Wuli and Sandu Development Agency (WASDA)
WASDA was established in August 1993 as a response to the sole NGO in the area, CUSO (Credit Union Service Organisation) phasing out of The Gambia. The local extension staff of CUSO formed Wuli and Sandu Development Agency. The Upper River Region is an area of great need; the region lacks access to the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) and has a poor road network. WASDA works to improve the quality of life for rural farmers in this region. We have 15,000 registered members from 89 village groups of which 80% are female farmers. Our Smallholder Irrigation for Livelihood Enhancement - Business (SMILE B) and Upper River Region Livelihood Improvement through Institutional Strengthening, Food Security and Environmental Management (URRLIFE) project ran for 5 years with the help of our partner Concern Universal and was funded by the European Union. The project had the following results: • Empowered 35 women’s groups to have a permanent source of income by establishing a vegetable garden, orchard, woodlots and a rice field. • Trained 60 youths, 60% of which were females, on improved agricultural and livestock management techniques, metalwork and fabrication. • Provided loans to farmers to help them establish their own enterprises through a revolving loan scheme managed by WASDA. WASDA implemented a rice irrigation project in Taibatu village under the Women Generating Income Project (WIGP). The project ran from 2004-2006 and was funded by both the EUand VSO (Voluntary Services Oversees). The project consisted of 3 components; rice irrigation, fruit tree orchards and training women on the use of farm tools. 6 communities were targeted and 150 women directly benefitted from the training by agricultural experts. WASDA with the funds and partnership of Future in Our Hands successfully trained 175 women on adult literacy and 42 on tie die to improve their livelihoods using the REFLECT approach. WASDA’s strategic plan for next 5 years will focus on horticultural endeavours, marketing and value addition. We will be facilitating farmer to farmer networking to encourage more individual and communal efforts so that farmers can share their different farming techniques and practices. WASDA is also currently developing specific programmes for disabled people to train in tie die, sewing and soap making. CONTACT US Wuli and Sandu Development Agency Address: Jaakunda, Wuli West District, Upper River Region, The Gambia Tel: (220) 6588925/ 9823862/6410568/ 8805182 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] |
Wuli and Sandu Development Agency is a membership based Non-Governmental Organisation that works to alleviate the poor living conditions of marginalised rural farmers in the Upper River Region. WASDA’s Logo is symbolised or depicted by a (Muudo); a local container full of cereal. It means “Muudu - Busang” in the Mandinka language and “Bumper Harvest” in English. Striving towards an Upper River Region without poverty and hunger in which people live in dignity. We look after our funds by producing monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports. WASDA uses the Excel accounting system and our accountant has diploma level training in accountancy from the Management Development Institute. We are organised our extension staff make bi-weekly visits to our field projects and we producing both monthly and quarterly narrative reports. • WASDA has 13 board members who are elected every three years by Annual General Meeting to serve a three year term. The Executive Committee meets quarterly and the Directorate meets monthly to encourage sharing of information and collaborative efforts. • Our staff attended trainings on extension methodologies and accounting by Gambian technical training Institute (GTTI) and leadership and management by TANGO. We engage with government by planning our projects around the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper II. Our donors have been the EU, UNDF, Canada Fund and Future in Our Hands. Our partners are Concern Universal, Future in Our Hands, VSO, and Action Aid. |