Banjul, The Gambia, 23rd December 2025 – The President of The Gambia, His Excellency Mr. Adama Barrow, has officially launched the WACA Livelihoods Program under the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA). This marks a significant step towards strengthening community resilience and improving livelihoods along the Kotu Stream area.
The program forms part of the US$45 million World Bank–funded WACA Project being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, from 2023 to 2027. The Project is focused on restoring and reprofiling the 11.2 km Kotu Stream to reduce flood risks and pollution, strengthen public policies and institutions, and create sustainable economic opportunities for vulnerable communities along the Stream.
“Across the Kotu Stream, many families depend on small and informal livelihoods that are highly vulnerable to flooding,” said Hon. Rohey John Manjang, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources. “By addressing the scourge of flooding and providing support to small businesses and climate-smart livelihoods, especially for women, young people, and persons with disabilities, we are investing in the long-term resilience of our communities.”
Through the Livelihoods Program, WACA will invest USD5 million to support and empower up to 4000 households, including women, youth and persons with disabilities, to develop livelihoods and job opportunities, while contributing to the sustainable management of the Kotu Stream.
“WACA recognizes that improving the livelihoods of communities is crucial to the protection of the Kotu Stream and the long-term management of physical investments along the Stream”, said Masanneh Landing Ceesay, WACA M&E Specialist.
Together with the International Trade Center, the lead service provider for the Livelihoods Program, the Project will promote investments in climate-smart businesses, provide training, mentorship and business advisory services, and offer startup and expansion grants to youth and women entrepreneurs and cooperatives to stimulate sustainable business growth.
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