The Gambia WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 
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V. AID FOR TRADE 
(1) OVERVIEW  
1. The Gambia's development agenda is direct ed by its Vision 2020 and its Second Poverty 
Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP II, 2007-11).  While  the importance of trade is recognized in 
achieving the country's development objectives, and tr ade has been mainstreamed into certain sectoral 
policies, it has not yet been systematically mainst reamed at an operational level within the national 
development strategy for 2007-11. 
2. In the absence of an operational strategy to mainstream trade, deve lopment partners face 
constraints in aligning their support to national tr ade priorities.  A framework for aid coordination 
exists under the Ministry of Finance, but the pr ogramme of assistance has been undertaken on the 
basis of donor roundtable meetings, the last of which was held in 2008 in London.  Donors have sought to align their support with the priorities est ablished in the national de velopment strategy (the 
PRSP).  With only a small pool of resident dono rs, mobilization of the development community 
presents a challenge for the Government.  The G overnment is increasingly turning to south-south 
partners to provide assistance;  for example, a number of donors from the Arab region and from Asia 
are actively involved in development assistance. 
3. The Gambia has been a beneficiary of the Integrated Framework (IF), since its launch in 
1997.  In late 2009, the Government accessed fundi ng under the Enhanced IF (EIF) Trust Fund to 
implement a Tier 1 project, stemming from the Dia gnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) validated 
by the Government in 2007.  The EIF project provides an opportunity to enhance trade policy 
formulation in the Gambia and to ensure that trad e is mainstreamed at an operational level in the 
successor document to the current national deve lopment strategy which expires in 2011. 
4. Since its last Review, Gambia has benefited from 159 TRTA activities, nearly 75% of which 
were provided by the WTO.  However, the absen ce of a resident diplomatic mission in Geneva, 
coupled with human resource and in stitutional constraints, limit the participation of The Gambia in 
the multilateral trading system as we ll as in the ongoing DDA negotiations. 
(2) M
AINSTREAMING TRADE INTO THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK  
(i) Mainstreaming at the policy level 
5. The Gambia's long-term developm ent strategy is laid out in its Vision 2020, which aims at 
eradicating poverty through sustained economic growth.  One of its goals is to  transform The Gambia 
into a trading and export-oriented agricultural and manufacturing nation.  It also aims to strengthen 
and diversify the production base of the economy.  Trad e expansion is also one of the cornerstones of 
Gambia's foreign economic relations. 
6. The goals and objectives of Vision 2020 are being implemented through the PRSP II, which 
focuses on five pillars, including enhancing the capacity and output of productive sectors, i.e. agriculture, fisheries, industry, trade, and tourism.  The PRSP II for 2007-11, recognizes the role of 
trade and advocates that the Government pursue an e xport-oriented strategy.  It equally recognizes the 
need to enhance development and diversification of trade-related services in the Gambia and to 
develop links to other sectors of the economy.  While the PRSP-II considerably increased the attention to economic growth and trade version,  and has specific discussions on some key export 
sectors, such as tourism and fishing, it lacks a de tailed strategy for export de velopment.  Elaboration 
of a new PRSP to start in 2011 provides an opportunity to further mainstream trade at an operational 
level within the national development strategy.  Support from the Enhanced Integrated Framework WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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(EIF) should assist in a process that is key to ensuring future donor support is aligned with The 
Gambia's trade needs. 
(ii) Enhanced Integrated Framework 
7. Trade matters are the responsibilities of the Mini stry of Trade, Regional Integration, and 
Employment.  The Committee on mainstreaming trad e and trade related matters (MATTRICOM) has 
recently been transformed into the Nationa l Trade Policy Decision-Making Committee (see 
Chapter II(2)).  The formulation and implementa tion of a trade policy remains an institutional 
challenge for the Government, but one for which th e Integrated Framework is providing assistance. 
8. The Gambia was one of the first five LDCs to hold trade Round Tables under the first version 
of the Integrated Framework launched in 1997.  An IF project, implemented from April 2002 to 
August 2003, supported a comprehensive study on the Gambia's export potential and developed, with 
assistance from the ITC, export strategies for horticu lture, fishery, groundnuts, tourism, and niche 
manufacturing.1  A full Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) was validated by the Government 
in July 2007 (also see Chapter II(2)).2 
9. One outcome of the EIF process in the Gambia  was the establishment of a National Steering 
Committee (NSC) in 2007, to oversee the implementation of the EIF programme.  The NSC is chaired 
by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of  Trade and Employment and includes representatives 
from relevant government ministries, chamber of commerce, and the resident donors.3  T h e  N S C  
meetings have not been regular, as it meets only wh en there is an EIF programme/project to be 
approved. 
