UN RC STATEMENT CF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING STATEMENT

The Secretary to Cabinet & Head of The Civil Service

Permanent Secretaries,

Colleagues from the DPG, 

UN Heads of Agencies,

Representatives from The Private Sector and Civil Society, 

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

All protocols respectfully observed, 

On behalf of the United Nations system in The Gambia, I would like to express our appreciation for the good working relationship we have with the Government of The Gambia and other non-state development actors. This relationship is what made it possible for the UNCT to strategically support the set-out development aspirations of The Government of The Gambia from 2024-2028 as outlined in The NDP.

I am equally proud to join you today in my second JSC meeting as RC chairing this important committee with The SG. 

As we reach the midpoint of our second year of Cooperation Framework implementation, we stand at a critical juncture to assess our collective impact and recalibrate our efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The strategic alignment between the CF and the NDP has created unprecedented opportunities for coordinated action, ensuring that every initiative contributes meaningfully to The Gambia's transformation agenda.

Our partnership model has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, particularly in navigating the complex challenges of the post-pandemic recovery period. Through sustained collaboration with government institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, and development actors, we have maintained momentum across all critical development sectors while strengthening the foundations for long-term sustainable growth.

Over the past several years, we have made significant strides towards achieving the sustainable development goals set forth by the United Nations. Through our collective efforts, we have advanced in areas such as poverty reduction, education, health, gender equality, environmental protection, and many others. This progress has been made possible by the dedication, expertise, and cooperation of each of you. We discussed ways to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in The Gambia, including the need to enhance coordination, collaboration, and partnerships with key stakeholders. We also emphasized the importance of leaving no one behind and ensuring that the SDGs are achieved in an integrated and transformative manner. 

The past years have witnessed significant progress in our collective pursuit of the SDGs, driven by the strength of our multi-stakeholder partnerships. Our government partners have demonstrated exceptional leadership in creating enabling policy environments, while our civil society and private sector allies have brought innovation, community engagement, and market-driven solutions to bear on our shared challenges.

Working hand in hand, we have advanced measurable progress in poverty reduction, quality education, healthcare delivery, gender equality, climate resilience, and economic transformation. These achievements reflect not just individual organizational excellence, but the power of coordinated action when diverse stakeholders unite behind common objectives.

As we advance into the remainder of our CF implementation cycle, several strategic imperatives demand our collective attention:

• We must continue strengthening our coordination mechanisms to maximize synergies, eliminate duplication, and ensure coherent programming across all sectors and partners.
• The urgency of the 2030 Agenda requires us to intensify our efforts, scale successful interventions, and address implementation bottlenecks that may impede progress.
• Our commitment to leaving no one behind must translate into concrete actions that reach the most vulnerable populations and address structural inequalities that persist in our society.
• We must harness technological advances, promote innovative solutions, and institutionalize learning mechanisms that enable continuous improvement in our development practice.

Distinguished colleagues, the success of our shared vision depends fundamentally on the strength of our partnerships and the depth of our collective commitment. As we navigate the remaining years of the CF cycle, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of mutual accountability, shared responsibility, and collaborative leadership that have brought us this far.

The Gambian people's aspirations for prosperity, dignity, and opportunity remain our guiding star. Through our continued partnership, government, UN, civil society, and private sector working as one we will transform these aspirations into tangible reality, building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Gambia that serves as a beacon of hope for sustainable development in our region and beyond.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication. Together, we can achieve our shared vision of a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous Gambia.