Gambia National Development Plan (2018-2021).

The Government’s vision for the “new Gambia” is a country that upholds the highest standard of governance, accountability and transparency; where social cohesion and harmony prevails among communities; citizens enjoy a standard of living and access to basic services to enable them to lead descent and dignified lives; youth, women, children realize their full potential, and a nurturing and caring environment exists for the vulnerable; there is an enabling environment for our private sector to thrive; and our natural heritage is nurtured and preserved for future generations”. The goal of government is to “deliver good governance and accountability, social cohesion, and national reconciliation and a revitalized and transformed economy for the wellbeing of all Gambians” (pag. 8).
The vision and overall goal of the NDP will be realized through eight strategic priorities, namely: Restoring good governance, respect for human rights, the rule of law, and empowering citizens through decentralization and local governance; Stabilizing our economy, stimulating growth, and transforming the economy; Modernizing our agriculture and fisheries for sustained economic growth, food and nutritional security and poverty reduction; Investing in our people through improved education and health services, and building a caring society; Building our infrastructure and restoring energy services to power our economy; Promoting an inclusive and culture-centred tourism for sustainable growth; Reaping the demographic dividend through an empowered youth; and Making the private sector the engine of growth, transformation, and job creation. Seven crosscutting critical enablers will complement the eight strategic priorities of the plan, namely: A public sector that is efficient and responsive to the citizenry; Empowering the Gambian Woman to realize her full potential; Enhancing the role of the Gambian Diaspora in national development; Promoting environmental sustainability, climate resilient communities and appropriate land use; Making The Gambia a Digital Nation and creating a modern information society; A civil society that is engaged and is a valued partner in national development; and Strengthening evidence-based policy, planning and decision-making (pag. 9).
There are mechanisms for robust citizen participation and engagement through the plan’s accountability framework, which empowers population to provide their views and feedback on government performance and effectiveness. Each and every citizen can also capitalize on the opportunities the plan provides: For the country’s young people, there are opportunities to build your skills to become better entrepreneurs, to cater for your all-round development and to strengthen your voice in decision-making; For the farmers and the rural population, development of irrigation systems, value chains development and the introduction of modern production technologies would ensure increase in rural incomes and ensure food security and freedom from hunger (pag. 24).