Support to the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) in Strengthening SPS Systems and Food Safety Control in the Horticulture Sector in The Gambia

EU Twinning call GM 24 NDICI AG 01 26 offers a €1,000,000 grant to strengthen the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) of The Gambia in implementing Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures and food safety controls for the horticulture sector. Only public administrations and mandated bodies of EU Member States may apply through their National Contact Points for Twinning, with proposals following the Twinning Manual and templates. The project execution period is up to 18 months with a 15-month implementation phase and the submission deadline to Member State NCPs is 01 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC. Mandatory results include strengthened legal and regulatory frameworks, enhanced risk-based inspection and monitoring systems, and improved technical capacity of FSQA staff.

What it funds

An EU-funded Twinning action to strengthen the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) of The Gambia: development/revision of SPS and food safety legal/regulatory frameworks, risk-based inspection and certification systems, laboratory and surveillance strengthening, capacity building (RTA, component leaders, short-term experts), ICT guidance for traceability and FSIS, and stakeholder outreach.

Who can apply

Only public administrations and mandated bodies of EU Member States applying through their National Contact Points for Twinning (Member State Project Leader, Resident Twinning Adviser and Component Leaders must be civil/public administration staff).

Grant amount and duration:Total EU budget available €1,000,000; maximum project execution 18 months (implementation period 15 months). ¹

1. 1Key objectives: strengthen FSQA institutional/regulatory capacity, enhance inspection and SPS controls for horticulture, improve technical risk assessment and laboratory/testing capacity, and increase stakeholder outreach and sustainability.
2. 2Who leads: Twinning proposal must be submitted by an EU Member State public administration via its National Contact Point; Member State may submit one proposal.
3. 3Key experts: Member State Project Leader (senior official), full-time Resident Twinning Adviser based in Banjul, three Component Leaders and short-term experts; selection is competency‑based and non‑delegable to private consultants.

Applications must follow the Twinning Manual and use the Twinning template; proposals are submitted by Member State National Contact Points to the Contracting Authority (EU Delegation to The Gambia). Selection emphasises the in-house capacity of proposed public administration experts and the proposed methodology; a single negative selection criterion disqualifies the proposal.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documents, Twinning fiche and annexes available from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the Twinning Manual; example annexes and fiche published with reference EuropeAid/187388/TW/ACT/GM.

Opportunity summary

Call identifier:EuropeAid/187388/TW/ACT/GM (Twinning). Publication reference: GM 24 NDICI AG 01 26. Title: Support to the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) in Strengthening SPS Systems and Food Safety Control in the Horticulture Sector – The Gambia. Budget available for the Call: €1,000,000. Maximum project duration: 18 months (implementation period 15 months; execution period 18 months). Beneficiary administration: Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), Office of the Vice President of The Gambia. Implementing Agency responsible for contracting and accounting: EU Delegation to The Gambia (Delegation-gambia@eeas.europa.eu, Program Officer Emile Henri Van Caenegem Emile.van-caenegem@eeas.europa.eu). Deadline for submission of Twinning proposals by Member State National Contact Points: 01 October 2026, 15:00 UTC. The call uses the Twinning instrument and follows the Twinning Manual and templates. Full project fiche, strategic plan, legal texts, and annexes available as published attachments on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and via the annex document URLs provided in the Call documentation Annex C9 Annex C1 Annex 4 Annex 3 Annex 2.

Short description of objectives:The Twinning project aims to strengthen the institutional, regulatory and technical capacities of the FSQA to implement sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, food safety and quality systems in the horticultural sector, aligned with EU and international standards. Key outcomes include: revision and development of legal and regulatory frameworks, enhancement of inspection, sampling and monitoring systems, strengthening technical capacity in risk assessment and food safety management, and greater alignment with regional and international SPS strategies.