10. A Ministerial oversight committee on EIF has been constituted, chaired by the Minister of 
Trade and Employment (MTE).4  Although the NSC has the authority to approve EIF projects, it is 
required to submit periodic progress reports to the oversight committee for guidance and advice.  The 
frequency of meetings of this oversight body will also depend on progress, as well as needs that may 
arise, during implementation of the EIF.5 
11. With funding from the EIF Trust Fund Tier 1, The Gambia put in place a National 
Implementation Unit (NIU) in early 2010.  The NIU consists of a National Coordinator, Programme 
Officer, Finance Officer and support staff.  The NI U, under the leadership of the EIF National Focal 
                                                      
1 A number of activities were held under the same IF project (2002-03).  A group of exporters and 
government representatives, from the horticulture and fishery sectors, undertook a tour to Belgium, the 
Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, which resulted in the establishment of concrete business contacts with 
European firms.  For the horticulture sector, training workshops were arranged to pr ovide assistance to local 
enterprises for the purchase of inputs such as seeds, fer tilizers, and pesticides.  For tourism, a tour to Ghana and 
Burkina Faso was conducted, followed by a training of trainers workshop and on-site seminars aimed at 
improving design and quality of artisanal products for the tourism industry.  Workshops on fishery reviewed 
new techniques, and equipment and facilities were provided to fishermen and fish processors. 
2 World Bank (2007). 
3 These are:  the Office of the President, Minist ries of Finance and Economic Affairs, Tourism, 
Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Works, Construction and Infrastructure, the National Planning 
Commission, the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the World Bank, UNDP, and the EU. 
4 This Committee consists of the Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, 
Fisheries and Water Resources, Works, Construction, Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Economic Planning and 
Industrial Development. 
5 The Ministerial oversight committee held its first meeting in 2010. The Gambia WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 
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Point (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Employment), is working on advancing The 
Gambia's trade mainstreaming.6 
(iii) Mainstreaming at the government-donor partnership level 
12. The Gambia has a small pool of resident de velopment partners.  The EIF NSC includes key 
development partners with a view to facilitating resource mobilization for trade capacity-building 
activities.  Within the Government, the Aid Coordination and Central Project Management Unit in the Ministry of Finance works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Industrial Development, and is r esponsible for overall donor coordina tion.  The Ministry of Finance 
also acts as the central depository of all data relati ng to aid.  Under this framework of central aid 
coordination, multilateral aid is the exclusive domain of  the Ministry of Finance, while bilateral aid is 
dealt with by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Relations with UN agencies, including UN aid, are 
coordinated by the Policy Analysis Unit of the Office of the President.  Aid from NGOs is handled by the Government's NGO Affairs Unit. 
13. Formal dialogues have been held with the donor community under the umbrella of 
Roundtable Conferences, organized jointly with the UNDP.  At the last Roundtable Conference held 
in London in 2008, the Government presented an "A id Effectiveness Action Plan" on the basis of the 
Paris Principles of ownership, alignment, harmonization, result-based management and 
accountability.  It was attended by 27 bilateral, multilateral, and other donor agencies including 
Bretton Woods Institutions.  Development partne rs pledged financial support of US$175 million. 
14. The RoundTable conference and discussions with donors take place in the framework of the 
PRSP.  The World Bank and the African Developmen t Bank (AfDB) have aligned their support in a 
joint assistance strategy spanning four years (2008- 11), for the implementation of the PRSP II.  The 
development priorities identified in the Unite d Nations Development Assistance Framework 
(UNDAF) are aligned with the Government's PRSP II and its long-term plan (Vision 2020).  The lack 
of an operational strategy to mainstream trade into the existing PRSP created difficulties for donors 
seeking to align their support of the Gove rnment's stated export development goals. 
(iv) Aid-for-trade needs 
15. The Gambia responded to the aid-for-trade questionnaire, a join t OECD/WTO exercise 
feeding into the WTO Second Global Review on Aid for Trade, in July 2009.  In its response, it identified its aid-for-trade priorities, in the order of  importance:  (i) trade policy analysis, negotiation, 
and implementation;  (ii) network infrastructur e (power, water, and telecom);  (iii) regional 
integration. 
