ITU's 160 anniversary

Committed to connecting the world

National workshop for the development and implementation of the NETP framework for Gambia, 20 and 21 November 2024, Banjul, Gambia

​​​​​Background 

​The NETP workshop was held on November 2024, in Banjul, Gambia. Key stakeholders in attendance included the Disaster Management Office, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and international organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), among others.  
  
Over the course of two days, 51 participants engaged in discussions emphasizing the importance of establishing a robust National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP). They also highlighted the need to update and review existing national policies and laws to integrate emergency telecommunications, implement early warning systems, and develop hazard maps. These measures aim to enhance the country's resilience to disasters, particularly floods and droughts.  
  
The workshop's opening remarks were delivered by Honorable Mr. Hassa Jallow, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Dr. Njogou L. Bah, Director General of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority along with Ms. Maritza Delgado, Programme Officer, from ITU. 

Objectives ​

The objectives of the workshop were:​​

Furthermore, the main goal of the event was to support The Gambia with the development and implementation of the National Emergency Telecommunication Plan framework for the use of Information and Communication Technologies for disaster management and risk reduction, including early warning systems​  
  
The event also contributed to the strategic efforts of the ITU to widespread the implementation of early warning systems in line with the EW4All initiative, particularly Pillar 3 on “Warning Dissemination and Communication”. 

Key Take​aways