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UNESCO-Gambia, 14/15 Marina Parade, Banjul (2026)

28/10/2026

The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, operating through its technical ex*****on arm, the Department of Water Resources, exists as a crucial governmental partner for the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO in executing the Natural Sciences mandate, specifically in freshwater governance, hydrology, and climate adaptation.

As the state ministry entrusted with managing the nation’s marine, coastal, and inland water resources, the Ministry provides the overarching policy direction, while the Department of Water Resources acts as the technical authority responsible for monitoring hydrometeorological conditions, managing surface and groundwater resources, and ensuring sustainable water supply across urban and rural communities in The Gambia.

The strategic collaboration between Natcom Gambia and the department bridges global hydrological science with national water management strategies, safeguarding the Gambia River basin and the country’s precious freshwater ecosystems.

At the core of this technical collaboration is the operationalization of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), where the Department of Water Resources serves as the primary national focal body. Natcom as a commission facilitates access to UNESCO’s scientific networks, data-sharing platforms like IHP-WINS (Water Information Network System), technical capacity-building workshops, and specialized research funding through which the Department enhances its hydrological modelling, groundwater assessment, and water quality monitoring capabilities across all six administrative regions.

Furthermore, building upon this framework, the partnership extends into international oceanography and marine sciences through active alignment with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). By linking national marine and coastal strategies with global oceanographic networks, observation systems, and ocean science data platforms, the collaboration enhances national capacities in marine spatial planning, coastal hazard mitigation, and ocean observation.

This expanded focus ensures that marine and coastal governance, addressing vital areas such as ocean health, blue economy development, and marine biodiversity protection, is seamlessly integrated alongside freshwater management. It supports national efforts to combat rising sea levels, ocean warming, and marine degradation along the Atlantic coastline.

Furthermore, the partnership aligns national water policies with global standards, ensuring that Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles guide agricultural, domestic, and industrial water usage while addressing the growing threats of saltwater intrusion, coastal erosion, and climate-induced drought along the River Gambia.

It additionally plays a vital role in community resilience, disaster risk reduction, and public awareness regarding water security. Thus, by collaborating on initiatives that integrate water conservation and hygiene into non-formal education, school curricula, and local community outreach, Natcom Gambia, the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources, and the Department of Water Resources build national capacity for sustainable resource stewardship.

The two institutions combined efforts ensure that scientific data, environmental monitoring, and community action converge to secure safe drinking water, protect aquatic ecosystems, and build long-term climate resilience for present and future generations in The Gambia.

26/10/2026

The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO) stands as the principal civil society umbrella body and primary non-governmental partner for the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO in driving community-centered development, civic engagement, and social accountability across the nation.

Founded in 1983, TANGO coordinates and represents dozens of local and international non-governmental organizations and civil society platforms operating across The Gambia, thus, the organization’s strategic alliance with Natcom does well in bridging multilateral policy frameworks with grassroots ex*****on to ensure that non-state actors play a central, structured role in advancing national development priorities aligned with UNESCO’s operational mandates.

The collaboration ensures that Natcom Gambia works in close alignment with TANGO to engage civil society organizations across key thematic areas, including Education for Sustainable Development, human rights advocacy, press freedom, environmental protection, and gender equality.

Natcom leverages TANGO’s vast network to facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations, policy validation workshops, and community outreach campaigns, ensuring that local perspectives directly inform national policy decisions. In return, the commission provides TANGO and its member organizations with access to UNESCO technical resources, international capacity-building frameworks, and participation platforms, strengthening the operational capacity of Gambian civil society actors to deliver sustainable, localized development solutions.

Additionally, Natcom Gambia and TANGO’s cohesive relationship serves as a crucial mechanism for promoting social cohesion, civic education, and democratic governance across all administrative regions of The Gambia. By actively mobilizing civil society networks during national initiatives, both institutions work to ensure that development programs achieve genuine community ownership.

This ultimately empowers local communities, elevate grassroots voices, and reinforce the role of a vibrant, independent civil society as an indispensable pillar for achieving sustainable development and social justice across the nation.

26/10/2026

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNaR), operating through its technical ex*****on arm, the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management, stands as part of the central state partners for the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO in executing the Natural Sciences mandate.

Charged with the stewardship of national biodiversity, environmental protection, climate adaptation policy, and ecosystem conservation, MECCNaR provides the overarching policy framework, while the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management serves as the direct operational custodian of protected nature reserves, national parks, and delicate coastal and terrestrial ecosystems across the country.

