Vice President of the Gambia H.E Mohammed BS Jallow has said that the Diaspora Development Fund Projects had created 576 jobs for the youth and women in rural and urban areas.
VP Jallow made this disclosure while speaking on behalf of H.E President Adama Barrow at the 8Th Stake in the Nation Forum (SNF8) on Saturday, 11 January. Held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo, the multi stakeholder dialogue brought together ministers, diplomats, diaspora investors, entrepreneurs, technocrats, security heads and other relevant stakeholders.
Vice President Jallow underscored the significance of diaspora finance to the welfare of families and communities and the development of the nation.
“In 2020 during the COVID19 pandemic, MSDG piloted a Diaspora Development Fund (DDF). As of the last audited results in June 2024, half a million Euros in cash, equivalent to 37 million Dalasi was awarded as grants to 74 projects,” VP Jallow reported.
“These projects were led by diaspora professionals who worked with local partners in rural and urban Gambia. The projects in turn generated four million Euros, equivalent to 295 million Dalasi, through cash and in-kind co-finance from the diaspora, government and other partners.”
Out of the jobs created, 78% were in the rural area; 70% of those employed were women and 60% were young people under the age of 36, VP Jallow noted.
He thank all development partners and called for more support for the fourth face of the MSDG project in the Gambia.
