12/2/22, 3:38 PM COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia - The Borgen Project

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Gambia is currently classified as one of the least developed countries in

the world with a GDP per capita of $835
[https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?
locations=XL&most_recent_value_desc=false] in 2021 and more than 50%
[https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/11/09/covid-
19-elevated-poverty-in-the-
Search 
gambia#:~:text=BANJUL%2C%20November%209%2C%202022%20%E2%80%93
of the country’s population living in poverty in 2022, the World Bank
reports. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated Gambia’s economic and
healthcare-related problems, which prompted the International
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Monetary Fund (IMF)
[https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/04/15/pr20164-gambia- Call Congress

imf-exec-board-approves-us-21-3m-disbursement-the-gambia-address- Email Congress

covid19-pandemic] to provide the country with about $21 million worth
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of Special Drawing Rights emergency funding in 2020 to keep the nation
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12/2/22, 3:38 PM COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia - The Borgen Project

from collapsing. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia is significant, but not Volunteer Ops
irreversible.
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Economic Problems

Gambia is the smallest country within mainland Africa and lacks economic
diversity because of its heavy reliance upon its agricultural sector, which
accounts for 30% of Gambia’s GDP. In Gambia, 70% of the labor force
[https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/gambia-agriculture]
relies upon crops and livestock in order to secure their livelihoods.

Gambia’s economy is also reliant upon its service sector and hospitality
industry [https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202105/1223998.shtml] as
its abundant wildlife and attractive coastline make the country a desirable
tourist destination. The pandemic severely affected Gambia and
exacerbated the country’s economic problems by bringing a halt to
industries and putting a strain upon its fragile healthcare system and
limited resources. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia is still ongoing as
Gambia’s tourism industry
[https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gambia-signs-68-million-world-
bank-grant-revive-tourism-2022-07-05/] is struggling to rebound to pre-
pandemic success.

The Impact on Agriculture

COVID-19’s impact on Gambia exposed how sensitive Gambia’s food

systems are to external shocks. The pandemic brought to light Gambia’s
heavy reliance upon its vulnerable agricultural economy and highlighted a
need for more sustainable investments in rural and agricultural
development. The transition to a more resilient and environmentally
sustainable food system would likely strengthen Gambia’s socioeconomic
landscape and protect Gambia against future crises. In 2021, more than
13% of Gambia’s population experienced food insecurity, and currently,
more than 10% [https://www.wfpusa.org/countries/gambia/] of the
population suffers from acute malnourishment.

The pandemic magnified food insecurity in the nation because Gambia is a

net food importer country
[https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/s365_sum_e.pdf] . As a
result, supply chain constraints and rising global food prices hit the
country especially hard. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia in 2020 is
estimated to have increased poverty in urban areas
[https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099215106012214268/pdf/P1774

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12/2/22, 3:38 PM COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia - The Borgen Project

by about 5% and 92% of households nationwide experienced a loss in total

income by August 2020.

Recovery

Gambia is continuing to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19

pandemic. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to affect this recovery
by driving up the cost of resources that Gambia imports. Gambia relies on
imports for important resources
[https://oec.world/en/profile/country/gmb?
latestTrendsFlowSelectorNonSubnat=flow1&latestTrendsFlowSelectorNonSubnat
such as fertilizer, food and fuel. As the prices of these resources rise, these
imports become more difficult for Gambia to obtain. Despite these
challenges, Gambia can potentially achieve economic growth and rebound
from the pandemic in the coming years if its leaders adopt new
governmental reforms.

Strengthening the Agricultural Sector

In November 2021, Gambia secured $40 million through the World Bank
[https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-
release/2021/11/24/gambia-secures-40-million-for-an-inclusive-
resilient-and-competitive-
agriculture#:~:text=The%20project%20addresses%20significant%20challenges,sa
for the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain
Development Project (GIRAV).

The GIRAV project supports Gambia’s national goal of poverty reduction

by strengthening food and agricultural production through improved
value chain coordination. This process entails a shift from subsistence
agriculture to market-oriented agriculture and aims to address
constraints in Gambia’s agricultural supply chain. GIRAV is expected to
strengthen the livelihoods of about 50,000 farmers. To reduce poverty
among the most vulnerable groups, women will account for at least half of
the project beneficiaries and Gambia’s youth will account for 30% of
beneficiaries.

Through a focus on climate-smart agriculture, the project aims to increase

resilience in the agricultural sector. Apart from boosting income
generation among Gambians, the project will also reduce food insecurity.
GIRAV and future investments of this nature show promise for Gambia
and are strategies that set the stage for a country-wide recovery from the
effects of COVID-19. Gambia’s government has the potential to improve

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12/2/22, 3:38 PM COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia - The Borgen Project

the welfare of its people and accelerate economic growth by adopting

new economic policies and investing in its future.

– Dylan Priday

Photo: Flickr [https://www.flickr.com/photos/anguskirk/2688297229]

DECEMBER 1, 2022

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