Empowering Cities to Build and Manage Resilient Infrastructure in Support of the SDGs

The Gambia’s infrastructure is under increasing pressure from climate risks, fiscal  constraints and rapid urbanization. While national initiatives, such as the Infrastructure  Asset Management (IAM) Enabling Environment Roadmap and localized Asset Management Action Plans, represent a shift toward sustainable infrastructure governance, implementation remains fragmented. This report, developed in collaboration with UNDESA  and UNOPS, explored the disconnect between national strategies and local realities through  fieldwork and interviews across key institutions. 

Findings reveal that local governments face significant challenges in translating policy into  practice. Strategic planning is often sidelined in favor of crisis response, and unclear  institutional mandates have led to duplicated efforts and accountability gaps. Financial  disbursements are unreliable, leaving councils without the funds needed for preventive  maintenance, while technical skills and asset data systems remain underdeveloped. To address these gaps, the report recommends a clearer definition of institutional  responsibilities, more predictable and autonomous financing for local governments,  expanded training programs linked to youth service schemes, and investments in digital  asset tracking. These actions, if implemented, would strengthen infrastructure longevity  and resilience, with measurable progress toward SDGs 9, 11, and 13 through improved  service delivery, cost ef9iciency and climate adaptation.