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The National Farmers Platform (NFPG), in collaboration with the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), hosted a national dissemination workshop on May 12, 2023, at Paradise Shuit Hotel themed: “Health, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Africa”. The workshop, chaired by Hon. Sheriffo Bojang, President of the National Farmers Platform, provided a platform for disseminating, analysing and discussing the research findings from the project inclusive finance in fragile and post-conflict states funded by the IDRC.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Sheriffo Bojang noted that the dissemination workshop provided an opportunity for the stakeholders in the economic sector to adequately digest the research outcome and relate it to financial realities to ensure effective financial inclusion across all sectors. He added that the National Farmers had researched market access to smallholder businesses, similar to the project’s research outcomes presented at the workshop. Lamin Fadera, Secretary General of the platform, highlighted the importance of inclusive access to finance, particularly for farmers. He said it is crucial for the country’s economic development, food security and climate change mitigation efforts.

Dr Dianah Muchai (AERC) noted that the goal of the project was to understand financial sector development and inclusion in fragile and post-conflict countries in Africa, observing that Africa’s inclusive growth and realisation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development (SDGs) depended on inclusive finance in the first stage. She further noted that the lack of access to financial services stifles entrepreneurial activities and may deepen poverty leading to underdevelopment and stagnation, exacerbating social and economic tensions. Therefore, the dissemination event would enable the understanding of the role of financial inclusion in achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) in fragile and post-conflict situations and inform policy on Africa’s inclusive growth and realisation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development (SDGs).

During the workshop, Isatou Bagie and Laston Manja presented research findings from the project, ‘The Impacts of Access to Finance on Household Welfare in the Gambia’. They indicated that Poor access to finance remains one of the key challenges faced by households and businesses in Gambia in the face of an underdeveloped financial market. The discussion on access to finance and economic inclusion strategies in the Gambia was led by Mr Omar Kanteh, Principal Planner Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Mr Muhammed Sonko, representing the Director of Micro-Finance Central Bank of The Gambia.