The partnership between Natcom Gambia and the ministry bridges international scientific frameworks with ground-level ecological conservation, ensuring that global climate and environmental benchmarks directly inform national conservation strategies.

At the core of this operational synergy is the implementation of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, where the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management acts as the primary technical lead in managing recognized biospheres, most notably the Niumi Biosphere Reserve.

Natcom Gambia provides connection to UNESCO scientific networks, specialized technical funding, and international environmental frameworks, enabling the department to conduct biodiversity monitoring, habitat restoration, and sustainable resource management.

Furthermore, the collaboration reinforces transboundary ecological conservation efforts, connecting Gambian reserves with wider regional ecosystems, such as the adjacent Delta du Saloum in Senegal, to promote sustainable community livelihoods, eco-tourism, and wetland preservation under international conservation conventions.

Looking past park management and biodiversity conservation, the alliance also drives crucial capacity building in climate resilience, scientific education, and environmental policy. By collaborating on initiatives designed to engage local youth, school conservation clubs, and coastal communities in environmental protection, Natcom Gambia, MECCNaR, and the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management actively foster ecological stewardship across the nation.

This, in its continuity, ensures that scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, and environmental education converge to build a resilient, sustainable future for The Gambia in the face of global climate challenges.

26/10/2026

Given its normative role in shaping cultural policy, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture serves as a strategic partner of the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM Gambia). Within this framework, the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) functions as the principal technical arm and lead institutional partner, advancing the national cultural agenda, safeguarding heritage, and promoting the creative economy.

As a semi-autonomous statutory body under the Ministry, the NCAC acts as the operational custodian of Gambian artistic expression and cultural heritage. Its collaboration with NATCOM Gambia provides the structural bridge that connects UNESCO’s global cultural conventions with national preservation initiatives, community engagement programmes, and creative policy development.

Through this partnership, NATCOM Gambia and the NCAC jointly coordinate and implement UNESCO cultural conventions, ensuring alignment between international standards and national priorities.

The synergy extends to safeguarding The Gambia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites, and the Stone Circles of Senegambia, while also leading national inventories of intangible cultural heritage, traditional knowledge systems, and indigenous craftsmanship.

In this process, the Permanent Delegation of The Gambia to UNESCO through NATCOM Gambia also plays a pivotal role in facilitating the ratification of all UNESCO Culture Conventions signed by The Gambia, thereby reinforcing the country’s international commitments and enabling access to UNESCO’s technical assistance, heritage funds, and capacity-building frameworks.

Beyond heritage preservation, NATCOM Gambia and the NCAC collaborate to strengthen the creative and cultural industries, supporting initiatives such as the UNESCO ResiliArt movement, artistic status regulation frameworks, and copyright administration.

Together, work is done to empower Gambian artists and cultural practitioners while positioning culture as a driver of sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and national identity.

19/10/2026

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MOHERST) serves as the strategic anchor and principal government partner of the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO in advancing the nation’s agenda for tertiary education reform, scientific research, and technological innovation. Through this partnership, MOHERST plays a decisive role in shaping policy, strengthening knowledge systems, and fostering innovation ecosystems that enable The Gambia to meet both national development priorities and global challenges.

As the state ministry mandated to oversee post‑secondary institutions, develop vocational training frameworks, and drive national science agendas, MOHERST functions as the lead governmental line agency aligning The Gambia’s higher education strategies with UNESCO’s global mandates and the transformative vision of Sustainable Development Goal 4. In this role, the Ministry ensures coherence between national priorities and international standards while driving systemic reforms that embed equity, quality, and innovation at the core of the country’s education and research landscape.

The collaboration between NATCOM Gambia and MOHERST guarantees that academic governance, scientific inquiry, and skills development are grounded in quality assurance and international benchmarks. Together, they strengthen national research infrastructure, promote STEM education, and build institutional capacity across tertiary institutions such as the University of The Gambia and specialized technical colleges.

NATCOM facilitates MoHERST’s access to UNESCO’s scientific networks, technical expertise, and funding platforms, enabling targeted interventions in open science, bioethics, and digital transformation in higher education. This cooperation bridges the gap between academic research and national policy priorities, fostering an environment where scientific knowledge directly informs sustainable development and socio‑economic transformation.

