By Olimatou Coker
At least four thousand beneficiaries have received Nafa cash transfer distributed by the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) in collaboration with the Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Directorate of Social Welfare (DSW). The payout exercise began on Wednesday in Banjul, the Kanifing Municipality (KMC), and Kombo.
This inclusion completes the nationwide rollout of the Nafa programme under the Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills and Equity (RISE) Project, funded by the World Bank.
Beneficiaries in the provinces received their fifth round of payments. Beneficiaries in Banjul, KMC, and parts of Kombo received their first payments. All enrolled households will receive cash transfers over a three-year period.
Payments were made electronically via QMoney’s platform to ensure a secure, convenient, and cashless process. The programme covered all transaction fees, so beneficiaries received payments at no cost.
The Nafa Cash Transfer programme strengthens social protection by providing regular financial support to vulnerable households to improve livelihoods and resilience.
Distribution details: Kafuta pay point: 139 households received their first disbursement covering two months.
Sotokoi: 123 households received one month’s payment of GMD 3,000.
Basori: 208 beneficiaries across four communities received their first disbursement covering two months.
Jiborokuta: 199 beneficiaries received a combined first payment of GMD 6,000 (two months’ worth) because the initial installment was delayed due to documentation issues; subsequent payments will revert to the standard GMD 3,000 monthly amount.
Andrew Mendy, Principal Community Development Officer at the Department of Community Development, said the GMD 3,000 payments are intended to meet household needs and encourage saving and small livelihood investments such as poultry or microbusinesses.
He added that beneficiaries receive guidance on strategic use of funds to improve long-term income and well-being.
NaNA’s Admin and Human Resources Officer, Malang Janneh, confirmed that verification was completed for the Jiborokuta beneficiaries. He noted that Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) sessions were conducted before verification to explain the programme’s objectives and to advise households to allocate funds across priorities such as food, education, healthcare, and small businesses.
Village Health Worker Mariama Bojang of Sotokoi thanked the government and development partners.
“This intervention will help women support their children and manage household needs,” she said, noting the heavy workload many women carry to generate income.
The Nafa programme combines cash assistance with ongoing community education to promote sustainable improvements in household well‑being.
