📋 Tender Overview
IATI identifier 46002-P-GM-I00-004
Country Gambia
Sector Social
High 5 Improve Life of People in Africa
Sovereign / Non-Sovereign Sovereign
Environmental Category [2] Moderate Risk
Climate Safeguards Categorization [2] Projects may be vulnerable to climate risk.
Gender Marker System Categorization [GEN I] Gender Objective
Commitment (UA) 15,000,000
Project General Description
The proposed financing will scale up the Bank-funded Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project (VYWOSP), approved in September 2023, by extending its geographic reach and reinforcing its preventive aspects. Due to budget limitations, VYWOSP covered only three LGAs, rehabilitated two of six planned health facilities, and lacked adequate support for financial inclusion and nutrition. The new project—RB-VYWOSP—will target two additional LGAs, expanding access to jobs, livelihoods, and basic services, particularly in rural and periurban areas. This scaling-up effort promotes equity, prevents marginalization, and strengthens national cohesion. The Bank brings strong added value through its experience designing scalable human capital operations, such as the Coding for Employment and ENABLE Youth initiatives, which have expanded skills and jobs across Africa. Its ability to integrate education, health, and livelihoods—as demonstrated in projects like Response to the Sudan Refugee Crisis Project and the regional health system strengthening in West Africa —positions it well to tackle RBVYWOSP’s multidimensional challenges. The Bank will also support the Ministry of Health in developing a national health investment plan, improving coordination, resource mobilization, and donor alignment. By embedding nutrition into health and social protection, RB-VYWOSP addresses root causes of low human capital, supporting long-term resilience and inclusive growth.
Project Objectives
The development objective of the RB-VYWOSP is to build resilience through improved livelihoods and enhanced access to quality health and nutrition services for people living in rural and peri-urban areas, especially vulnerable youth and women, with the aim of preventing the worsening of poverty and spatial inequality and curbing rural-urban migration as well as hazardous and irregular migration to Europe. Specifically, the project aims to: i) build technical, soft, climate risk management and entrepreneurship skills of vulnerable youth and women; ii) provide credit lines for equipment for women-owned MSMEs; and iii) rehabilitate health facilities located in rural and peri-urban areas with high gender-based (GBV) prevalence. This will contribute to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Beneficiaries
The project will be implemented in four of the most vulnerable Local Government Areas (LGAs): Janjanbureh (CRR South – 127,333 people), Kuntaur (CRR North – 98,966), Basse (URR – 243,791), and Mansakonko (LRR – 82,201)16 . Additionally, Brikama District Hospital (serving 608,200 people) will be
