From Eroding Shores to Resilient Communities: How GEF is Transforming The Gambia’s Coastline

September 11, 2025

In the heart of The Gambia, where the Atlantic Ocean meets vibrant coastal communities, a quiet revolution has been unfolding. For years, rising seas and salt intrusion threatened livelihoods, swallowed rice fields, and eroded beaches. But hope arrived with the UNDP/GEF Coastal Resilience Project, a beacon of adaptation and empowerment.

One of the most visible and impactful interventions was the restoration of a 1-kilometer stretch along the Senegambia/Kololi Hotel strip. This iconic beach corridor had been losing up to 20 meters of shoreline annually, endangering tourism infrastructure and the livelihoods of fruit and vegetable vendors, informal traders, and small businesses. Through the construction of revetments, offshore breakwaters, and beach nourishment, the coastline was stabilized, public access was restored, and the beach economy was revived. Vendors returned, tourists felt safer, and the community regained a vital source of income and pride.

Beyond the beach, the project reached deep into the wetlands and riverbanks of The Gambia. In the Tanbi Wetlands and other coastal zones, over 2,500 hectares of mangrove forests were rehabilitated across the North Bank, Western, and Lower River Regions. These mangroves now serve as natural buffers against storm surges and saltwater intrusion, while supporting fisheries and biodiversity. An estimated 177,285 Gambians depend directly or indirectly on the economic and ecological services provided by these mangroves.

To build long-term resilience, the project introduced climate-resilient livelihoods in 15 intervention sites and 20 wards across the Lower and Central Valleys. These included:

Salt production in Darsilami village (Jokadu)
Beekeeping and horticulture in Misera and Bintang
Integrated Farming Systems in Tendaba and Illiassa
Agroforestry management in Bintang and Kangmangka

These interventions were supported by $8.9 million in direct project financing and over $41 million in co-financing, involving national institutions like the Department of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, and the Ministry of Environment, alongside UNDP and GEF.

According to Bakay Marong of Tendaba, “the polder construction of Tendaba really supported us in not losing our community and the local Camp to the sea”. “Additionally, the dyke that has been constructed by the Project has also supported the arresting of salt intrusion into our rice fields thereby increasing our rice yields for the harvesting period”

These efforts have not only protected The Gambia’s coast but have empowered its people. From the vibrant beaches of Senegambia to the quiet mangrove creeks of Tanbi, communities standing strong against the tides of climate change.