Lessons from the INDC process in The Gambia

This case study by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the initial process of developing Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) in The Gambia. It highlights the role of technical analysis, the necessity of stakeholder buy-in, and the ultimate requirement for political leadership in setting climate goals.

• The INDC development process in The Gambia serves as a mechanism to strengthen national capacity by raising awareness among stakeholders regarding climate impacts, mitigation options, and the benefits of low-carbon development, while stimulating cross-sectoral dialogue.
• Technical analysis in The Gambia is constrained by a lack of robust time series data on emissions and activity, as well as a lack of cross-sectoral analysis. Consequently, technical inputs can only provide a rough direction rather than high-precision results.
• Successful implementation of the INDC requires extensive consultation and buy-in from policy makers, technical experts, the private sector, and civil society at national, district, and technical levels to ensure feasibility and alignment with other policies.
• While technical inputs are essential, the final determination of the INDC is a political decision that depends on the leadership's political will to signal their commitment to addressing climate change.

APA

Freitas, S., & Vieweg-Mersmann, M. (n.d.). Lessons from the INDC process in The Gambia. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/story/lessons-indc-process-gambia

Chicago

Freitas, Sandra, and Marion Vieweg-Mersmann. Lessons from the INDC process in The Gambia. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/story/lessons-indc-process-gambia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Freitas |first1=Sandra |last2=Vieweg-Mersmann |first2=Marion |title=Lessons from the INDC process in The Gambia |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/story/lessons-indc-process-gambia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{freitasndlessons, author = {Freitas, Sandra and Vieweg-Mersmann, Marion}, title = {{Lessons from the INDC process in The Gambia}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/story/lessons-indc-process-gambia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }