At its 14^th Ordinary meeting held on Saturday, 6^th August, 2022, the University Governing Council considered and approved the proposal to establish academic Centres under the Centre of Excellence whose scope of activities include but not limited to developing a more robust approach to public policy studies, addressing food loss, developing nutritious products, improving food security through value addition, offering policy-level advice and services to governments, non-governmental organisations, civil societies, and development partners involved in transitional justice and sustainable peace and to provide a range of learning opportunities and facilitate knowledge sharing between public servants and leaders from The Gambia, to strengthen capacities, improve the decision-making process and encourage sustainable development.

The Centre for Sustainable Development and Policy Studies (CeSDePS) is one of the four Centres established under the Centre of Excellence in response to the challenges and opportunities to strenghten engagement with partners, contribute to the development agenda and to provide home-grown solutions in The Gambia. These Centres are established  in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), called CIFAL Banjul. The CeSDePS is established to advance sustainable development practices through the delivery of short-term training to complement the traditional degree programmes, conduct research, policy studies to formulate effective policy frameworks and offer policy advice through dialogues with stakeholders. These make it to be a Centre that will serve as a hub for research, policy development, and advocacy to promote sustainable development practices and shape effective policies at local, national , and international levels. By bringing together experts from various fields, the Centre will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and provide evidence-based solutions to address pressing sustainability issues.

The Goal and Objectives

The goal of the Centre is to foster sustainable development through training, research, policy analysis, and advocacy. Its objectives include:

(i) Research: Conducting comprehensive research on sutainable development issues, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and urban planning. The Centre will undertake both theoretical and applied research to generate knowledge and innovative solutions.

(ii) Policy Development: Engaging with policymakers, government agencies, and international organisations to develop evidence-based policies and strategies that promote sustainable development. The Centre will provide policy recommendations, conduct policy analysis, and facilitate dialogue between stakeholders to drive positive change.

(iii)  Capacity Building: Conducting training programmes, workshops, and seminars to enhance the capacity of policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in sustainable development. The Centre will provide educational resources, share best practices, and promote knowledge exchange to build a skilled workforce capable of implementing sustainable policies and practices.

(iv)  Collaboration and Networking: Facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to foster innovation and knowledge sharing. The Centre will establish partnerships with academic institutions, NGOs, and industry stakeholders to create a vibrant network of sustainability professionals.

(v) Advocacy and Outreach: Raising awareness about sustainable development challenges and advocating for meaningful policy reforms. The Centre will engage in public outreach activities, organise conferences and events, and develop communication campaigns to mobilise support for sustainable development goals.

(vi) Monitoring and Evaluation: Tracking progress towards sustainable development goals and assessing the impact of policies and initiatives. The Centre will develop monitoring frameworks, indicators, and evaluation methodologies to ensure accountability and guide evidence-based decision-making.

By pursuing the above objectives, the Centre will raise awareness about sustainable development challenges, provide solutions and advocate for meaningful policy reforms through tracking progress towards sustainable development goals and assessing the impact of policies and initiatives through evaluation methodologies, monitoring frameworks, and indicators.