A six-day sensitisation for ward committees on Community Driven Development Project (CDDP), was recently held in six wards under Kuntaur Local Government Area.

The wards that benefited are Karantaba, Banni, Kuntaur, Chamen Panchang and Kaur. In his remarks, the community development officer for Central River Region North, Alieu Mbow, said these wards are part of the Project Intervention Wards and sensitising them will increase awareness for the smooth implementation of the project. He noted that the project is  community focused and 60% of the total investment will be committed to direct community development.

He said that community participation will be fostered as an essential factor of success, since it is widely proven that empowerment, project ownership and sustainability are solely achieved through active community participation.

Lamin Njie, the financial controller said that CDDP interventions are through Village Development Committees (VDCs) and the ward committees are to be selected from the VDs within that particular ward. He said the project is a World Bank -funded project in partnership with The Gambia government. He added that it is a five-year project, totalling US$18.6 million.

Alhagie Jatta, the community development facilitator, said the project supports communities and local government through a single mechanism working through all sectors.