Group Photo The Stakeholders At The Launching Of Google Plus Codes, At The KMC Building.
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has unveiled an innovative project harnessing Google Plus Codes to improve waste management and local governance in the municipality. Launched on Thursday, this initiative seeks to optimize waste collection, enhance property tax systems, and expand access to essential services, fostering a cleaner and healthier community.
The project aims to address critical urban governance challenges by improving waste collection efficiency through GPS tracking and real-time monitoring. It also intends to elevate environmental quality and public health by providing better access to waste management services.
Speaking at the launch, KMC Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda emphasized the council’s commitment to innovation and collaboration in tackling urban challenges.
“By leveraging Google plus codes, we are taking a bold step towards transforming waste management, improving tax systems and enhancing the delivery of essential public services. These advancements aim to re-enforce our social contract with Kanifing citizens, fostering a cleaner, healthier and more susceptible Municipal. These advancements aim to reintroduce our commitment to better serve Kanifing citizens, fostering a more sustainable city,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the team behind the project, including researchers from the University of Essex and the University of The Gambia, as well as other partners. He also acknowledged the funding provided by the Fund for Innovation in Development, which is crucial to bringing this vision to life.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude as a municipality to the Fund for Innovation in Development for funding these transformative initiatives. Your investment empowers us to create meaningful change backed by data innovation and collaboration. This project represents more than just technological advancement, it is about strengthening our connection with our local community, building truth and demonstrating that we are committed to delivering real improvement in the lives of our citizens,”he said.
He stated that the pilot phase, spanning the next two years, will enable them to assess and enhance their efforts, providing crucial insights to shape the future of urban governance in Kanifing and beyond.
He disclosed that the project has a budget of D30 million, with D11 million allocated specifically to KMC initiatives. He urged all stakeholders to remain actively involved, emphasizing that the initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration, with its success hinging on their collective commitment.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Pa Sait Ceesay, described the project as a significant milestone in advancing the municipality’s development. He highlighted that the initiative would not only enhance waste management but also ensure greater transparency and fairness in property tax collection.
He further noted that the project aims to create a more efficient and accessible system for all residents of Kanifing.
“The significance of these initiatives can not be overstated as we work towards a smarter, more sustainable city by leveraging technology to improve service delivery. We will have far-reaching impacts on the quality of life for our residents. This project will not only improve waste Management, but it will also ensure that property tax collection becomes more transparent, accurate and fair. In order to measure the project effectiveness, the research team will conduct extensive household surveys targeting four thousand randomly selected properties across the municipality,”he said.
Mr. Ceesay emphasized that the survey will deliver essential data, enabling them to fine-tune and adapt the project’s implementation to better address the needs of their community.
He also extended heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders and partners for their invaluable support of the initiative.
Victor Pouliquene, a senior lecturer at the University of Essex, provided an overview of the project’s research component.
“The primary goal of this project is to leverage new technology and google Plus Codes to improve public service delivery in Kanifing, so Plus codes are an innovative addressing system that opens new possibilities for improving efficiency, particularly in managing essential services like the Mbalit waste collection system,”he said.
He stated that the initiative will adopt an innovative approach built around four key steps. These include designing interventions aimed at improving public services, with a particular focus on the Mbalit service, and piloting these interventions on a small scale in Kanifing over the next year, targeting selected households and communities across all wards.
Project Coordinator Sabiner Lee highlighted that the project’s impact will be evaluated through a comprehensive household survey, as the implementation is scheduled for 2025.
The program will be piloted and assessed throughout 2025 and 2026, with the possibility of broader implementation across the municipality following the evaluation phase.
The council revealed that the pilot phase will provide actionable, evidence-based insights into the program’s impact and scalability for adaptation at the municipal level. To assess its effect on citizens, a research team will collaborate with a survey firm to conduct two household surveys, covering 4,000 randomly selected properties within the Kanifing Municipality.