Canada-The Gambia relations
On this page
- Bilateral relations
- Trade relations
- Development and humanitarian assistance
- Peace and security
- Partnerships and organizations
Bilateral relations
Canada and The Gambia established diplomatic relations in 1966, soon after the country gained its independence in 1965. After the 2016 elections which ended the dictatorial regime of President Jammeh that lasted 22 years, Canada has been actively involved in The Gambia’s transition to democracy. Canada also supported The Gambia’s reintegration in the Commonwealth and observer status in La Francophonie.
Canada is represented in the Gambia by the Embassy of Canada to Senegal, in Dakar.
The Gambia is represented in Canada by the Embassy of The Gambia in Washington, D.C.
Trade relations
In 2023, the main Canadian merchandise exports to The Gambia included vehicles and parts as well as vegetables and meat. The main Canadian merchandise imports from The Gambia are mainly clothing and industrial machinery, equipment and parts. Bilateral trade between Canada and Gambia reached $6.9 million. Exports were valued at $6.7 million and imports from The Gambia are estimated at around $204,000. To date, no commercial agreement exists between Canada and The Gambia. There are good synergies between Canadian capabilities and opportunities in The Gambia in the following sectors: education, agriculture and renewable energies, particularly hydroelectricity.
In 2023, 200 Gambian students had a valid permit to study in Canada.
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Development and humanitarian assistance
Global Affairs Canada does not have a bilateral program in The Gambia, but contributes to the country's development through its partnership programs with Canadian, international and multilateral organizations.
The Gambia is a recipient of the Gavi Alliance, to which Canada is contributing $600 million by 2026, in vaccine procurement, immunization strategy development and health system strengthening. The Gambia has already benefited from nearly $34 million since 2000. On May 24, 2022, Minister Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced $20 million over 4 years to support four West African countries, including The Gambia, to help them in taking climate action, building resilience, and driving a clean energy future. In September 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau also announced a $15 million investment over three years to support climate change adaptation efforts in three countries including The Gambia.
In 2022-2023, official development assistance from Canada to The Gambia (all channels) was $17.01 million.
The Canadian Embassy in Senegal, through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), funds projects implemented by local organizations that promote human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. In 2023-24, Canada funded two projects in The Gambia on promoting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM) through advocacy and rights education.
See Project Browser for additional information on programming in The Gambia.
Peace and security
Canada supports The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparation Commission (TRRC) through Canada Fund for Local Initiatives projects. The Commission was created to uncover and provide remittances for human rights atrocities committed during the Jammeh regime. Canada also provides support through the Global Affair’s Technical Assistance Partnership program which funds the deployment of Canadian judicial experts to assist the unit of the Minister of Justice on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) for the investigation and prosecution crimes of SGBV in 2022 in The Gambia. Canada is an important contributor to the UN Peacebuilding Fund which supports a range of projects in The Gambia aimed at supporting the transition efforts. Canada also intervened with the Netherlands in the case against Myanmar brought by The Gambia to the International Court of Justice, and will continue its interventions.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and The Gambia have opportunities to work together in multilateral fora, such as:
- Commonwealth
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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