Key facts and administrative information

1. 1Call type: Twinning call for proposals (Member State administrations apply through National Contact Points).
2. 2Contracting authority / Implementing agency: EU Delegation to The Gambia.
3. 3Call budget: €1,000,000 (total budget for the Twinning action).
4. 4Project duration: maximum execution period 18 months; implementation period 15 months; contract ends 3 months after implementation period.
5. 5Deadline for submission to Contracting Authority (by Member State National Contact Points): 01 October 2026, 15:00 UTC.
6. 6Provisional notification of results: week of 26 October 2026 (approximately two weeks after deadline, subject to selection committee timing).
7. 7Application channel: Twinning proposals must be submitted by the Lead Member State Administration to the EU Member States National Contact Points for Twinning following the Twinning Manual and designated templates. The Member State National Contact Point forwards ONE proposal per Member State to the Contracting Authority by email.
8. 8Call reference and identifiers: Publication reference GM 24 NDICI AG 01 26; Prospect reference 187388PROSPECTSEN; EuropeAid.

Eligibility and applicant requirements

This is a Twinning call. Eligible applicants are only Public Administrations and Mandated bodies of EU Member States acting through their National Contact Points for Twinning. Individual EU Member State public administrations prepare and submit the Twinning proposal; private for-profit applicants or non-public institutions cannot lead the Twinning. Only one Twinning proposal per Member State may be submitted to the Contracting Authority for this call. Proposals must observe the Twinning Manual rules, use the specified Twinning templates and include the required Component Leader, Member State Project Leader (PL) and Resident Twinning Adviser (RTA) profiles and CVs. The Member State delegation must include the proposed PL and RTA(s) for selection meetings.

Eligible applicant types:Public administration (EU Member State central public administration or mandated public bodies). The Twinning Manual requires that expertise comes from within the public administration (not outsourced to private consultants).

Consortium requirement:Single Member State administration (lead applicant). Twinning is between one EU Member State public administration and the beneficiary administration (FSQA). The Member State will mobilise an RTA, PL and Component Leaders and short-term experts drawn from public administration resources.

Beneficiary scope (geographic eligibility):Lead applicants: EU Member State public administrations only (apply through their National Contact Points). Beneficiary: The Gambia (FSQA). The action is financed under EU external action (NDICI) and implemented in The Gambia.

Nature of the action, thematic scope and project stage

Instrument:Twinning (institutional cooperation to transfer know-how and strengthen public administration capacities). Thematic sector: Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures within Agriculture and Livestock sector, focused on the horticulture value chains (e.g., mango, baby corn, chili, onion) and trade-related food safety systems. Maturity: implementation and capacity-building for service delivery and regulatory alignment; expected project stage includes regulatory reform, system design, staff training, operationalization of inspection and monitoring systems, and preparatory steps toward laboratory quality management and accreditation. The project is largely at the development / demonstration / institutionalisation stage (implementation of reforms, capacity building, and operationalisation).

Target sector(s):Agriculture and horticulture value chains, food safety and quality, sanitary and phytosanitary systems, laboratory services, inspection and certification, traceability and digital tools for FSIS, and regulatory reform aligned with EU acquis (food safety, plant and animal health).

Planned activities and mandatory results

The Twinning fiche specifies three components each with mandatory results. Activities are indicative and Member State proposals may adapt sequencing and methods while respecting Twinning rules and the mandatory results.

1. 1Component 1: Development of legal, regulatory and policy frameworks. Mandatory Result (MR1): Strengthened regulatory and institutional framework for SPS, food safety and quality control. Indicative activities: legal gap analysis, drafting/revision of laws, regulations and SOPs, stakeholder consultations and validation, development of standards and guidelines, alignment with EU and international norms.
2. 2Component 2: Strengthening inspection and control systems. MR2: Enhanced official import/export control, inspection, sampling and monitoring systems. Indicative activities: design of risk-based inspection and sampling procedures, inspection and certification systems, monitoring plans for priority value chains, introduction of basic ICT tools for traceability and data management, support to border control processes.
3. 3Component 3: Technical capacity and risk assessment. MR3: Improved technical and operational capacity of FSQA staff in inspection, audit and risk-based control. Indicative activities: training in risk-based control, HACCP, audits, risk assessment; development of data management tools; awareness and outreach; on-the-job mentoring and study visits; RTA-led daily support and short-term expert missions.

