In The Gambia, financial sustainability and poverty alleviation have been largely based on the assumption that analysis of macro level growth will bridge the gap between the formal and informal sectors; alleviate poverty and exclusion, ignoring other important factors such as political, social, cultural and religious issues. The government, microfinance outlets and international development agencies have implemented many measures to bring the masses into the formal economy to no avail. This dissertation explores Reliance Financial Service and the role of the Osusus in poverty alleviation, and how the Osusus are the edifice of microfinance and economic sustainability in The Gambia. Firstly, Osusus are small microfinance groups where participants receive substantial amounts of money to meet planned heavy expenditure commitments. To put things into perspective, Osusu is one of the oldest community based microfinance institutions in The Gambia, it has mostly resisted formalization. It is a social and financial system, where members contribute a set sum of money each week or month that is then allocated to one member. This has given some women a degree of independence and solidarity. Secondly, despite women being the largest segment of the Gambian population, disparities in gender roles, illiteracy, high unemployment and the lack of mainstreaming the interest and needs of women in national policy and the system tends to leave many women economically disadvantaged. Hence, this dissertation found that the provision of microfinance services in the form of micro-credit, insurance and micro-savings could be a great sustainability tool to create equity, uplift the economic and social status of women in society. Also, women could use these services towards productive consumption such as feeding their families, sending their children to school, affording healthcare and engaging in productive economic activities to increase their income. Empirically, it examines the microfinance outlook in The Gambia, its impacts on socio-economics ramifications on the country. It also examines the role of microfinance, contextually Reliance Financial Services Kafoo scheme, as a viable alternative poverty-alleviation avenue. / Ph. D. / This study provides and posits microfinance as a sustainable economic development model, contending that microfinance can be a potent method in The Gambia when anchored in the Osusu system. Microfinance, however, is not a silver-bullet but if practiced within the structure of locally based institutions like Osusu – they could potentially move women and other rural Gambians out of poverty.

A field study was conducted in order to enquire which languages the teachers and the students were using, both during lessons and on breaks, and if and how several languages were used to instruct. Since colonialism, the  Gambia has experienced many European influences, which has led to English as the official language and also the language of instruction. This means that the teachers have to teach in a language which is not their own, nor their students’ native language. The phenomenon is called submersion, which has been proved to be a less successive practice. Hence, the government of today is struggling against many obstacles in order to meet the Education for All-policy, and ensure high quality education in the Gambia. However, the low achievements among the students, should not be considered solely an effect of the language of instruction, but also the methods used for teaching.

