By Buba Gagigo
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a Field Validation Monitoring and Evaluation mission in The Gambia, scheduled from August 11th to 16th, 2024.
This mission, according to an ECOWAS statement, is part of the regional bloc’s effort to assess and confirm the effectiveness of humanitarian relief provided to those affected by the recent food crisis and flooding in The Gambia.
“The mission’s primary objective is to ensure the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of the humanitarian aid distributed to the affected communities. It will include comprehensive field visits, stakeholder engagements, and an evaluation of the relief efforts to identify gaps and areas for improvement,” ECOWAS said.
The mission according to ECOWAS, will include representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, The Gambia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Gambian government, and various implementation partners.
The regional bloc said that it has allocated a total of $10.16 million in humanitarian aid for its member states, with $1.76 million specifically earmarked for The Gambia. This funding aims to assist those affected by the food crisis and flood disasters.