Aninver Business Mission - Strengthening Entrepreneurship in Gambia

Описание: Aninver Business Mission to Gambia. From July 23rd to 25th, our colleagues Ana Alarcón and Begoña Lorente carried out a field mission in Banjul to support the strengthening of The Gambia's digital entrepreneurship ecosystem through Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs).

This activity is part of the West Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP), supported by the World Bank and led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) together with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (MoCDE). Over three intense days, we organized focus groups with ESOs, (including incubators, hubs, and accelerators) and chambers of commerces; interviewed public institutions about policies, strategies, and programs to foster digital entrepreneurship, and conducted on-site visits to ESOs to observe their operations firsthand.

We identified two key realities: limited digital adoption, high internet costs, and gaps in digital infrastructure are constraining scale and inclusion, particularly in rural areas; and capacity building is recognized as a key solution to empower both Gambian entrepreneurs and ESO staff.

These findings will generate a comprehensive ecosystem map for designing a tailored program that builds capacity, improves connectivity, and facilitates financing. Thank you to everyone who shared their time and perspectives. Let's build an inclusive digital ecosystem in Gambia together