Devolved climate finance is supporting communities in The Gambia to reshape their environments

In The Gambia, climate change is no distant concern—it is a pressing reality affecting daily life. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and water scarcity are hitting rural areas like Mansakonko the hardest, disproportionately impacting women, youth, and marginalized communities. The economic pressures from climate change are also fueling informal migration, with many young Gambians risking dangerous routes in search of better opportunities abroad. 

In response, a locally led adaptation (LLA) approach is offering a path to resilience. The Local Climate Adaptive Living (LoCAL) Facility, implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), is equipping communities with the tools and resources to combat climate challenges on their own terms. This initiative has created transformative opportunities in 30 countries, including The Gambia, by devolving decision-making, investing in local capabilities, and ensuring transparency and accountability. 

How LoCAL Works 

The LoCAL Facility channels climate finance directly to local governments through Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRGs). These grants integrate adaptation measures into local planning and development, ensuring that climate solutions align with community priorities. LoCAL’s structured yet flexible approach allows communities to identify, design, and implement projects tailored to their specific needs. 

The process is community-driven, ensuring that those most affected by climate change have a direct say in adaptation solutions. Projects range from improving water access and infrastructure to supporting climate-resilient livelihoods and skills development. 

Empowering Vulnerable Groups 

In The Gambia, LoCAL has prioritized women, youth, and returning economic migrants, offering them opportunities to build resilience. Over 5,000 temporary jobs have been created through Cash for Work initiatives, providing much-needed income for vulnerable households. Many participants have used their earnings to start small businesses in green sectors, such as poultry farming and livestock rearing. 

Beyond financial assistance, LoCAL has focused on capacity building, equipping community members with skills in masonry, engineering, financial management, and leadership. Partnerships with institutions like the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have delivered vocational training programs, including: 

• The Farmer Field School program, which trained 600 farmers in sustainable agriculture. 

• The Skills for Youth Employment Fund, which provided vocational training for 375 young Gambians in high-demand areas like horticulture and engineering. 

Recognizing that women are disproportionately affected by climate change, LoCAL has actively promoted gender-inclusive adaptation. Women have played a leading role in defining and implementing community projects, ensuring that adaptation efforts are not only sustainable but also equitable. Through targeted training and consultations, women have gained leadership roles in climate resilience initiatives. 

Mansakonko: A Model for Locally Led Adaptation 

The Mansakonko Area Council, one of The Gambia’s eight local administrative regions, has been a key player in LoCAL since 2018.

Among the locally led projects funded through LoCAL in Mansakonko: 

• Improved secondary roads, ensuring better access to markets and essential services. 

• Women’s horticultural projects, enhancing food security and economic independence. 

• Clean drinking water facilities, providing safe and reliable water sources for communities. 

Most funds were spent directly in the community—through Cash for Work wages, local procurement, and infrastructure projects—demonstrating transparent financial management and local ownership. Although the LoCAL cycle has ended in Mansakonko, Mayor Sanneh is advocating for its extension and additional funding to support priority projects. 

Scaling Up: The Future of LoCAL in The Gambia 

LoCAL follows a three-phase implementation model, ensuring sustainability and national ownership: 

1. Pilot Phase (Phase I): Local governments, with LoCAL’s support, design climate-resilient investments. International climate finance is channeled into climate risk assessments, participatory planning, and capacity building. 

2. Expansion Phase (Phase II): The program is scaled up to 5-10 local governments, addressing diverse climate risks and vulnerabilities. 

3. National Roll-Out (Phase III): The government fully integrates LoCAL into its system for channeling climate finance to local levels. 

In The Gambia, Phase I has been successfully implemented in 32 of the country’s 122 wards, with Phase II currently underway. The government aims to expand LoCAL to 48 wards, reaching the Upper River and West Coast regions. To support this, The Gambia is seeking $15 million from the Adaptation Fund, with additional national funding filling the gaps. 

Tangible Results and Lasting Change 

LoCAL’s impact in The Gambia has been profound: 

• Over 45,000 rural Gambians directly benefited from its programs, with an additional 301,600 people indirectly impacted. 

• Community-built culverts and water infrastructure have improved access to health services and education, even during the rainy season. 

• Countless micro and small green businesses have emerged, fostering local economic resilience. 

A hallmark of the LoCAL approach is the deep sense of community ownership it fosters. Community members are not just participants; they are decision-makers, builders, and managers. By allowing funds to be locally controlled and investments to be maintained through community-led mechanisms, LoCAL ensures long-term sustainability. 

The Gambia’s experience with LoCAL is a testament to the power of locally led adaptation. By placing decision-making in the hands of communities, ensuring financial transparency, and investing in local skills and capabilities, LoCAL is setting a precedent for climate resilience worldwide. 

This expansion is about more than just scaling up—it’s about building a global model for adaptation that prioritizes local voices. By tackling climate challenges at the community level, LoCAL is proving that resilience is not just an aspiration, but a reality being built—one project at a time.