16. The DTIS, undertaken in 2007, recommended improvements in infrastructure, including the 
transport, communications, and energy sectors to consolidate The Gambia's position as a regional 
gateway.  It also makes detailed recommendations  on strengthening and diversifying production of 
goods and services of key sectors of importance to th e country, such as tourism, groundnuts, other 
agriculture, and fisheries, coupled with sector-specific reforms. 
                                                     
 
6 The Government expects to develop Tier 2 projects for funding from within and outside of the EIF 
Trust Fund.  The MTE is expected to map all donors' co ntribution in trade, and coordinate their assistance and 
sector focus, in coordination with the donor facilitator (EU), the local office of the UNDP and the World Bank, 
especially to avoid duplication and to take maximum a dvantage of donors' financing, particularly the World 
Bank planned project for growth and competitiveness. WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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17. Developing the regional road network and impr oving port performance and river transport is 
key for the Gambia to consolidate its role as a tr ansit hub.  While the Gambia has received assistance 
in the transport sector, especially in road transport,  the Government is seeking support for efficiency 
improvements in the port of Banjul in order to rema in competitive in the region.  The river transport 
infrastructure also needs substantial investment, to  make an efficient link with the port.  These are 
some of the Government's immediate priorities. 
18. Inadequate infrastructure and limitations on productive capacities weaken The Gambia's 
ability to enhance its exports.  Certain infrastruct ure services also impede export potential.  The cost 
of electricity has been a key factor in the performan ce of the tourism sector as well as other sectors, 
such as fisheries, which need uninterrupted pow er supply for processing and cold storage facilities 
(also see Chapter IV(2)).7  Investment in the landing facilities for artisanal fishing as well as the 
establishment of a deep-water fishing port for indus trial vessels could greatly contribute to exports of 
fish and fish products from the Gambia. 
19. The Gambia faces challenges related to compliance with standards required by its trading 
partners, due to limited technical, human, and standards-related infrast ructure constraints.  A number 
of agencies and donors support SPS capacity-buildi ng in The Gambia.  A USAID-funded study on 
SPS capacity in Gambia in 2006, provided a strate gy for the integration of the SPS systems of the 
ECOWAS member states.8  A project on the harmonization of TBT and SPS measures in the 
ECOWAS region was funded by the EU in 2006.9  At present, under the West Africa Quality Support 
Programme, funded by the EU, laboratory facilities are being improved to acquire international 
accreditation (see Chapter III(1)(ix)).  The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa 
(BADEA) is providing assistance in partially equipping the Food Hygiene and Quality Control 
laboratory constructed at the fish eries department, to enhance the standard of processed fish for 
export. 
20. While the Gambia is receiving assistance in me eting international standards, its ability to 
control SPS risks also warrants attention.  For in stance, despite the comprehensive Food Act (2005), 
the country lacks capacity for rigorous laboratory an alysis of imported foods, resulting in its inability 
to detect unwholesome products.10  The laboratory facilities to identify pests and diseases need 
substantial improvement, especially for pesticide residue analysis. 
21. Quality deficiencies in groundnut production, which remains the country's main cash crop, 
need to be addressed, along with its  management (see Chapter IV(1)(v)).11  With investment in 
technology and establishment of an Integrated Qu ality Assurance System, through the implementation 
of a practical HACCP (Hazard Analysis – Critical Control Points), The Gambia could exploit higher 
value segments of the international market, especially for edible groundnuts. 
22. Strengthening the institutions dealing with SPS and TBT matters remains a key priority for 
the Government.  Multilateral donors are providing assistance to set up a National Standards Body 
                                                      
7 The DTIS of The Gambia underlined the importance of investment in the aging infrastructure of the 
state-owned National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), to improve generation capacity as well as 
transmission and the distribu tion system.  The Government has recently  taken steps to improve the generation 
capacity and to reduce electricity prices. 
8 USAID/West Africa Hub (2006).    
9 The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) was the Executing Agency. 
10 The Gambia has received assistance from FAO,  UNIDO and WHO in updating and completing the 
Food Act and in drafting the new Food Safety and Quality Bill (Chapter III(1)(ix)). 
11 In 2006, Gambian crude groundnut oil failed to meet the required maximum residue levels (MRLs) 
in the EU market. The Gambia WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 
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(see Chapter III(1)(viii)).  Under the EIF framework , the Government intends to strengthen the 
weights and measures office (metrology).  The Go vernment will require further assistance to fully 
implement the WTO SPS and TBT Agreement. 