Beyond academic and scientific advancement, the alliance also plays a pivotal role in promoting equitable access to higher learning, transforming TVET systems, and building capacity for researchers and academic personnel.

By aligning national higher education strategies with UNESCO recommendations on tertiary education and the status of scientific researchers, NATCOM Gambia and MoHERST advance institutional quality assurance, strengthen South‑South academic collaboration, and support the emergence of a competitive, knowledge‑driven workforce equipped to address local and regional development challenges.

16/10/2026

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education stands as the primary governmental policy partner and structural anchor for the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO’s core mandate in basic education, literacy, and human capital development. It is also domicile to the head of the oversight body for NATCOM.

Charged with setting national education standards, overseeing school administration, and shaping the country’s basic academic frameworks, MoBSE serves as the principal line ministry through which UNESCO’s SDG 4 goals and global normative frameworks are translated into national educational policy.

The partnership between NATCOM and MoBSE ensures that international commitments to inclusive, equitable, and quality education are integrated into the daily realities of classrooms and learning institutions across all regions of The Gambia. Within this framework, ASPnet Schools and Clubs for UNESCO Schools serve as the grassroots engines of transformative education, directly engaging learners and communities in UNESCO’s vision of global citizenship, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development.

Through UNESCO funding mechanisms like the Participation Programme and strategic regional initiatives, Natcom Gambia works alongside MoBSE to roll out digital learning platforms such as the I-Learn Gambia platform, train regional education directorates, and establish robust policy frameworks for open and distance learning.

Beyond classroom instruction, this institutional alliance also plays a vital role in expanding non-formal education, promoting Education for Sustainable Development, and fostering global citizenship education within primary and secondary schools. By coordinating capacity-building programs, curriculum alignment forums, and equity-driven campaigns to increase school enrollment for girls and vulnerable youth, Natcom Gambia and MoBSE systematically address educational disparities.

The close cooperation ultimately equips Gambian learners and educators with the skills, values, and technological capabilities required to navigate a rapidly evolving global society.

12/10/2026

The National Federation of the Gambia Clubs for UNESCO (NAFGUC) serves as the primary civil society arm and grassroots operational extension of the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), mobilizing youth, educators, and students across the country to promote peace, education, culture, and human rights.

Existing as the umbrella body for all clubs for UNESCO in schools and communities nationwide since 2003, NAFGUC bridges the gap between high-level multilateral policies and local civic action. The strategic synergy between the commission and the Federation is, thus, one that is rooted in shared governance and a joint commitment to grassroots mobilization.

Hosted within the institutional ecosystem of the National Commission, NAFGUC works in direct alignment with Natcom’s technical sectors to implement youth-centric development projects, human rights campaigns, and educational outreach programs. Through this operational bond, Natcom provides the technical guidance, institutional backing, and international exposure needed to build the capacity of local clubs, while the Federation supplies the grassroots network required to ground UNESCO initiatives in local reality.

NAFGUC, in this light, plays a key role in advancing non-formal education, promoting a culture of peace, and encouraging youth leadership across The Gambia with Its local interventions focused on building media literacy, fostering climate resilience, protecting local cultural heritage, and empowering young women and girls.

By facilitating youth workshops, volunteerism, peacebuilding dialogues, and human rights awareness drives, the National Federation of the Gambia Clubs for UNESCO (NAFGUC) exists as a key multiplier for Natcom’s mandate, ensuring that sustainable development and global citizenship principles are active realities in schools, villages, and communities across The Gambia.

12/10/2026

The United Nations Development Programme serves as a foundational multilateral partner for the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO, representing a shared dedication to democratic governance, sustainable human development, and structural peacebuilding across the country.

Established in The Gambia in 1975, UNDP operates as the principal development agency of the United Nations system, working to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build institutional resilience through integrated policy solutions and capacity-building frameworks.

Within the broader United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, UNDP provides the overarching operational and strategic alignment that connects localized social interventions with global standards and national development priorities.

The strategic synergy between UNDP and Natcom Gambia is rooted in a joint commitment to strengthening public institutions, advancing social inclusion, and fostering peaceful, resilient communities. As Natcom coordinates national interventions across education, culture, science, and communication, UNDP provides vital programmatic partnership, cross-sectoral technical alignment, and joint initiative backing.

