By Amie Choi
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, with support from the World Bank, through the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) project, is set to validate The Gambia’s first-ever National Land Policy (NLP). This landmark policy aims to enhance land governance, secure tenure rights, and ensure equitable access to land resources in alignment with the country’s Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023-2027).
The regional validation workshops will take place from April 7 to April 16, 2025, across all eight regions, to be followed by a national validation workshop in May 2025, under the coordination of the Honourable Minister of Lands.
These sessions will serve as the final stage of public participation, ensuring stakeholder ownership and consensus before submission to the Cabinet for approval.
Officials say the validation process will focus on reviewing the policy’s content, structure, and implementation plan; confirming the incorporation of stakeholder views and finalising the policy while ensuring its alignment with best practices.
The validation exercise is a crucial step in shaping The Gambia’s land governance framework. It ensures that the final policy is inclusive, implementable, and reflective of the nation’s collective vision for sustainable land management.