Profiles, roles and human resources requirements

The Twinning fiche provides detailed required profiles, responsibilities and selection criteria for key experts. Member State proposals must demonstrate operational capacity of proposed Component Leaders, Project Leader (PL) and Resident Twinning Adviser (RTA). The assessment of operational capacity is Yes/No and a single negative evaluation disqualifies the proposal.

1. 1Member State Project Leader (PL): official or assimilated agent with sufficient rank to ensure operational dialogue at political level. Education: Master’s (food science, food safety, public health, agricultural sciences) preferred; experience: minimum 3 years in food safety/SPS sector with management experience; contractual relationship with public administration required; English B2 minimum. Tasks: lead preparation and overall coordination, co-chair PSC, reporting and administrative duties.
2. 2Resident Twinning Adviser (RTA): full-time on-site expert (EU national) based at FSQA HQ for the project duration. Education: Master’s in relevant field or equivalent experience; experience: minimum 3 years in SPS/food safety sector; English C1; tasks: daily implementation, coordination of short-term experts, work plan updates, support to PSC, preparation of reports, organizing trainings and study visits.
3. 3Component Leaders (3 envisaged): short-term missions; education: at least master’s or Bachelor plus 5 years experience; experience: minimum 3 years in food safety/SPS sector; tasks: manage component activities, coordinate short-term experts, contribute to PSC and reporting.
4. 4Short-term experts: mobilised for specific missions; minimum Bachelor and 3 years experience; English C1; tasks: technical inputs, training delivery, drafting of deliverables and activity reports.

Selection, award criteria and evaluation process

Selection criteria focus on operational capacity of Component leaders and key experts; selection is assessed on a Yes/No basis. Award criteria use qualitative scoring (1 to 5) covering methodology, experience of RTA and PL, Member State administration experience in cooperation projects, and Member State presentation. Proposals must follow the Twinning Manual templates and administrative compliance grids (Annex C6 and C7 of Twinning Manual referenced). The evaluation committee will meet tentatively week of 14 October 2026; provisional notification of results week of 26 October 2026.

Application formalities and templates:Twinning proposals must be prepared by the Member State Lead Administration following the Twinning Manual and using mandatory Twinning templates. Only one proposal per Member State National Contact Point may be submitted to the Contracting Authority. Submission to the Contracting Authority is via email from the National Contact Point. The Twinning Manual prescribes the structure: Cover letter from the Member State administration, Twinning Technical Annex (work plan, approach, methodology), CVs and declarations for PL, RTA and Component Leaders, capability statement of the Member State administration, budget and financial breakdown, and any supporting evidence of in-house public administration capacity. Annex C9 (Call publication) and Annex C1 (Twinning fiche) must be used as reference in proposal drafting ¹.

Financial modalities and co-financing

Funding instrument:Twinning grant (EU external action). Total EU contribution available for this Twinning action: €1,000,000. The Twinning Manual and call documentation specify eligible costs, cost categories and rules for budget presentation in the Twinning template. Costs typically include staff costs of seconded public servants (PL and short-term experts provided by Member State administration), RTA costs (normally included in Twinning budget as long-term expert), travel and subsistence, study visits, training workshops, printing, minor goods for training and project implementation, and project management/visibility costs as per Twinning rules. The project does not require co-funding from the beneficiary (FSQA) in the sense of a mandatory percentage; however, Twinning expects in-kind counterpart contributions from the beneficiary administration (office space for RTA, local counterparts, meeting rooms, access to data and staff time). Member State applicants must ensure that experts are available in-house within public administration and not outsourced to private consultants; this is an operational eligibility condition of Twinning. Specific national budget rules, cost eligibility ceilings and reporting templates are set out in the Twinning Manual and Annexes.

Funding type:Grant (Twinning instrument) financed by EU NDICI/External Action funds. The contract will be managed via EU Delegation to The Gambia.

Co-funding requirement:No additional cash co-funding by the beneficiary is required as a condition of project financing; however, the project expects beneficiary in-kind contributions (office space for the RTA, counterpart staff time, access to facilities). Member State proposals must demonstrate in-house public administration capacity to provide experts (not outsourced) and indicate how costs will be covered within Twinning budget rules.