La Confédération Sénégambienne (1981-1989) résulte de l'association de deux États indépendants de l'Afrique de l'ouest: le Sénégal et la Gambie; afin de renforcer leur unité en s'appuyant sur leurs similitudes (géographie, langues, cultures...). Cependant, ce dessein se substitue rapidement, en une inquiétude de la classe populaire gambienne. Celle-ci soupçonne son voisin de cacher l'ambition d'annexer et de transformer la Gambie en une région sénégalaise. L'introduction de l'armée sénégalaise dans les territoires gambiens, après la tentative de coup d’État contre le PrésidentDawda Jawara, n'arrangera pas les choses et déclenche les hostilités. Une revendication identitaire et un nationalisme anti-sénégalais, sont nettement visibles dans la littérature, les discours politiques et médiatiques de l'époque. La langue anglaise et les traditions britanniques deviennent ainsi en Gambie des traits de démarcation. Simultanément, la langue française est perçue de façon péjorative, comme une langue sénégalaise à éloigner des frontières gambiennes. Elle cesse alors d'être une langue universelle. Toutefois, la dissolution du pacte confédéral en 1989 et la signature du Traité d'amitié en 1991, donne un nouvel élan positif, pour la promotion du français en Gambie. L’État gambien opte désormais pour l'ouverture au monde francophone, afin d'exhorter aux partenariats culturels, économiques, politiques … C'est dans ce cadre que cette thèse propose d'analyser les représentations, les attitudes que les Gambiens ont de la Francophonie (langue, espaces, habitants). Sont-elles restées négatives et confondues à l'espace sénégalais, ou ont-elles au contraire, évolué positivement ? Elle a aussi pour objectif de signaler les mesures prises pour la diffusion du français en Gambie et de rendre compte des obstacles rencontrés par les acteurs. Pour ce faire, une enquête de terrain a été menée en 2010, au sein de certains établissements scolaires, de l'université et de quelques organismes étrangers et nationaux à Banjul et à Brikama. Et c'est sur la base des résultats obtenus que notre travail s'articulera. / Senegambia Confederation (1981-1989) results from the combination of two independent states of West Africa: Senegal and the Gambia to strengthen their unity based on their similarities : geography, languages, cultures … But this aim is quickly replaced by a concern. The Gambian people suspects his neighbor to hide the ambition to transform their country into a region of Senegal. The attendance of the Senegalese army in the Gambia after the attempted coup against President Dawda Jawara leads hostilities. Gambian nationalism appears in the literature, the media and political discourse. English and British traditions become symbols of identity in the Gambia. Simultaneously, French is perceived in a negative way, as a Senegalese language. The agreement between two countries is canceled in 1989. Since 1991, a new cooperation based on a friendship and partnership is born. Gradually, Gambian authorities promote the French language. Then, positive attitudes about French-speaking world are observed. This thesis analyze the Gambian representations of French: language, spaces and people. It will indicate steps and difficulties of the promotion. Our work will focus on the results of investigation conducted in Banjul and Brikama in 2010 in schools, at the university and some national and foreign agencies and national.

Urbanisation and the associated nutrition transition have been linked with the recent rise in osteoporotic fragility fracture incidence in many countries. Predictions indicate that hip fracture incidence will increase 6-fold in Africa and Asia by 2050, partially attributed to demographic transition and population ageing. Differences in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) between rural and urban locations indicate that urban regions of high-income countries (HIC) have lower aBMD and a higher incidence of hip fracture. The few studies conducted in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) provide inconsistent results; in contrast to HIC, most have found higher aBMD in urban populations. To investigate the impact of migrating to an urban environment, detailed studies of bone phenotype and factors affecting bone health have been conducted in two groups of pre-menopausal Gambian women: urban migrant (n=58) and rural (n=81). Both groups spent their formative years in the same rural setting of Kiang West, urban women were known to have migrated to coastal districts, concentrated in Brikama and Kanifing, when aged ≥16 years. Bone phenotype (bone mineral content (BMC); bone area (BA); aBMD, and size-adjusted BMC (adjusted for height, weight and BA) of the whole-body, lumbar spine and hip) was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), with further characterisation by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Data were also collected on anthropometry, body composition, food and nutrient intakes, physical activity, socio-demographic characteristics, vitamin D status, and 24hr urinary mineral outputs (Na, K, P, and Ca). Mean age and height of rural and urban migrant groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Urban migrant women were significantly heavier (p < 0.01). Significant differences in BMC and aBMD were found between groups at all skeletal sites, with urban women having higher BMC and aBMD; BA was not significantly different. The greatest difference in BMC was found at the lumbar spine (8.5% ± SE 3.0, p < 0.01), a meaningful difference, equivalent to 0.76 of rural SD. T- Scores were also calculated using a young adult (white, female) reference population, mean T- scores were -1.03 and -0.22, for rural and urban groups respectively. After adjusting for size, differences in whole-body and hip BMC were mostly attenuated (p > 0.05), but difference in spine BMC remained significant (6.2% ± SE 2.1, p < 0.01). These results indicate that rural-to-urban migration is associated with higher BMC; BA and height were similar, and difference in body weight could not fully account for higher BMC at the lumbar spine. Calcium intakes were low in both groups, urban migrant 294mg/d (IQR: 235 to 385) and rural 305mg/d (IQR: 222 to 420). Urban women had significantly lower intakes of potassium, magnesium and dietary fibre (p < 0.01), related to lower consumption of fruit, green leafy vegetables and groundnuts. 25-hydroxy vitamin D status was good in both groups, urban migrant 64.0 ± 14.2nmol/L and rural 68.3 ± 15.7nmol/L (M ± SD, p > 0.05). Implications for bone health of the nutrition and demographic transition, principally future fracture risk and other non-communicable diseases require further research in LMICs. ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE To my knowledge, this is the first study investigating the impact of rural-to-urban migration on bone health to be conducted in sub Saharan Africa. It is the first study of bone health and determinants of bone health in an urban population in The Gambia.

