By Fatoumatta Sillah
A stakeholders’ dialogue on the Citizens’ Budget 2026 has been held at the OIC Conference Center, bringing together government officials, civil society organisations and development partners to discuss revenue projections and national spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.
The engagement, organised by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, focused on improving transparency and public understanding of the national budget process in The Gambia.
Speaking at the opening session, Permanent Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Modou K. Ceesay, stressed the importance of citizen participation in national development and budget accountability.
According to him, the Citizens’ Budget initiative helps ordinary Gambians understand how government revenue is generated and how public funds are allocated across sectors.
Also addressing the forum was Marr Nyang, who called for stronger public engagement and greater accountability in government spending.
He urged citizens and civil society organisations to actively monitor budget implementation to ensure public resources translate into improved service delivery.
The dialogue also featured a presentation by Alhagie Jallow, who outlined the government’s revenue generation strategy and tax policy direction for 2026.
Figures presented during the session showed that total revenue and grants for 2026 are projected at D50.28 billion. Domestic revenue is expected to contribute D32.20 billion, including D27.01 billion from tax revenue and D5.19 billion from non-tax sources.
Donor funding is projected at D18.08 billion, with D14.41 billion earmarked for project grants and D3.67 billion allocated for programme grants and budget support.
Participants described the engagement as an important platform for strengthening fiscal transparency, public trust and inclusive governance.
