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THE GAMBIA VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW (VNR) 2025 MAIN MESSAGES
The Gambia remains steadfast in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation, evident in the country’s quest to present its third VNR at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum. The SDGs are mainstreamed into national planning frameworks, including the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP) 2023 – 2027, sector and regional strategic plans, and other policies. The RF-NDP seeks to consolidate gains in democratic governance, accelerate green economic and social transformation and build resilience to shocks and crises . To support implementation of the SDGs, the country has fostered an inclusive, whole-of-society approach to development anchored on a strong institutional framework for monitoring and evaluating development outcomes.
In line with this year’s theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind”, concerted efforts are made by the Government, Civil Society, the Private sector and the community to create an inclusive eco-system for the participation and benefit of all sundry in sustainable development.
On SDG 3, the government is implementing measures to improve the delivery of quality health services to reduce maternal, newborn, infant, and child morbidity and mortality and improve the health of adolescents and young people, in sync with the RF-NDP.
Relating to SDG 5, improvements are registered in gender equality, women's and girls’ empowerment, with the establishment of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare and setting up the Women Enterprise Fund to overcome financial barriers faced by women.
In the Government’s efforts for inclusive growth and development and Leave No One Behind , a strong commitment is manifested to address issues of lack of empowerment, social exclusion, discrimination, and stigmatisation against women, girls, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons. Removing such barriers is key to unleashing the potential of large segments of society and establishing a just and equitable society. There are efforts to tap the potential of older persons (representing 3.1 per cent of the population) for national development.
On SDG 8, the country registered a real GDP per capita annual growth rate of 5.5% in 2020, with a slight dip to 4.8% in 2023 and rising again to 5.8% in 2024 (MoFEA).Recent data from the 2022–23 Gambia Labour Force Survey (GLFS) indicate that 79.4% of total employment in the country is informal, with a higher prevalence among women (84.7%) compared to men (74.7%). While the 2018 GLFS reported higher overall levels of informality, methodological differences between the two surveys limit direct comparison. Nevertheless, the 2022–23 findings underscore the continued significance of informal employment and persistent gender disparities. The ongoing 2025 GLFS will provide further critical insights to support policy and programme interventions aimed at reducing informality and improving employment quality.
Moreover, the country registered steady growth, promoting economic diversification through youth empowerment programs; improving and expanding the TVET system; financial services; and investing in key economic sectors such as information technology, renewable energy, and creative industries.
Under SDG 14, The Gambia is among the countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas and implementing the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries through the FAO EAF-Nansen Program (MoFWR). In 2024, progress has been noted in the implementation of international instruments aimed at combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and in sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP.
On partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), the Government is working on improving coordination and resource management to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, while contributing to a reinvigorated global partnership for development within the context of an Integrated National Financing Framework.
