The University of The Gambia (UTG) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in The Gambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in an event held at the Peace Building, Kanifing Campus.
Mr. Yasuhiro Tsumura, Representative and Country Director of the WFP, expressed delight over the signing of the MoU. He explained that his organisation has been in the country for fifty years supporting the delivery of food assistance to communities, improving nutrition and building resilience.
“The collaboration with such esteemed academic institutions such as the UTG is very important because our work is evidenced based and this is the center for knowledge creation,” Mr. Tsumura said.
He revealed that the WFP will work closely with the university in different areas. “ Together, we will work on evaluating the Peacebuilding Fund with a view to assess the impact,” he explained.
Professor Pierre Gomez, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of UTG, described the signing of the MoU as a great leap for both institutions. According to him, the MoU will avail the two parties the opportunity to collaborate on areas such as: Assessment and data collection, research and policy analysis, innovation and capacity development, paid graduate scheme/internship, among others.
‘‘Knowing the indispensability of education,Higher Education in particular, academics and higher education institutions are paramount in the realisation of global food self-sufficiency and the eradication of hunger; a drive being championed by the WFP,” Prof. Gomez mentioned, adding that “Man is a social being and as such needs to relate with other social beings to build a progressive and a hunger-free society”.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both the World Food Programme (WFP) country office and the University of The Gambia
