Day Two of the African Union Development Agency mission to The Gambia was held at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) Conference Room chaired by the Permanent Secretary of MoHERST, Ms. Isatou Auber.
The day commenced with opening prayers followed by welcome remarks delivered by Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez, setting the tone for a day of technical presentations and strategic dialogue focused on strengthening collaboration in education, research, innovation, and digital transformation.
A key segment of the session featured a scene-setting presentation by the AUDA-NEPAD delegation led by Director Symerre Grey-Johnson, outlining continental priorities and ongoing initiatives aimed at advancing human capital development and inclusive digital transformation across Africa.
This was followed by presentations from key national financing and research institutions, including the Student Revolving Loan Scheme presented by Dr. Samba Bah, the Tertiary and Higher Education Trust (THET) Fund presented by Dr. Jorjoh Ndure-Tambedou, and the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) presented by Prof. Momodou Sallah. These presentations highlighted funding mechanisms supporting access to higher education, research development, and innovation ecosystems in The Gambia.
Further technical sessions included presentations from MoHERST Directorates. The Directorate of Planning, Budgeting and Policy Analysis (DPBPA), represented by Mr. Lamin Ceesay, provided updates on sector planning and policy coordination. The Directorate of Research (DoR), represented by Mr. James Gomez, highlighted ongoing research initiatives, while the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), presented by Mr. Edward A. Mendy, focused on science, technology, and innovation priorities.
A consolidated update on ongoing projects and programmes was delivered by Ms. Marrie Mendy, followed by interactive question-and-answer sessions that allowed for deeper engagement among all participants.
The meeting concluded with a debriefing session, where participants reflected on key outcomes and agreed on next steps, reinforcing a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and AUDA-NEPAD in advancing national and continental development priorities.
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