Africa-Press – Gambia. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), through the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project II (WACA ResIP II), held a policy dialogue to review a new draft for the National Rainwater Harvesting Policy and its Strategic Implementation Plan.
The one-day event held at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau on Thursday was meant to build climate resilience and promote adaptation by establishing strong standards and ensuring the safe use and conservation of rainwater. Participants at the workshop were expected to provide feedback on the draft policy and its implementation strategy.
Dr. Muhammed Lamin Sanyang, the WACA project manager, harped on the workshop’s goal to strengthen institutional capacity and policy frameworks related to climate change, disaster risk reduction, and integrated coastal zone management, a process he urged participants to be committed to.
“We should not consider this a mere validation of a policy,” Dr. Sanyang stated. “Instead, we need to understand that this policy is a framework for change toward sustainable rainwater conservation. It is a guiding principle that highlights institutional arrangements and implementation strategies to mainstream rainwater harvesting across all sectors.”
Dr. Sanyang noted that the policy aligns with WACA’s flood risk mitigation efforts and the project’s commitment to supporting the nation’s push for a more climate-resilient and sustainable future.
Abubacarr Zaid Jallow, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at MECCNAR, described the policy’s development as a “critical step forward” in the country’s efforts to sustainably manage its water resources.
He stated that by harnessing rainwater, The Gambia can reduce the pressure on its groundwater, enhance agricultural productivity, and improve community access to water.
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