The main purpose of this thesis is to analyse the current state of Gamtel less competitive nature in the telecom industry and therefore use its competitive advantage and core competencies to pursue and endeavour to invest on internet service provision mainly on broadband. With high expectations from the launching of the ACE, Africa coast to Europe submarine cable, the plan is to take the opportunity brought by this Landing station to significantly expand on its current broadband technology provision, which is DSL (digital subscriber line), CDMA 3G wireless broadband connection and Leased line connection. The growth in the sector is still encouraging between 8 to 10% and Gamtel is foreseeing to increase its already existing leadership in terms of market share on the internet segment or ISP internet service provider market. There is a high capital investment required for this project but funding could be obtain from banks and even state own corporation at better rates and also self-funding of over GMD 90 million. The cash flow projections had shown a positive net present value (NPV) thus; indicating that this plan will is viable. With the three product categories, it is assume that the DSL and the CDMA 3G wireless broadband could be the cash cows whiles the leased lines connection for broadband which used to bring the biggest revenue in the data category will likely be going down, an impact the ACE project will brought along as the biggest customers from this service were the private ISP who now can connect direct to the ACE cable. As the implementation of the ACE goes on prices are expected to further fall as bandwidth becomes cheaper and cheaper and volume or high quantity purchase of bandwidth starts to emerge thus economics of scale.

Meeting electricity demand and power shortage remains as a challenge to the people of the Gambia. As the country is undergoing tremendous electricity accessibility expansion [1], to secure the environment for the future generation, it is necessary to consider renewable energy to be the major source of electricity production, to be specific, solar energy. This is because the country experiences the radiation from the sun throughout the year, it is sustainable not only to our environment for the future generations, but also economically. However, due to the intermittent nature of most renewable energy technologies, it is cumbersome to rely on them 100 % as a primary source of electricity production. Nonetheless, with suitable storage technologies, combination of different renewable sources, and intercountry grid connections can enhance to overcome this challenge. In this thesis work, designed and techno economic evaluation was carried out for high PV penetration that will meet 50 % electricity demand of the Gambia in year 2040. Three scenarios were considered in this study, based on the Strategic Electricity Roadmap 2020 to 2040 [1]. These scenarios are high, universal access (AU), and low electricity demand. Economically, 50 % electricity supply to meet the demand is possible for all the three cases. Consideration was mainly put on four key figures, thus, levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), payback period (PBP), net present cost (NPC) and solar fraction (SF). To achieve 50 % SF for the high electricity demand scenario, LCOE and PBP are 0.129 $/kWh and 12 years respectively. As for AU electricity demand case, 50 % SF is achieved with 0.126 $/kWh and 10 years for LCOE and PBP respectively. For low electricity demand scenario, 0.127 $/kWh and 10 years for LCOE and PBP respectively for 50 % SF. However, the optimum design recommended by HomerPro were 45 % SF with LCOE of 0.126 $/kWh and PBP of 9 years for high electricity demand scenario. As for the AU electricity demand case, the optimum design is 48 % SF, LCOE of 0.125 $/kWh, and PBP of 9 years. In the last scenario, which is low electricity demand case, 46 % SF, 0.124 $/kWh LCOE, and 9 years PBP.

