Here is the converted article text in markdown format:
EU Financial Regulation and Policy in the Gambia: A New Chapter of Cooperation
The European Union (EU) has been a long-standing partner to the Gambia, with its focus on promoting democratic governance, sustainable economic growth, and human development. Following the country’s transition to democracy in 2016, the EU has maintained and strengthened its cooperation with the Gambia, targeting key areas that will drive progress in the next decade.
Good Governance: A Key Priority
The EU remains committed to supporting the Gambia’s democratic transition process, focusing on transitional justice, security sector reform, and the capacity building of the judiciary. The EU’s efforts aim to strengthen the country’s institutions, ensuring they are responsive to citizens’ needs and protect their rights.
Climate Change and Sustainable Growth
To address climate change and promote sustainable growth, the EU will work with the Gambia to mainstream climate change into national development policies, including disaster management and adaptation strategies in agriculture, natural resources, forestry, and fisheries. The EU aims to support the country’s climate policy framework, driving green economy initiatives that create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Human Development: Empowering Youth and Women
The EU will prioritize human development in the Gambia, focusing on education interventions to empower youth, women, and girls. This includes upgrading curricula to address topics such as gender, environment, science, technology, migration, nutrition, and information technologies. Improved education can unlock opportunities for Gambians to benefit from circular migration and academic mobility programs towards the EU.
EU Programs and Initiatives
The Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for the Gambia 2021-2024 amounts to €119 million, with a focus on three priority areas:
- Promoting Good Governance: Supporting constitutional reform, elections, transitional justice, security sector reform, migration partnership, and Public Financial Management reform.
- Green Economy for Sustainable Growth and Jobs: Focusing on green economy, environment, climate change, biodiversity, mobility, sanitation, waste management, food systems, and sustainable tourism.
- Human Development: Upgrading curricula to address topics such as gender, environment, science, technology, migration, nutrition, and information technologies.
The EU will also support urban mobility, agro-food systems, tourism development, and inclusive job creation.
Team Europe Initiatives
The MIP builds on Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs), including:
- Good Governance: Focusing on constitutional reform, elections, transitional justice, security sector reform, migration partnership, and Public Financial Management reform.
- Green Gambia: Centered on green economy, environment, climate change, biodiversity, mobility, sanitation, waste management, food systems, and sustainable tourism.
Flagship Program: Youth Empowerment (YEP)/Tekki Fii
The main flagship program is the Youth Empowerment (YEP)/Tekki Fii initiative, which aims to “re-vibrate” the economy, support the private sector, and generate thousands of jobs for young people and returning migrants.
In summary, the EU’s financial regulation and policy in the Gambia aim to promote democratic governance, sustainable economic growth, human development, and climate action. The EU will continue to support the country’s transition process, focusing on key areas that will drive progress in the next decade.