The new SPRING programme: a new momentum for a sustainable and inclusive horticultural sector in The Gambia

COLEAD is pleased to announce the official signing, in The Gambia, of the new SPRING – Sustainable Production for Resilient and Inclusive New Generations programme, funded by the European Union. This key milestone marks the successful conclusion of an extensive stakeholder consultation process carried out in late 2024 and early 2025, whose contributions were instrumental in shaping the programme’s ambition, priorities and overall structure.

SPRING aims to strengthen the contribution of The Gambian horticultural sector to economic growth, food security and nutrition, and the creation of decent jobs, with a strong focus on women, young people and the most vulnerable groups. The programme will support a resilient, inclusive and market-driven agro-ecological transition, fully aligned with the EU Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for The Gambia and the Global Gateway priorities.

Through integrated interventions, SPRING will support selected horticultural value chains – notably mango, capsicum, groundnuts, tomato, onion and nutrition-oriented biofortified crops – while reinforcing the institutional, technical and financial enabling environment of the sector. It will address key bottlenecks such as private investment mobilisation, improvement of SPS practices and quality management, access to finance, local value addition, climate resilience and better working conditions across value chains.

Programme activities are expected to officially start in 2026. In the meantime, COLEAD and its partners will continue to work closely with public and private stakeholders across The Gambian horticultural ecosystem to ensure a strong, inclusive and well-prepared operational launch.

Stay tuned: further information on the launch event and next steps will be shared shortly.