(v) Trade-related technical-assistance needs 
23. The Gambia requires further assistance to strengt hen human and institutional capacity to take 
full advantage of the rules-based MTS and to part icipate fully in the ongoing negotiating process.  
Human resources dealing with trade matters are limite d.  This, coupled with the absence of a resident 
Mission in Geneva, makes it difficult for The Gambia  to follow negotiations conducted in the WTO.  
Moreover, MTE has to simultaneously handle va rious negotiations, in particular on EPA and 
ECOWAS.  Inadequate human resources will continue  to impede the Government from beneficiating 
fully from the MTS. 
24. The Gambia has not been regular in submitting notifications to the WTO (Table II.2).  It 
needs assistance in meeting its notification requireme nts to the WTO.  The authorities feel that the 
lack of understanding about the nature of the notif ications and of coordina tion among the government 
agencies are contributing factors.  The Gambia also  needs to improve its efforts to submit tariff and 
trade data to the WTO, on a regular basis.12  Its latest submission on tariffs was in 2007;  data for 
2008 and 2009 are pending, although the full 2010 tari ff has been supplied as part of the current 
Review.  The Gambia has improved its system for trade data collection and has supplied six-monthly 
bulletins of trade statistics in the context of this  Review.  The Gambia may benefit from further WTO 
TRTA to improve its capacity to deal with notifica tions as well as to collect, collate, and analyse trade 
and tariff data and submit them to the WTO. 
25. As an LDC, Gambia enjoys certain flexibiliti es in implementing the WTO TRIPS Agreement.  
For instance, the transition period for LDCs to implement the TRIPS Agreement has been extended 
until 2013.  Moreover, LDCs are exempted from providing patent protection to pharmaceutical 
products until 2016.  Officials from The Gambia ha ve attended some of the WTO global and regional 
activities on TRIPS.  While intellectual property legi slations has been modernized since the last 
review – new Copyright Act (2004) and Industrial Property Act (2007) (Chapter III(1)(iv)) – there is 
lack of awareness of the enforcement of IP  rights as well as of legislative compliance. 
26. As part of the TRIPS Council Decision that extended the transition period for LDCs for the 
implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, LDCs are invited to provide the TRIPS Council with 
information on what they need as a prior ity for technical and financial assistance.13  The purpose is to 
help LDCs take the necessary steps to implement the TRIPS Agreement.  A number of LDCs have 
submitted their needs assessment;  other submissions are expected soon.  In order to help LDCs in the 
needs assessment pro cess, the Secretariat has b een organizing regular workshops.  The last Workshop, 
in October 2009, was to facilitate an exchange  of views and experiences between LDCs and 
developed countries and to explore ways of levera ging available resources for the needs of LDCs in 
the area of TRIPS.  The authorities may wish to consider presenting The Ga mbia's needs assessment 
to the TRIPS Council. 
27. Gambia has not requested assistance from the Tr ade Facilitation Trust Fund, set up within the 
context of the DDA and managed by the WTO Secretar iat, to conduct a national self-assessment of its 
trade facilitation needs and priorities.14  The Government has made use of the technical assistance 
                                                      
12 The Integrated Data Base (IDB) of  the WTO contains MFN applied data. 
13 WTO document IP/C/40, 30 November 2005. 
14 The Trade Facilitation Needs Assessment Programme, which was officially launched in 
September 2007 has now ended. WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
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programme designed to bring capital-based official s from African countries and LDCs to participate 
in the meetings of the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation. 
(3) AID FOR TRADE SUPPORT TO THE GAMBIA  
28. The Gambia's official development assistance (ODA) comes in the form of free standing 
technical cooperation, programme/budgetary aid/ba lance of payment support, investment-related 
technical support, investment project finance, food aid and emergency assistance. 
29. According to the OECD Creditor Reporting System  Database, the Gambia received a total of 
US$124 million in aid-for-trade commitments betwee n 2002 and 2008 (at curre nt 2008 US$ prices).  
Annual aid for trade commitments averaged US $22.9 million between 2002 and 2005 (Table V.1):  
the transport sector received a large part, especia lly in 2005, mainly from the EU under its Country 
Support Strategy (see Chapter II(4)(iii)).  Aid-for-trade commitments by donors were 
US$9.35 million in 2007 and US$7.75 million in 2008.  Aid-for-trade receipts accounted for nearly 
20% of total ODA in 2007 and 17% in 2008.  
