From Hunger to Hope: The Lifeline of Social Protection in The Gambia

 “I no longer have to worry about how I will feed my children.” 

Those are the words of Fatoumatta Jallow, a 39-year-old mother of five living in the Upper River Region. Like tens of thousands of other vulnerable families, Fatoumatta’s household benefited this year from the WFP and World Bank-funded National Social Protection system. 

In total, 51,775 households received cash transfers and in-kind support through the initiative in 2023 - an estimated 258,875 children, assuming an average of 5 children per home. This aid represents a vital lifeline for families living on the edge - the difference between hunger and sustenance, despair and hope. 

Fatoumatta says the assistance has brought stability in a turbulent time. 

“Before, I constantly lived with stress, unsure how I would provide the next meal. Now I can breathe easier, plan, and give my children more than just the bare minimum.” 

The impact ripples beyond each family to their wider community. With a bit more cash to spend, local economies receive a boost. And as more children are adequately nourished and cared for, society grows stronger. 

STAVING OFF HUNGER FOR THOUSANDS 

When crops failed again this year amid a prolonged drought, Awa Sanneh, a 61-year-old woman from the Lower River Region, didn’t know how she and her two grandchildren would survive the lean season. Their food reserves had dwindled to almost nothing. Help arrived in the form of WFP’s food assistance program. 

Awa’s family was among 6,528 people in the region who received cash transfers totalling $187,641 to help them afford basic food staples. WFP distributed 702 metric tons of food directly in other hard-hit areas, reaching another 19,998 beneficiaries. 

“The cash lasted us through the worst months until the new harvest arrived,” Awa says. “It kept hunger at bay and gave us strength to keep working. I shudder to think what would have happened without it.”