Application process, stages and success metrics

1. 1Stage 1: Preparation by Member State public administration using Twinning Manual templates and the Twinning fiche. Member State internal approvals and submission to National Contact Point.
2. 2Stage 2: Submission by National Contact Point to Contracting Authority (EU Delegation to The Gambia) by deadline 01 October 2026. Only one proposal per Member State may be submitted.
3. 3Stage 3: Administrative compliance and eligibility check (Twinning Manual Annex C6/C7).
4. 4Stage 4: Selection committee evaluation based on operational capacity (Yes/No) and award criteria scoring (1–5) assessing methodology, RTA/PL experience, Member State presentation and comparative advantages. Selection meetings tentatively week of 14 October 2026; notification week of 26 October 2026.
5. 5Stage 5: Contracting and signature. Implementation phase (RTA in place, workplan roll-out, short-term expert missions, component delivery, PSC meetings, interim reporting).
6. 6Stage 6: Final reporting, close-out and sustainability measures.

Number of application stages:4 to 6 depending on how stages are counted (preparation/submission; administrative check; selection committee/evaluation; contracting; implementation; reporting/closure). The Twinning evaluation includes an operational capacity gate (Yes/No) and a scored award evaluation. Success rates: Twinning calls are typically competitive and limited to one award per call. Success rates depend on number of Member State submissions; historically success rates for Twinning per candidate Member State are low because only one Member State will be awarded per call. No explicit success rate is published in the call documentation; applicants should assume limited slots and high competition.

Implementation arrangements and governance

The project will be implemented under a Twinning contract signed between the EU Delegation (Contracting Authority), the Lead Member State administration (beneficiary of the Twinning contract) and the FSQA as beneficiary administration. A Project Steering Committee (PSC) co-chaired by the Member State PL and the Beneficiary PL will oversee implementation. The RTA is the on-site long-term expert and is the backbone of the Twinning project. Short-term experts and Component Leaders deliver component-specific activities. Reporting: quarterly interim reports and a final report are required (narrative and financial sections) as per Twinning Manual. Language of the contract and deliverables: English. Monitoring: performance indicators and targets are set in the Twinning fiche (simplified logframe) covering legal/regulatory outputs, inspection systems, and staff capacity indicators (e.g., at least 3 regulatory instruments revised, at least 2 monitoring plans implemented, at least 30 staff trained). Sustainability measures emphasise institutionalisation of trainings and procedures, stakeholder engagement and alignment with FSQA Strategic Plan 2026–2030.

Technology, standards and technical references

The project explicitly references alignment with EU acquis and relevant international standards and norms including: General Food Law Regulation (EC) No 178/2002; Regulation (EC) No 852/2004; Regulation (EC) No 853/2004; Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 / 2017/625 on official controls; Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production; Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EU Deforestation Regulation) relevant to traceability; ISO 22000 food safety management systems; Codex Alimentarius; WTO SPS and TBT Agreements; and ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory competence. The Twinning fiche emphasises incremental steps toward laboratory quality management and phased approach to ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, and states that ICT system design and implementation is outside the Twinning scope and must be contracted separately, although Member State experts can provide advisory support and recommended solutions.

Facilities, beneficiary counterparts and contact points

Beneficiary administration:Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), Office of the Vice President of The Gambia. FSQA counterpart contacts named in the fiche include: Mary Johnson, Director of Regulatory Affairs (contact person); Mamodou Bah, Director General (PL counterpart); Abdoulie Jallow, Principal Food Inspector (RTA counterpart). The beneficiary will provide office space for the RTA, desk space, meeting and training facilities, basic IT infrastructure, access to vehicles for in-country missions, and support staff as needed. The EU Delegation to The Gambia is the implementing agency for contracting and accounting.