Primarily, this study seeks to examine the means and effectiveness of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, African human and Peoples' rights organizations, and the government of the Gambia in their efforts to propagate the institutions and legal instruments of the African Human and Peoples' Rights System (AHPRS) in general and the rights and duties of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights in the country of The Gambia in particular since the Charter came into force in 1986. The work explores the history of the AHPRS from ancient conceptions of rights and duties within Classical Africa to its formal establishment in the 1980s and 1990s with emphasis placed on the particular political and social history of The Gambia. Further, the work presents and analyzes the work of three African human rights organizations operating within The Gambia and offers an Afrocentric critique of the promotion of the African Human and Peoples' Rights System. / African American Studies

This bachelor thesis describes the component of society which sex tourism descends from in Gambia. Sex tourism is an emerging sub-industry to tourism that affects several different social spheres in communities that are characterized by tourism. It is a phenomenon that unfortunately not only affect adult’s even minors enter however, rarely by choice. The origin of sex tourism in Gambia dates back to the early 70s when the tourism started to blossom. The tourists arrived in the country with different cultures that collided with the indigenous and in combination with the master-servant relationship from the colonial era and the exotification of the country as a holiday destination, sex tourism derived.

Many studies have been carried out throughout the world on how street-connected children relate to the streets, but not enough of these studies are seen through a gender perspective. Hence, the general conception of street-connected children is in some manner still mainstreamed, which casts an image claiming all children in the same category. This demonstrates that there is currently a missing gap of knowledge. This study covers whether the role of gender could affect the lives of the children that live and work on the streets, through a qualitative research in the field with 28 interviewees. These interviews were largely conducted in Brikama, Serekunda, Topkunda, Farafenni, Madina Salaam and Bakau in The Gambia, where the majority of the Gambian NGOs and street-connected children is located. The results from analysing these interviews pointed towards the same pattern: that there were a few similarities in the livelihoods of the street-connected boys and girls. However, the differences concerning their livelihoods on the streets were greater since the findings demonstrated that their challenges and opportunities of achieving the Ten Central Human Capabilities were different. Street-connected boys and street-connected girls were both exposed to child labour. The main difference was, street-connected boys, who lived in groups, worked in car garages, fish industries and for shop owners, while the few girls who permanently lived on the streets, were alone and sexual exploited. This research is thus not merely a contribution to the studies of street-connected children, but how gender is relating to the streets. Furthermore, a contribution to improve these vulnerable children’s livelihoods and also increase the awareness through the perspective of humanities, which might be crucial in future policy recommendations and research.

This dissertation engages with the driving motivations behind the actions of all those involved in The Gambia’s tourism-based sexual economy: the Gambian and other West African male and female sex workers, the Global North (habitually European) male and female tourists, the Gambian and expatriate Lebanese bar and restaurant owners, the Gambian state, and the semesters (members of the Gambian diaspora on vacation in The Gambia). It presents thick ethnographic accounts of interactions with Gambians and tourists, as they form temporary couples or friendships for the duration of tourists’ vacations, and sometimes for longer. This ethnography-rich dissertation pays careful attention to Gambian voices, which have been somewhat marginalized in the limited literature on sex tourism in The Gambia. It theorizes the existence of a Gambian sexscape, within which socio-sexual scripts are performed. The socio-sexual scripts that make the Gambian tourism-based sexual economy are re-located within Gambian society’s larger sexscape, which allows for a better consideration of the wider socio-economic, cultural, and political processes that have led to the formation of contemporary Gambian society. The dissertation briefly outlines The Gambia’s political and economic history, which explains the ongoing economic dependency and the importance of emigration for contemporary Gambian youth who want to escape the abject poverty in which too many live. It proposes a descriptive analysis of the Gambian sexscape and its socio-sexual scripts. Greater precision is given to the socio-sexual scripts that make the tourism-based sexual economy: chanters and white Global North female tourists; Gambian female sex workers and white Global North male tourists; Gambian men who have sex with Gambian men/semesters, and/or with white Global North male tourists. Finally, I adopt a socio-ecological approach to sexual health and examine the tourism-based sexual economy’ s impact on the country’s sexual health.