SPRING-The Gambia

The Gambian horticultural sector is a strategic driver for economic development, food security and decent employment. However, it remains hampered by low productivity, shortcomings in sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, unsustainable practices and limited market access — to the detriment, in particular, of women, young people and vulnerable groups. In December 2025, COLEAD signed a five-year grant contract with the European Union Delegation in The Gambia to implement the SPRING programme in line with the Multi-Annual Indicative Framework (MIP) and the priorities of the EU’s Global Gateway.

To strengthen the contribution of the Gambian horticultural sector to economic growth, food security and nutrition by accelerating a resilient, market-driven and people-centred agroecological transition, particularly for women and young people.

• To increase investment, productivity, incomes and employment opportunities, particularly for women, young people and marginalised groups.
• To improve plant health, food safety, quality management and sustainable agroecological practices among producers and processors.
• Strengthen diversified, nutrition-sensitive horticultural value chains produced using agroecological methods.

The programme supports the Gambian horticultural sector (fresh and processed, excluding flowers) in three key areas:

• Export: mango, capsicum, groundnut
• Local market: tomatoes, onions
• Nutrition (biofortification): orange-fleshed sweet potato, iron-rich beans, cassava

Indirect support will also be provided to all the country’s plant-based agri-food sectors.

• R1 – Competitiveness and sustainability enhanced through diagnostics, regulatory monitoring and public-private dialogue.
• R2 – Technical innovation and research facilitated for sustainable and competitive horticultural practices.
• R3 – Strengthened capacity of the enabling environment for MSMEs and producer groups.
• R4 – Access for MSMEs and producers to local, regional and international markets consolidated.
• R5 – Improved access to finance, equipment and infrastructure

The direct partners are stakeholders in the Gambian horticultural ecosystem:

• MSME producers, processors and marketers
• Professional organisations and sectoral associations (BMO)
• Training centres, research institutes and universities
• Public authorities, SPS agencies, laboratories and export promotion agencies

SPRING adopts an integrated approach covering all links in the targeted value chains. The programme will actively seek synergies with government agencies and other ongoing programmes, in particular the jointly implemented twinning agreement, in order to ensure the consistency and sustainability of results.