Facts and Figures
- DDF Project Title
- Laboratory Facilities and Training
- DDF Fellow Reference Number
- DDF 28
- Partner in The Gambia
- Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology
- Geographical Coverage
- Urban-Rural
- Period
- 2022 – 2023
- DDF Grant
- D300,000
- Cash Contribution
- D1,596,000
- In-kind Contribution
- D911,000
Challenges and Opportunities
Prof. Sallah aims to address what he considers to be systemic defects in the educational system including lack of relevance to development priorities, shortcomings in providing functional training and failure in creating entrepreneurial mindsets.
The Catalyst Academy (CA) has drawn together a pool of talent willing to share their expertise and experience.They include international scientists such as biologists, geneticists, physiologists and chemists among others.
Prof. Momodou Sallah (UK)
DDF 28
Prof. Momodou Sallah is an academic, author and specialist in teaching and learning innovation. He is professionally active in numerous fields and practice outlets including community development, social entrepreneurship, youth work and resource mobilization. ‘’As a highly skilled diasporan, I am motivated to contribute to the development of my homeland …..Catalyst Academy is the best way I can do this’’ he stated. Momodou registered this company in The Gambia in 2022 to deliver education, operate as a centre of excellence around plants and herbs research, and serve as a community development centre working with young people, women and farmers in the agricultural value chain. Momodou Sallah is Director, Centre for Academic Innovation and Professor of Teaching and Learning, in the School of Applied Social Sciences, at De Montfort University, UK.
‘‘The lack of research laboratories that engage with the Gambian realities on the ground is staggering…. The plant and herb research component of Catalyst Academy will address this deficit by training 100 practitioners and 500 students every year.’’
~ explained Momodou Sallah.
About The Project
Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, CA seeks to build a Plant and Herb research laboratory. The company will focus on transformative education rooted in real-life situations ‘’using both english and other local languages to primarily train women and young people on best practices, in addition to frontline practitioners.’’
The DDF award will go a long way in helping CA complete and equip the lab, and provide training.
DDF Results and Impact
While work is ongoing to complete the project, notable achievements have been registered already.
- Laboratory building: Foundation constructed.
- Laboratory equipment: Procured from DeMontfort University, estimated at a value of £6000.
- International collaboration: First study visit from an American university conducted, raising $25,000. CA also organized an annual ‘’ Questioning the logic of the system’’ conference at its site, attended by 100 people which brought 80 local and 20 international participants to network and develop new opportunities.
- Conducted Training of 50 women and children on value addition through a bootcamp approach, during the event. Including, Entrepreneurship still for social good? Delivered by Dr Dyneshia Johnson, an Associate Professor from De Montfort University, operating from the Leicester Business School.
- Delivered a one-day bootcamp session to 20 women. To put the learning from the session into practice, the group was divided into three subgroups. Each group was then given a small seed fund to investment in their project. Some are growing crops on the farm, others are seeking to develop on-line sales or making products for sale.
- Fund raising: Held a fun run as a fundraising event in January 2023. 600 people attended and D250,000 was raised.