Vice President Jallow Unveils Government’s Vision for Comprehensive Social Protection by 2035
Vice President Mohammed B.S Jallow, speaking on behalf of President Adama Barrow at the International Social Protection Conference unveils the government’s long-term commitment plan to establish a comprehensive social protection system by 2035, aligning with domestic and international commitments, with the aim to create a more secure and inclusive society, ensuring the well-being of all Gambians.
The 3-days International Social Protection Conference is currently underway at the SDKJ International Conference Center in Bijilo, to discuss on the social protection of the vulnerable population to be funded with the theme ” accelerating social protection financing to increase coverage and reach for a Long-term social protection”.
The conference opened with remarks from Vice President Muhammed BS Jallow. Other dignitaries in attendance included Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Seedy Keita, First Lady Fatoumata Bah Barrow, and UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana.
The Gambia’s first National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) for the period 2015-2025 was formulated with the objective of mitigating poverty and vulnerability in alignment with the Government of The Gambia’s Vision 2020 and the 2012-2015 Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE). The NSPP was developed through extensive consultations with key ministries, sub-national governments, community leaders, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and local communities.
“Our social protection system consists of the following prior two areas. One, safeguard the welfare of the poorest and most vulnerable populations; two, to protect vulnerable populations from transitory shocks; three, promote livelihoods and income of the poorest and vulnerable economically active population. Number four, reduce people’s exposure to social risks and vulnerabilities. Including discrimination and exclusion, and five strengthen leadership governance and social protection system in order to design and deliver effective and efficient programs,” Muhammed BS Jallow, the Vice President of the Gambia said on behalf of the president.
The permanent secretary of the office of the Vice President Mrs Cordu L. Jabang Senghore said that the conference will serve as a platform where government can report progress and challenges based on the implementation of Gambia’s first national social protection policy 2015 to 2025 which is formulated to with the objective to diminish poverty and vulnerability in alignment with the Government of the Gambia’s vision.
However, the United Nations Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana highlighted that despite been partners in development, they are also advocates for the fundamental principle of leaving no one behind as the social protection is a vital instrument with the mission that every individual regardless of their circumstances have the opportunity to live a life and ending opportunities.
She further highlighted that the UN with its stakeholders recognized the pivotal role of social protection can play as an accelerator of the achievements of many and even most of the SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) targets from ending poverty, hunger, to improving gender equality, access to health education and even tackling inequality and Climate change.
Adding that the Gambia like many nations faces its unique sets of challenges in the pursuit of reducing poverty and vulnerabilities, and the government with its wavering commitment to social protection as demonstrated by the establishment of the national social protection secretariat and the operationalization of the social protection policy which is indeed praiseworthy.
