November 2018
The Government of the Republic of Gambia through the Ministry Of Finance and Economic Affairs,Gambia - MOFEA, with the financial support from the European Commission - Development & Cooperation - EuropeAid and the European Investment Bank, is preparing to launch the “Photovoltaic (PV) solar systems for Schools and Health Facilities Project”. The ultimate aim of the project is to increase access to reliable energy services, mainly to the schools and health facilities in rural and urban communities of The Gambia. The project is designed to assure the sustainable provision of electricity powered by solar systems for at least 20 years.
Due to the importance of the project, and to comply with Gambian and European environmental requirements, an environmental and social management framework study (ESMF) has been carried out. The objective of the Environmental and Social Management Framework Study (ESMF) is to ensure that the project is environmentally and socially sound and minimize negative impacts and disruption. The ESMF Study is taking place this week in Brikama, Farafenni and Basse and offers an opportunity for stakeholders and beneficiaries to review the environmental consequences of the project. Some photos from the ongoing ESMF study can be seen below.
The results of the ESMF were presented during the validation meeting that took place in Banjul on November 29, 2018. The opening ceremony was opened by the Executive Director of the NEA, Mr. Momodu J. Suwareh, the PS of the MoHSW, the PS of MOBSE and the European Union in The Gambia Ambassador Attila Lajos.
About 792,000 total patients (estimated for 2017) in the country’s 100 public health facilities and about 400,000 pupils and students attending public schools will directly benefit from the project, as well as well as hundreds of health facility and school staff working and living in the buildings that will be electrified by the PV systems.
The Ambassador thanked the Government of The Gambia for its exemplary cooperation in the preparation of this important project and ongoing collaborating in its execution.