The Gambia is the smallest country on the African continent with a total area of 11,300 km² and a population of 1.3 million people with an annual growth rate of 2.8% (2003 census). It ranks 155 out of 177 countries (just before Senegal) on the 2007 UNDP Human Development Report with a Human Development Index of 0.502 and has a GDP per capita of US$ 310 (est.) in 2006.

Key issues in EU-Gambia relations

The main objective of The Gambia's strategy is to contribute to the attainment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSPII) adopted by the Government of the Gambia as its medium-term strategy for implementing the country's long-term development framework - VISION 2020. The 10th EDF (European Development Fund 2008-2013) Country Strategy is aimed at reducing poverty in the context of sustainable socio-economic development of The Gambia. The strategy also embodies good governance, human rights and the rule of law as complementary objectives.

10^th EDF (European Development Fund 2008-2013)
Poor infrastructure, primarily transport and energy, low levels of human capital and governance-related issues pose major obstacles for the development of The Gambia. Consequently, for the 10th EDF (European Development Fund 2008-2013) the two focal sectors selected are "infrastructure and regional interconnectivity" and "governance".

Two focal sectors:

• The 10^th EDF (European Development Fund 2008-2013) maintains transport as a focal but with a broader emphasis on infrastructure and regional interconnectivity.
• The second focal sector is governance that is to help the government undertaking reforms at the macroeconomic level as well as in the judiciary.

 

Budget support (both global as well as sector budget support) will be resumed in the 10^th EDF (European Development Fund 2008-2013) Community's cooperation financing in The Gambia.

Migration
The new and evolving phenomenon of illegal migration, particularly to Europe, has witnessed some Gambian young people taking up this adventure. The matter is of concern to both the Government and the people of The Gambia due to the inherent risk, including loss of life, and the precarious conditions faced during the course of the journey, at the transit and destination points. The Government, with support from the EC, plans to undertake an in-depth study to establish a migration profile for the Gambia.