National Action Plan for Improvement of Environmental Statistics in The Gambia

CONTENT

The National Action Plan for Improvement of Environmental Statistics in The Gambia aims to strengthen national capacities to produce and manage high-quality environmental statistics. It seeks to improve the integration of these statistics with socio-economic data to support evidence-based policymaking, monitor sustainable development goals (SDGs), and address environmental challenges.

Specific Objectives

1. Inter-Institutional Collaboration: Enhance coordination among stakeholders through committees and forums.

2. Methodological Development: Improve data collection methodologies, harmonize concepts, and introduce GIS and Big Data approaches.

3. Capacity Building: Develop human resources and technical expertise in environmental statistics through training and education.

4. Infrastructure Investment: Establish robust ICT infrastructure, libraries, and data management systems to support environmental statistics.

5. Human Resource Development: Recruit and train staff, strengthen statistical literacy, and create specialized curricula for education in environmental statistics.

6. Advocacy and Networking: Mobilize resources, create partnerships, and raise awareness to prioritize environmental statistics.

SUMMARY

The National Action Plan identifies the current gaps and challenges in environmental statistics in The Gambia, including the lack of coordination, limited human and financial capacity, and outdated infrastructure. It emphasizes the role of environmental data in sustainable development and policymaking. The plan provides detailed strategies and actions, such as creating collaborative frameworks, improving data quality, training personnel, building infrastructure, and advocating for increased resources.

The framework follows the FDES 2013 and aligns with the NSDS II (2018-2022). It also integrates international commitments such as the SDGs and Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs). The overall goal is to enhance the quality and availability of environmental statistics to support national development and address environmental challenges effectively.