By Isatou Jawara
The Project Coordinator of Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU), Mbye Jabang has said that the CPCU will host the upcoming regional steering committee under the WAAPP project expecting delegates from 13 Ecowas member countries.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss on how to improve modern technologies as priority for the Agricultural sectors for countries benefitting from the project. The meeting will also discuss the overall performances of the WAAPP project and recommendation for the way forward.
WAAPP is a World Bank funded project being implemented in the ECOWAS region by CORAF and at national levels by a national coordination unit at the ministries of agriculture of the respective countries.
“The Gambia is a beneficiary of the WAAPP which is now coming to the third phase of the project with the first and second phrase was run successfully. The committee is responsible for efficient regional coordination which advises and supports national coordinators. It also strengthens and ensures that effective management and efficient monitoring and evaluation at regional level.
“The WAAPP will promote the empowerment of end-users, farmers and their organizations and also facilitate collaboration among researchers, extension services, farmers, universities, the private sector and civil society in the pursuit of generating and disseminating appropriate agricultural technologies thereby contributing to sustained agricultural productivity in the ECOWAS region’s top priority commodity sub-sectors,” he noted.
“The WAAPP is not only national in scope but also has regional dimension; hence a strong communication strategy is required for the provision of a framework for communication activities, which will not only provide visibility for the project but also employ all communication platforms to disseminate relevant agricultural technologies; particularly to the rural resource poor farmers,” he added.