Risks, assumptions and sustainability

The Twinning fiche and project documents identify contextual constraints and implementation risks that applicants must consider and address in their methodology: limited and intermittent electricity and internet; limited laboratory infrastructure and analytical capacity (need to plan for referencing samples abroad where necessary); limited absorptive capacity and small number of trained FSQA staff; transport and logistical challenges outside Greater Banjul; seasonal constraints (rainy season Jun–Oct) that may affect field missions; and need to sequence training to avoid overloading FSQA staff. Sustainability is built into the project design through institutionalisation of training curricula, development of SOPs, involvement of stakeholders, capacity building for national staff and alignment with FSQA Strategic Plan 2026–2030, and linkage to regional strategies (ECOWAS, AU, AfCFTA).

Key assumptions:Commitment and availability of FSQA counterparts and focal points; minimum laboratory infrastructure (building/space) available for equipping; timely engagement of relevant ministries and partner agencies; Member State experts available in-house within public administration.

Procurement and contracting modality

The Twinning action will be implemented via a Twinning contract awarded to the Member State administration chosen in the evaluation. The EU Delegation to The Gambia will manage contracting, tendering and accounting as implementing agency. The Twinning contract will specify deliverables, workplan, PSC arrangements, long-term RTA employment conditions, short-term experts schedule, financial reporting and visibility obligations according to EU rules and the Twinning Manual.

Checklist for Member State proposers (practical requirements)

1. 1Read and strictly follow the Twinning Manual and use mandatory Twinning templates (technical proposal, budget, CVs).
2. 2Ensure experts (PL, RTA, Component Leaders) are public administration officials or assimilated and available in-house (no outsourcing to private consultants for key experts).
3. 3Prepare clear methodology that addresses the Gambian context constraints (power, internet, lab capacity, seasonality) and sequences capacity building logically.
4. 4Include detailed RTA workplan and justification for long-term presence in The Gambia (RTA is full-time on-site expert).
5. 5Provide proof of operational capacity and track record of the Member State administration in twinning or similar institutional cooperation projects.
6. 6Demonstrate sustainability measures: how trainings, SOPs and legal/regulatory outputs will be institutionalised and used after project end.
7. 7Include the FSQA counterpart engagement plan and letters of support where available.
8. 8Respect the deadline: submit proposal via the Member State National Contact Point to the Contracting Authority by 01 October 2026, 15:00 UTC.

Templates and application structure guidance

The Twinning Manual prescribes the application templates and structure. Applicants must use those exact templates. The documents to prepare and include typically consist of the following elements (Twinning template structure):

1. 1Administrative form and cover letter from the Member State administration (signed by authorized official).
2. 2Twinning technical proposal: context analysis, proposed methodology per component, workplan (detailed activities, deliverables, timelines and sequencing), risk analysis and mitigation, sustainability and transfer plan, monitoring and indicators mapped to mandatory results.
3. 3Staffing plan and CVs: Member State Project Leader (PL), Resident Twinning Adviser (RTA), Component Leaders, list of envisaged short-term experts and indicative TORs. CVs must demonstrate required qualifications and in-house public administration status.
4. 4Operational capacity statement: organisational chart, prior experience in Twinning or institutional cooperation, evidence of comparable interventions.
5. 5Budget template: detailed budget lines consistent with Twinning Manual categories (long-term experts, short-term experts, travel and subsistence, equipment only if minor and directly linked to training, visibility, contractual management costs), with explanation of budget rationale.
6. 6Letters of commitment or support from beneficiary (FSQA) where available, and confirmation of in-kind contributions (office space for RTA, counterpart time).
7. 7Any additional annexes required by the Twinning Call (Annex C1 Twinning fiche, Annex C9 Publication Notice etc.).

Mentioned countries and regional scope

Direct country:The Gambia (beneficiary). Applicants: EU Member States public administrations. Regional references: ECOWAS, Africa Union (AU), AfCFTA; regional programmes referenced include WACOMP (West Africa Competitiveness Programme) and regional action plans. No other specific countries are named as applicants; Member State administrations from any EU Member State may apply through their National Contact Point.

Explicitly mentioned countries:The Gambia (beneficiary). EU Member States (applicant pool; unspecified which Member State).

