By Makutu Manneh
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and with support from the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD), has unveiled The Gambia’s first-ever Strategic Spatial Analysis (SSA)—a landmark initiative in the nation’s urban and regional development planning.
The SSA introduces the country’s first comprehensive framework for spatial development, designed to guide sustainable urbanization, infrastructure planning, and regional equity.
Speaking at the official launch, Hon. Hamat N.K. Bah, Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, expressed profound appreciation to UN-Habitat and its partners for their technical and financial contributions.
Minister Bah described the initiative as the product of extensive collaboration and a major step forward in The Gambia’s national planning efforts. He noted that the findings and recommendations from the SSA will serve as vital tools in shaping development strategies and fostering resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities nationwide.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact of the project on the lives of Gambians. Let us work together to harness the potential of our cities and towns to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, and ensure a brighter future for all of us,” Minister Bah stated.
Minister Bah further noted that many of The Gambia’s cities remain poorly planned and underdeveloped, a challenge that continues to deepen poverty and inequality. He emphasized that unplanned urban growth often leads to higher long-term development costs.
“Gambia is no exception; we have been victims of a lack of planning, and we hope with this project we should be able to address those issues as we move on as a developing country,” he added.
Karl Frederick Paul, the United Nations Country Representative in The Gambia, stated that for the United Nations, the initiative represents far more than the production of maps—it signifies a critical enhancement of The Gambia’s ability to plan strategically, invest judiciously, and advance toward a more equitable and sustainable future for all citizens.
He emphasized that this data-driven approach substantially reinforces national capacity to monitor progress, equipping The Gambia with the tools to track development trends, identify gaps, and direct resources to areas of greatest need.
“On behalf of the United Nations system in the Gambia, I wish to reaffirm our support for Gambia’s development efforts. The United Nations is committed to integrating evidence-based approaches that empower national institutions and deliver results for the people,” he noted.
A strategic spatial analysis uses geographic and spatial data to uncover patterns, relationships, and trends that inform long-term decision-making. It serves as an essential planning tool for sustainable urbanization, improved service delivery, and balanced territorial development across The Gambia.