This collaboration is particularly pronounced in peacebuilding and social cohesion initiatives, where UNDP and UNESCO regularly pool resources to deploy joint programs such as youth-led early warning response systems, conflict prevention platforms, and hate speech mitigation campaigns that safeguard democratic processes and community stability.

Through this multi-faceted partnership, UNDP supports Natcom in leveraging education, media literacy, and cultural heritage as catalysts for sustainable economic development and social progress. By supporting capacity development in public governance, environmental resilience, and gender equality, UNDP helps amplify Natcom’s operational reach, enabling national projects to achieve deeper, systemic impact.

The collaborative relationship essentially reinforces Natcom’s positioning as a central bridge within the UN Country Team in The Gambia, ensuring that educational, cultural, and scientific policies contribute directly to national poverty reduction, inclusive growth, and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

12/10/2026

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization stands as one of the most vital strategic partners of the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO, representing a shared commitment to fostering sustainable development, civilizational dialogue, and human capital across the Islamic world.

Established in 1979 under the aegis of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and headquartered in Rabat, Morocco, ICESCO specializes in advancing education, the natural and social sciences, culture, and communication.

Operating as a beacon of knowledge-based influence, the organization guides its interventions through forward-looking policies, capacity-building frameworks, and targeted technical support aimed at empowering member states to address contemporary socio-economic and technological challenges.

The partnership between ICESCO and The Gambia is deeply anchored in mutual priorities that bridge global developmental standards with regional and Islamic cultural values. As the national administrative hub for international cooperation in these shared domains, Natcom Gambia serves as the direct channel through which ICESCO's strategic visions, specialized programs, and funding opportunities are realized on the ground.

Through this structured relationship, Natcom aligns Gambia’s national objectives with ICESCO’s broader mandates, facilitating high-level policy dialogue, institutional capacity building, and south-south cooperation across the African region.

Using its technical sectors and funding mechanisms, ICESCO provides essential resources and expert guidance to support projects in key sectors. In education, this collaboration drives the modernization of learning environments, the integration of digital technologies, and the promotion of inclusive literacy programs.

In science and technology, ICESCO enables capacity building in artificial intelligence, green technologies, and climate resilience tailored to West Africa.

Furthermore, the organization plays a pivotal role in preserving Islamic and West African tangible and intangible cultural heritage, safeguarding historic manuscripts, and supporting youth and women empowerment initiatives across the country.

By providing financial grants, specialized workshops, and international networking platforms, ICESCO reinforces Natcom Gambia's capacity to deliver sustainable, community-level impact aligned with both national development goals and international benchmarks.

09/10/2026

As the parent international body, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization stands as the ultimate strategic partner and operational backbone of the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO.

Established in 1945 and headquartered in Paris, France, UNESCO operates as a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to fostering peace, eradicating poverty, and driving sustainable human development through international cooperation in education, the natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information.

The global organization guides its operational interventions through two overarching global priorities: Priority Africa and Global Priority Gender Equality. In executing its international mandate across sub-Saharan Africa, UNESCO operates decentralized regional multisectoral offices, with the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Dakar serving as the primary hub for West Africa and directly supporting national initiatives across member states, including The Gambia.

The relationship between UNESCO and The Gambia dates back to August 1, 1973, when the country officially joined the organization as a Member State. Following a cabinet decision in March 1983, the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO was formally created to serve as the official liaison body linking the global organization with national institutions, government ministries, civil society, and grassroots communities.

In this capacity, Natcom Gambia acts as the constitutional bridge through which UNESCO’s normative instruments, global policy frameworks, operational strategies, and financial mechanisms are implemented locally.

The multilateral organization provides indispensable technical expertise, capacity-building resources, policy advice, and financial backing under program frameworks like the Participation Programme and Regular Programme allocations, enabling Natcom to translate international development goals into direct national achievements.

Through this vital partnership, UNESCO empowers the National Commission to lead transformative initiatives tailored to The Gambia’s specific development priorities. This collaborative synergy manifests in diverse areas, including the advancement of SDG 4 through foundational literacy and teacher training initiatives, the protection and promotion of national cultural heritage sites like Kunta Kinteh Island and the Stone Circles of Senegambia, the enhancement of press freedom and safety of journalists, and the promotion of environmental sustainability through scientific networks and biosphere initiatives.

By continuously aligning national policies with global standards, UNESCO provides the global authority, technical weight, and strategic guidance that elevate Natcom Gambia from a national administrative body into a key driver of intellectual and social transformation across the country.

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