The Regional Workshop on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which ended last week in Dakar, has paved the way for the implementation of this important tool in assessing policies and programmes in The Gambia.

During the three-day training session, the Gambia Group came up with an adequate procedure which heralds optimistic perspectives for the SEA. Below we reproduce the  necessary actions, outlined by the Gambian delegation, for its introduction:  

Immediate Plans (up to 1 year):
We report back to our institutions.  Interview with the press as a means to sensitize the general population about the importance of SEA.  Organization of sensitization workshop for policy makers on the importance of SEA. We liaise with other relevant institutions (parastatals and semi-autonomous institutions).  Give the task of SEA to the EIA working group

Medium Term Plans (from 1 year to 3 years):
Organize workshop for NGOs, civil societies and media practitioners. Write to key Department of States to identify contact person for SEA.  Conduct training for SEA Focal Points.  Conduct pilot SEA in the country.  To establish database/web-it experiences in Africa

Long Term Plans (from 3 years and above):
Build capacities of the focal points in the various Department of States to be able to take a lead in the conduct of SEA in their various sectors.  To establish legal framework for SEA in the country

Sub-Regional Plans:
Sub-Regional SEA protocol, which will require member countries to conduct SEA for plans, policies and programs they will like to implement in their respective countries. Any plan, policy or program that might have cross boundary impact shall undergo SEA involving the affected country.