GiG celebrates success

The Gambia is Good (GIG), proud winners of three international awards in 2008, on Tuesday celebrated years of operations.

The ceremony was held at the organisation’s Fajara offices and included the presentation of in-country Gambia is Good awards to recognised producers, customers and their staff, who have performed exceptionally well in the past year.

GiG is a dynamic and progressive social enterprise striving to improve local farmer livelihoods. GiG works to connect poor rural farmers to the country’s lucrative tourist market thus increasing earnings. It also reduces the need for imported produce, encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit among producers and diversifying the agricultural crop base of The Gambia.

Talking about GiG, Patricia Wall, Concern Universal (CU) Country Director, said the GiG idea originated in 1998 when CU commissioned a survey of horticultural marketing in the North Bank and Western regions. She said the name GiG was decided in 2001, and 2008 marked their first decade.

According to Patricia Wall, in 2008, GiG captured the interest of the international community at three different gatherings and won the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award - Best Project for Poverty Reduction; UK Charity of the year Award and the World Business Development Award. This is the first international business award to recognize the crucial connection between business and development in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Amy Hause, general manager of GiG, said GiG always buys local produce to increase the incomes of Gambian producers when such products are available. “Development of Gambian management is our goal through building the capacity of our team,” Amy Hause added.

In her speech, Fatou Jasseh Kuyateh, permanent secretary of the Office of the Vice President, said GiG in collaboration with CU is here to help The Gambia grow by creating the conditions necessary for the growth of a vibrant agricultural sector. She added that thanks to GiG and CU, “farmers have begun to realize a good and steady income. They have also become leaders in their various communities, providing guidance and advice to their fellow farmers.”

This celebration brought together government officials, diplomats, senior government officials, international organizations, hotel and restaurant representatives, and  farmers working with GiG.