Our Partners in The Gambia and Senegal

Freedom From Hunger Campaign (FFHC)

FFHC promotes the agricultural and infrastructure development of communities in … FFHC promotes the agricultural and infrastructure development of communities in Bakau. FFHC focuses on crop production (predominantly rice), the construction of bridges, dykes and crossways, labour saving technology, skills training, environmental protection and education in Bakau. Through facilitating increased food production through the development and improvement of infrastructure in swamp rice cultivation FFHC is aiming for food self-sufficiency at village level. We are currently working with FFHC on an advocacy project enhancing and empowering women’s participation in regional governance. Working with four local government authorities this project successfully established four Gender Action Teams and over 1,000 people have participated in sensitisation meetings. These meetings discussed traditional gender roles, the low levels of female participation in local area governance and the problems of getting female voices heard. The project is progressing well with high levels of support from both the community and local government leaders.
Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI)

GTTI equips young people with technical skills that will benefit their wider com… GTTI equips young people with technical skills that will benefit their wider community. The GTTI is a tertiary education centre with facilities for making stoves and for training metal-workers. Together we recognise the importance of the stoves/biomass energy project for The Gambia and how building technical skills of young people could help deliver developed technologies to a wider community. Our project in the Gambia is one of 10 other pilot projects taking place across the continent and is funded by the World Bank.
Methodist Mission Agricultural Programme (MMAP)

MMAP works to improve agricultural practice, education and access to medicine. … MMAP works to improve agricultural practice, education and access to medicine. CU and MMAP have been partners since 1999. MMAP, as part of a five party consortium, were our partners on the SMILE-B project which begun in 2007 and recently concluded. During the project they promoted the adoption of irrigation technologies to farmers as well as managing show gardens. MMAP have benefitted from the provision of well drilling equipment provided by the project which has enabled them to drill five wells and generate their own income.
National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of The Gambia (NACCUG)

NACCUG unites 67 credit unions to promote credit and savings amongst households.… NACCUG unites 67 credit unions to promote credit and savings amongst households. NACCUG is a movement that provides the best and most cost effective and efficient financial and non-financial services. Due to its strengths and successes NACCUG has been identified as a model for viable financial cooperatives in The Gambia. CU and NACCUG have been partners since 2004. Our most recent joint endeavour was on the FAMILIES project, completed in December 2010. The overall objective of this project was to improve family livelihoods through a market-based approach to agro-enterprise. Due to its area of expertise NACCUG took the lead on all activities related to credit and savings within the FAMILIES project. This included operating advisory services, improving credit and saving products and producing relevant radio programmes. We provided programmatic and financial support for the project as a whole, and offered capacity building opportunities for NACCUG.
National Beekeepers Association of the Gambia (NBAG)

NBAG trains small farmers in beekeeping and provides them with on-going practica… NBAG trains small farmers in beekeeping and provides them with on-going practical advice and support. NBAG works to create wealth in rural communities by training farmers to be beekeepers so that they can produce high quality honey without destroying the habitat. By providing a ready market for the honey and wax NBAG brings to the market a better product at a better price for rural people. CU has been working with NBAG since 2005. Our current work with NBAG is through the GiG programme and the FAMILIES project aimed at improving the livelihoods and economic security of 3,000 rural families in the Western Region of The Gambia. Thanks to NBAG's hard work the beekeeping industry in The Gambia has seen a significant period of growth; honey is now being sold through many market outlets including hotels, supermarkets and temporary stalls.
Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NTAC)

NATC promotes sustainable farming and resource management. NATC was est… NATC promotes sustainable farming and resource management. NATC was established and is run by the Njawara community for the purpose of training farmers in sustainable agro-forestry techniques to improve farm production and profitability whilst also promoting sustainable natural resource management. It is believed that these initiatives will improve the social well-being of the beneficiaries by promoting gender equality, income generation, self-employment, food security and by curbing the rural-urban drift trend that is a consequence of hardship in rural Gambia. NATC has been operating as a registered NGO since 1997. CU has had a working relationship with NATC since 1996. Currently we are working with them to improve women’s empowerment and representation in local government. NATC will train women farmers, conduct advocacy meetings and gender analysis surveys, as well as many other activities. They have also worked with us on our LIFE and SMILE-B projects. http://natcfarm.blogspot.com/
St Joseph’s Family Farm (SJFF)

SJFF represents farmers and works with rural youth, women, and poor farmers to e… SJFF represents farmers and works with rural youth, women, and poor farmers to enable them to become successful producers. We have been partners with SJFF since 1993. We have recently implemented together the FAMILIES project and the Casamance Peace Building Project. The CPB project combined micro and macro level peace building activities in direct support of the peace process whilst also indirectly supporting it through socio-economic development. SJFF have a history of promoting social dialogue and local peace building initiatives as well as a strong background in service provision to farmers. In the fourth year of the CPB project, six schools and ten water points were rehabilitated, 13 community peace meetings were held, along with other peace strengthening activities. Over the four years since its implementation around 26,000 people have directly or indirectly benefitted from the work of this project.
The Agency for Village Support (AVISU)

AVISU provides literacy training, micro-credit facilities and community developm… AVISU provides literacy training, micro-credit facilities and community development. AVISU supports over 40 communities within The Gambia. They focus on education, learning and securing livelihoods. Together we are working on a project that will address the problems of women’s representation in local government structures and government decision-making processes. Our partnership will address these issues across many different regions and communities, improving women’s engagement with governance.
Wuli and Sandu Development Association (WASDA Gambia)

WASDA Gambia promotes the engagement of women in agricultural groups in Eastern … WASDA Gambia promotes the engagement of women in agricultural groups in Eastern Gambia. We began our partnership with WASDA Gambia in 2005 and in June 2011 we launched a programme of women’s empowerment. This project will work to increase the representation of women in local government. The project complements the current drive by the national government to enhance women’s roles in politics and decision making. We are also currently working together on the URRLIFE project, aiming to improve livelihoods through strengthening institutions, and improving food security and environmental management.