Table V.1 
Aid-for-trade support, 2002-08 
(US$ million at 2008 current prices) 
Sectors 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
Transport and storage 2.63 0.22 1.42 51.8 2.09 6.25 0.02 
Communications 2.64 0.03 0.01 0 0.03 0.82 0.06 
Energy 0.98 0.11 0.07 0.34 0.0 0.0 0.01 
Banking and financial services 0.01 0.0 0.0 0.04 5.94 0.17 0.01 
Business and other services 0.0 0.1 0.62 0.34 0.6 0.05 0 
Agriculture 1.58 1.26 8.85 9.22 6.37 1.53 1 
Forestry 0 0 0 0.03 0.09 0.11 0.05 
Fishing 0 0.2 0.03 0.02 0 0.32 6.4 
Industry 8.12 0.01 0.13 0.02 0.02 0 0.07 
Mineral resources and mining 0 0 0 0.39 0 0 0 
Trade policies and regulations 0 0 0.01 0.45 0.06 0.07 0.09 
Tourism 0 0 0 0.02 0 0.03 0.04 
Total 15.96 1.93 11.14 62.67 15.2 9.35 7.75 
Source:  OECD Creditor Reporting System. 
30. More than 95% of the aid for trade comm itted in 2008 was directed towards building 
productive capacity, mainly in the fisheries sector;  aid for trade for economic infrastructure was less 
than US$1 million.  The lack of resident missions of donor countries continues to make it difficult for 
The Gambia to mobilize aid for trade. 
31. Twelve Development Assistance Committee (DAC ) donors accounted for nearly 70% of total 
ODA commitments to the Gambia in 2008;  the top five DAC donors were the EU, Japan, the 
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United St ates.  Multilateral providers of ODA included 
AfDF, EU institutions, GAVI, Global Fund, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF.  The Arab agencies as well as donor countries from the Arab region were among the t op ten ODA providers in 
2007 and 2008.  The Gambia is not a beneficiary of U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) 
grants.
15 
                                                      
15 There are two primary types of MCC grants:  compacts and threshold programmes.  Compacts are 
large, five-year grants for countries  that pass MCC's eligibility criteria.  Threshold programmes are smaller 
grants awarded to countries that come close to passing th ese criteria.  Gambia is not benefiting from any of these 
grants. The Gambia WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 
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32. A number of developing countries are providing assistance to the Gambia to improve physical 
infrastructure and build productive capacities.  For instance, Chinese Taipei and Kuwait have 
provided resources to improve road infrastructure in certain provinces.  Kuwait and Libya have made 
significant investments in the tourism sector, esp ecially in the construction of hotels.  India, 
Chinese Taipei, Iran, and Venezuela have been assist ing the Gambia in the development of agriculture 
and fisheries. 
33. The AfDB and the World Bank are closely involved in the implementation of the PRSP II, 
mainly through policy and institutional reforms to contribute to economic growth and poverty 
reduction.  For instance, in order to strengthen economic management and public service delivery, the 
Gambia is benefiting from a grant of US$6 million for the implementation of its Poverty Reduction 
Budget Support Programme, which is a compone nt of the Gambia General Budget Support 
Programme jointly conceived by the AfDB, the World Bank and the EU.  At the end of 2008, the AfDB Group had approved 54 ope rations for the Gambia, representing a total commitment of 
US$307 million.
16  As of October 2008, the World Bank,  through the International Development 
Association (IDA), had approved 31 International Development Asso ciation (IDA) credits for the 
Gambia totalling approximately US$299 million.17 
34. The AfDB and the World Bank are also invol ved in building up productive capacities in the 
country.  The trade gateway project by the World Ba nk, with US$16 million, is intended to help the 
Gambia become a globally competitive export and pr ocessing sector.  The country is also benefiting 
from financing of US$6.4 million from the AfDB to enhance productive capacity in agriculture sector, 
especially to increase the volume of mark eted horticultural produce and livestock. 
