Gambia

2020 Country Profile

Joined: July 2011

Population: 2.42 million

Nutrition situation

Under five stunting (%) 19
Under five overweight (%) 1.2
Anaemia in women 15-49 years (%) 57.5
Under five wasting (%) 6.2
Low birth weight (%) 16.8
0 to 5-month-old exclusive breastfeeding (%) 53.3
Adolescent overweight (%) Male: 7.5 / Female: 14.5
Adult overweight (%) Male: 24.5 / Female: 38.9
Adult obesity (%) Male: 5.6 / Female: 14.8
Adult diabetes (%) Male: 9.4 / Female: 7.9

COVID-19 snapshot

A public health emergency was declared in March 2020. All nutrition stakeholders have been active in the prevention and management of the pandemic and its effects. The National Social Protection Secretariat was established, unconditional cash transfers were provided, and food has been distributed.

Institutional transformations 2019-2020

Total weighted
77.8%
2014
80%
2015
Not available
2016
79%
2017
79%
2018
85%
2019
85%
2020
85%

Bringing people together into a shared space for action

The Nutrition Technical Advisory Committee has expanded to include other stakeholders, in a bid to become the national SUN Movement multisectoral platform (MSP). Civil society organisations have formed a registered alliance. A SUN Business Network has been formally created, with support from the World Food Programme (WFP). The Network was officially launched by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Vice President and the WFP Country Director. The National Nutrition Council is chaired by the Vice President.
2014
54%
2015
Not available
2016
96%
2017
96%
2018
96%
2019
96%
2020
96%

Ensuring a coherent policy and legal framework

The Nutrition Technical Advisory Committee and Technical Working Groups coordinate inputs for the review of nutrition policies and legislation. A new Nutrition Policy (2018–2025) has been validated and endorsed by the National Nutrition Council and Vice President. A Social and Behavioural Change Communication Strategy and a Health Promotion and Education Strategy have been developed. The MSP took part in the development of the National Development Plan and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
2014
29%
2015
Not available
2016
40%
2017
40%
2018
40%
2019
53%
2020
57%

Aligning actions around common results

Food security and nutrition actions are aligned with agricultural, health and community development policies and programmes. Multiple stakeholders are involved in the food fortification programme. The development of the Common Results Framework and Multi-Stakeholder Nutrition Action Plan is ongoing. National surveys, such as the Demographic and Health Survey, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, the Gambia Micronutrient Survey, the Integrated Household Survey and SMART, were conducted to inform the development of the Nutrition Policy and Strategy.
2014
43%
2015
Not available
2016
54%
2017
54%
2018
63%
2019
69%
2020
73%

Financial tracking and resource mobilisation

Donors and partners are mobilising resources for nutrition. The school feeding budget was increased in 2019. A gap in social protection for the most vulnerable was identified, and resources have been mobilised to address these gaps create social safety nets. The process for developing the Multi-Stakeholder Nutrition Action Plan and the Common Results Framework has begun. The October 2020 Cost of Hunger Analysis will be used for advocacy and resource mobilisation. Capacity-strengthening for financial tracking has begun.

2020-2021 Priorities


  • Finalising the common results framework and Multi-Stakeholder Nutrition Action Plan.

  • Establishing a SUN academia, scientific and research institutions network.

  • Ensuring the enactment of the Nutrition Bill.

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