National Policy Development Handbook 2025

The National Policy Development Handbook (2025)

This Handbook is the official guide for public policy development and strategic planning across all public institutions in The Gambia. It functions as a complete reference manual for the entire policy cycle: agenda-setting, planning, formulation, implementation planning, validation and approval, monitoring, evaluation, and review. The Handbook introduces consistent, evidence informed, and results-oriented practices to improve the coherence and effectiveness of government policy actions. Its specific objectives are to:

• Institutionalize a harmonized national policy framework to reduce fragmentation and improve consistency in policymaking.
• Embed the use of research, data, and analytical tools to encourage evidence informed decisions throughout the policy process.
• Enhance the legitimacy, transparency, and responsiveness of the policy process by mandating inclusive and participatory processes.
• Ensure strategic alignment of all national policy and planning instruments with national development priorities and frameworks. Improve the clarity, consistency, and coherence of policy documents by introducing uniform policy templates and tools.
• Strengthen policy execution and accountability through clearly structured implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and review mechanisms.
• Build national capacity in policy development among civil servants and other stakeholders through templates, tools, and practical guidance.