Gambia - Resilience Building - Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project (RB - VYWOSP)

The proposed financing will scale up the Bank-funded Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project (VYWOSP), approved in September 2023, by extending its geographic reach and reinforcing its preventive aspects. Due to budget limitations, VYWOSP covered only three LGAs, rehabilitated two of six planned health facilities, and lacked adequate support for financial inclusion and nutrition. The new project—RB-VYWOSP—will target two additional LGAs, expanding access to jobs, livelihoods, and basic services, particularly in rural and periurban areas. This scaling-up effort promotes equity, prevents marginalization, and strengthens national cohesion. The Bank brings strong added value through its experience designing scalable human capital operations, such as the Coding for Employment and ENABLE Youth initiatives, which have expanded skills and jobs across Africa. Its ability to integrate education, health, and livelihoods—as demonstrated in projects like Response to the Sudan Refugee Crisis Project and the regional health system strengthening in West Africa —positions it well to tackle RBVYWOSP’s multidimensional challenges. The Bank will also support the Ministry of Health in developing a national health investment plan, improving coordination, resource mobilization, and donor alignment. By embedding nutrition into health and social protection, RB-VYWOSP addresses root causes of low human capital, supporting long-term resilience and inclusive growth.