35. Since its last Trade Policy Review in 2004, the Gambia has participated in a wide range of 
technical-assistance activities.  According to the Doha Development Agenda Trade Capacity Building 
Database, the WTO Secretariat delivered around 75% of the 159 entries inscribed for the Gambia for 
technical assistance activities/projects provided between 2004 and 2009.18  Other providers included 
the AfDB, the UN Economic Commission for Africa;  Islamic Development Bank (IsDB);  and 
ECOWAS.19 
36. Since 2004, WTO has organized five national technical assistance activities covering DDA 
negotiations, regional trade agreements, the Trad e Policy Review Mechanism, and the Enhanced 
Integrated Framework.  Three outstanding requests from Gambia – on agriculture, services, and trade 
remedies – are currently being implemented.  The Gambia also continues to benefit from a number of 
WTO training courses for government officials.  It has taken part in the three-month Geneva-based 
trade policy course as well as regional courses and three-week introduction courses for LDCs.20  It 
also benefited from several short trade policy c ourses organized in cooperation with regional and 
international partners, including ECOWAS, the Islamic Development Bank, the AfDB, and the 
Economic Commission for Africa.  Since the Gambia does not maintain a resident mission in Geneva, 
it has been participating regularly in "Geneva Week", a biannual activity aimed at informing 
                                                      
16 Half of these commitments are in  transport and social sectors. 
17 The five active IDA operations, totalling US$55.9 m illion, are the in:  (i) capacity development for 
economic management;  (ii) education;  (iii) private s ector development;  (iv) community-driven development;  
and (v) natural resource management/environment protection. 
18 WTO Doha Development Agenda Database.  Viewed at:  http://tcbdb.wto.org. 
19 This is not an exhaustive list, as other bilateral and multilateral agencies provide trade-related 
assistance to The Gambia. 
20 It attended Geneva-based trade policy course in 2005, 2006, 2007, and regional trade policy courses 
in 2007 and 2009.  The Gambia had participants for introduction courses in 2004, 2006, and 2007. WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 Trade Policy Review 
Page 74 
 
 
non-resident WTO members and observers of the state of play in the DDA negotiations and other 
WTO activities.21 
37. At the regional level, the Gambia has particip ated in more than 30 seminars/workshops.  The 
subjects covered included regional trade agreemen ts, dispute settlement, trade negotiation skills, 
sanitary and phytosanitary measures, services, technical barriers to trade, TRIPS, trade facilitation, 
agriculture, NAMA, trade and development, and trade a nd environment.  It also took part in some of 
the specialized and thematic courses offered by the Secretariat, including on trade facilitation, sanitary 
and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, TRIPS, and public health. 
38. In addition, the Gambia has benefited from th e trainee and internship programmes organized 
by the WTO, aimed at enhancing the train ees' knowledge of the MTS, strengthening their 
understanding of the WTO, and enhancing the partic ipation of their respective missions in the daily 
activities of the WTO.  The Gambia was a beneficiar y of the Netherlands Trainee Programme in 2007 
and in 2009. 
39. The Gambia benefited from the WTO Refere nce Centre (RC) Programme.  The RC was 
established in 1998 at the MOTIE, and was updated in 2004.  The Government is making continuous 
efforts to make the RC operational, although in terest from the business and academic community in 
accessing WTO-related information through the RC has been limited.22  The Government will need 
further training on information management tools and techniques as well as trade-related database and 
other web applications to take full advantage of th e RC, including benefiting from the e-training and 
e–learning functions of the RC.  A few officials from The Gambia have completed a limited number 
of e-training modules, including introduction to the WTO, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and 
technical barriers to trade.  
40. The Gambia is benefiting from two regional Standards and Trade Development Facility 
(STDF) projects.  The FAO is implementing a capacity-building programme for selected West 
African countries, including the Gambia, to rai se awareness and improve knowledge of SPS issues in 
the fisheries sector so as to improve their fish-t rade performance.  The STDF has also undertaken a 
regional initiative in West Africa to control fruit flies.   In this regard, a stakeholder meeting, held in 
Bamako, Mali, in September 2009, endorsed a five-year Regional Action Plan prepared by the Europe-Africa-Caribbean-Pacific Liaison Committee (COLEACP), budgeted at €25 million.  As a 
follow up, the World Bank has agreed in principle to provide seed funding up to US$1 million, through its Trade Facilitation Facility (TFF), to kick -start the implementation of the Regional Action 
Plan.
23 
                                                      
21 WTO matters are handled by their mission in Brussels. 
22 A "documentalist" has been appointed to manage the RC on a day-to-day basis. 
23 The EU, in 2007, funded a study on the damage inflicted by fruit fly on West African fruit 
production. The Gambia WT/TPR/S/233/Rev.1 
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