Buba Barrow (Germany)

The Expansion of the Gambia Community Water Project (GCWP) was a Diaspora Development Fund (DDF).  The project was designed around three core outputs: raising funds in Germany for boreholes and water tanks, installing borehole and water tank infrastructure in schools, gardens, and villages, and registering GCWP as a Foundation in The Gambia. The assignment was implemented by a Diaspora Fellow in partnership with MSDG, and funding was secured through fundraising activities, media campaigns, and partnerships, including support from GK Partners. While the project has already delivered a completed borehole at Lamin Koto, activities since June 2026 have focused on fundraising for the next phase, which is scheduled to begin in January 2027.

The project achieved tangible and meaningful results in its target communities. A completed borehole at Lamin Koto now provides clean water to local residents. In addition, people in Badala and Sotokoi have also benefited from improved access to clean water.

The qualitative impact of these interventions is significant: community members in these areas have expressed great happiness and relief at having reliable access to clean water, which represents a substantial improvement in their daily lives and overall well-being. Between March and the present, approximately €4,000 was raised in cash to support these efforts. Time spent on project work ranged from one to two weeks for on-site activities, while the full funding and project cycle typically took between one and six months depending on how quickly funds could be secured. While not all planned boreholes were completed due to funding constraints, the successful delivery of water infrastructure in Lamin Koto, Badala, and Sotokoi demonstrates the project’s ability to create positive change and lays a strong foundation for the next phase of work beginning in January 2027.