UN General Assembly
2021

While the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly exacerbated human suffering in all spheres, it has also challenged us to mobilize all efforts and resources to address the eradication of poverty and inequalities through collective action and renewed momentum towards achieving the SDGs. The pandemic has exposed existing fragilities and vulnerabilities and disrupted economic activities and employment, causing a sharp reduction in revenues and in our ability to achieve the SDGs. Africa’s gross domestic product, for example, dropped to an estimated -3.4 per cent in 2020. At the national level, the Government of the Gambia recently completed the mid-term review of the Gambia national development plan for the period 2018-2021 in order to take stock of the current successes and gaps. In the light of that review, we are taking concrete steps to redefine the strategic priorities of the plan to account for the new challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.