Brusubi, The Gambia – 28 April 2026: Mamadou Edrisa Njie, Executive Director, GYIN Gambia Chapter joined stakeholders at the official onboarding of 585 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) into the ANDANDORR Programme on 27 April 2026 at Paradise Suites Hotel.
The ceremony brought together key dignitaries including the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC), the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), senior government officials, representatives of the European Union Delegation in The Gambia, Business Support Organisations (BSOs), media, and programme beneficiaries.
In his keynote address, Mr. Ousainou Senghore, CEO of GIEPA, described the event as a milestone in enterprise development, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods. He congratulated the selected entrepreneurs, emphasizing their potential to build resilient businesses and contribute to national development.
Mr. Yusupha Keita, ITC Country Director, highlighted the importance of partnership: “From the very beginning, this programme has been built on partnership. We developed it together with partners, launched it together, recruited together, and we will implement it together.”
The ANDANDORR Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the Government of The Gambia, is designed to empower young entrepreneurs and women. It provides incubation, acceleration, financing, market access, and tailored support for businesses in tourism, creative industries, agriculture, and green/smart entrepreneurship.
Following a rigorous selection process, 585 MSMEs have been chosen for the first cohort. These enterprises will benefit from structured acceleration services including product development, market access, business development support, and access to finance.
Institutionalized within GIEPA, the programme embodies the Wolof word Andandorr—meaning “partnership”—and reflects a shared commitment to inclusive economic growth, job creation, and private sector development.
The onboarding ceremony marked the official launch of support to the selected MSMEs, including an introduction to programme components and the signing of Terms and Conditions to ensure accountability and commitment throughout the programme lifecycle.