also to strengthen capacity development of food security and nutrition Community Based Organisations (CBOs), regional governance and coordination, capacity building, technical advocacy at different levels (local, regional and national) and support to coordination.
Sillah promised them that WASDA Konkobayo team would continue to work with the beneficiaries to lay down plans for the sustainability of water facility in their communities.
Mr. Ebrima Cole, the contractor and Managing Director of Swe-Gam Company, dissected the project as 2 tanks of 10,000 litters; 10 taps and some solar panels. He’s optimistic the borehole would reduce the burden on women and ensure that the girl-child has enough time to prepare for school.He urged the men of the community to regularly clean the solar panels.
Mr. Momodou Bilo Jallow represented the URR Governor at the ceremony.
