Surroundings in Gambia

There is no single national service that manages all aspects of everyday surroundings in The Gambia. The National Environment Agency (NEA) handles environmental monitoring, pollution control, laboratory testing, environmental complaints and environmental impact assessment, while Local Government Authorities manage or coordinate local roads, drainage, water services, waste and sanitation-related functions. The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) supplies much of the urban and peri-urban water and electricity infrastructure, but rural and provincial areas rely more heavily on community boreholes, wells and other local systems. Sewerage coverage, wastewater treatment, waste collection and fecal-sludge management remain uneven across locations. A Banjul roads, drainage and sewerage rehabilitation project was reported at about 80% completion against a July 2026 target; this project status does not establish a national infrastructure standard. The surroundings of settlements are also affected by informal or unregulated development, especially where construction occupies flood-prone land, waterways or drainage routes. The rainy season usually runs from June to October, and heavy rainfall can combine with inadequate drainage and waste in waterways to cause flooding. The Gambia has identified flood, windstorm, drought, coastal erosion, water contamination, urban fire and industrial or oil-spill risks. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) coordinates disaster risk management, early warning and preparedness through national, regional, district and community structures, using radio, electronic and social-media messages, traditional communication channels and alerts. Air pollution comes from household biomass cooking, traffic, generators, industry and waste burning; the 2025 WHO country scorecard reports mean annual PM2.5 of 39 micrograms per cubic metre compared with the WHO guideline of 5. The NEA promotes real-time air-quality information across five administrative regions, but exposure varies by location and local measurement coverage. Environmental rules cover pollution, emissions, noise, smells, vibration, waste and plastic bags, but a direct project source reports that The Gambia has no general ambient noise-level standard for residential areas. Parks, drainage corridors and public or community spaces contribute to daily environmental quality and flood management, although no reliable nationwide inventory or minimum access standard has been established. People can report illegal dumping, industrial pollution, chemical spills, water contamination and plastic-bag violations to the NEA through its complaint channel, including the location and supporting photographs or videos; the NEA advertises acknowledgement within 48 hours, while investigation and follow-up depend on the case. Environmental impact assessment or environmental and social impact assessment may be required before a project receives approval or starts construction, and local consultation may involve Local Environment Councils and other public bodies. The National Environment Management Act, the Environmental Quality Standards Regulations and the Local Government Act provide parts of the formal framework, but practical access, enforcement, collection schedules, connection availability and local fees depend on the responsible authority and service area.