By Arret Jatta
The Economic Community of West African States Permanent Mission has officially handed over key infrastructure built under the Ecowas Fund for Regional Stabilisation and Development (FRSD) to the Government of The Gambia, including facilities at the Mansa Konko Technical Training Institute.
The handover formed part of a two-day event that began on March 24, featuring the official closing ceremony and transfer of projects at Brufut and the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Training Institute in Banjul.
The initiative, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, aims to promote social and economic stabilisation in fragile communities across the region.
Launched in 2019 as a pilot programme in The Gambia in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and KfW, the project focused on improving youth employability, empowering women and strengthening key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and vocational training.
Delivering opening remarks, Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice President of the Ecowas Commission, described the ceremony as both a conclusion and a new beginning. She said it reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development and improved living conditions for citizens.
She noted that the initiative goes beyond infrastructure, aiming to create sustainable employment and income opportunities, strengthen local entrepreneurship and boost economic activity in communities. She also urged beneficiaries to take ownership of the facilities.
Representing the Gambian government, Mod K Seck described the intervention as a landmark success and a strong example of what regional cooperation can achieve. He highlighted key achievements, including 19 community horticultural gardens, 22 poultry houses and two fisheries projects, along with additional private sector investments.
In skills development, he pointed to the establishment of an agro-food processing centre and new training facilities, including those at Mansa Konko Technical Training Institute. Citing a February 2026 evaluation, Secka said the programme created over 18,000 jobs, most of them for young people, reflecting real improvements in people’s lives.
Also speaking at the handover, Christoph Rau, Director for Africa at Germany’s development ministry, reaffirmed his country’s continued commitment to The Gambia.
He described the programme as a model of international cooperation and said job creation, especially for youth, remains its most important achievement. Germany contributed a total of 20 million euros to the initiative.
The event brought together government officials, Ecowas representatives, development partners and beneficiary communities from across the country, highlighting what speakers described as a successful partnership built on shared commitment and local ownership.