Project stage, deliverables and indicators

Project stage:implementation and institutional capacity development, regulatory reform and operationalisation of inspection and monitoring systems. Core deliverables expected by end of implementation include: revised legal/regulatory instruments (target at least 3), risk-based inspection framework and sampling procedures, monitoring plans for at least two priority value chains, trained FSQA staff (target at least 30), operational workplan and MEAL arrangements, SOPs, communication and outreach materials, and a final report with sustainability plan and recommendations for follow-up investments (e.g., laboratory accreditation roadmap). Performance indicators are specified in the Twinning fiche and simplified logical framework (e.g., number of legal instruments revised, inspection plans implemented, number of staff trained, risk-based inspection coverage, lab accreditation milestones).

How this opportunity works and recommended approach

This Twinning call is a typical EU institutional cooperation action where an EU Member State administration transfers know-how and builds capacity within a beneficiary public administration (FSQA). The Member State must provide a PL and an on-site RTA (full-time), supported by Component Leaders and short-term experts. The approach should be pragmatic, sequenced and realistic given the Gambian operational context (limited lab capacity, intermittent internet and power, seasonal field access constraints). Proposals should prioritise regulatory drafting, SOPs, targeted training, risk-based inspection pilots in selected horticulture chains, and a practical monitoring plan. Where major IT or laboratory investments are needed, proposals should provide IT and lab strategy recommendations and roadmaps, but any procurement or system development must be contracted separately and is outside the Twinning direct scope. Emphasis should be placed on institutionalisation of training and replicable tools, and a sustainability plan for after project end.

Recommended technical focus areas to include in proposals:Regulatory gap analysis and drafting of prioritized regulations/SOPs; design and piloting of risk-based inspection and sampling procedures for selected horticulture value chains; development of monitoring plans and basic traceability strategies; capacity building in risk assessment, HACCP, audit and sampling; RTA-led mentorship and institutional strengthening; development of training curricula and materials to be institutionalised; proposals for phased laboratory quality management and accreditation roadmap; advisory inputs on ICT traceability options and FSIS uptake (design and strategy, not procurement).

Final summary and explanation of the opportunity

This Twinning opportunity funded by the EU (NDICI) allocates €1,000,000 to a single Member State public administration to partner with the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) of The Gambia. The objective is to strengthen Sanitary and Phytosanitary systems and food safety control specifically in the horticulture sector, enabling FSQA to adopt and implement EU and international standards, improve inspection and certification systems, improve technical capacity and risk assessment, and progress toward laboratory quality management and traceability. The instrument is Twinning, which requires a Member State public administration to provide in-house experts (Project Leader, Resident Twinning Adviser, Component Leaders and short-term experts). The action is limited in time (18 months execution; 15 months implementation) and requires a practical, context-aware approach addressing regulatory reform, inspection system design, staff capability building and institutionalisation of procedures. Proposals must be submitted by Member State National Contact Points to the Contracting Authority by 01 October 2026, using the Twinning Manual templates. Applicants should thoroughly address the operational constraints described in the fiche, demonstrate in-house expertise and experience, and propose a realistic and sequenced workplan aimed at delivering the mandatory results. Successful implementation will strengthen FSQA’s capacity to protect public health, improve horticultural export compliance and access to regional and international markets, and contribute to the resilience and competitiveness of Gambian horticulture value chains.

This summary reproduces key elements and requirements included in the official Twinning fiche and call documentation. Interested Member State public administrations must consult the Twinning Manual and the annex documents referenced by the Contracting Authority for full application instructions, templates and legal provisions ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Main source documents: Annex C9 (Call publication), Annex C1 (Twinning fiche), Annexes 2–4 attached to the call. Full documents and templates are available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal call pages and the Annex URLs provided in the call publication Annex C9 Annex C1 Annex 4 Annex 3 Annex 2.

Opportunity Overview

This is a €1,000,000 EU Twinning grant to strengthen the institutional, regulatory, and technical capacities of The Gambia's Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) for implementing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and food safety controls in the horticulture sector, aligned with EU and international standards ¹.

Key Facts:The project duration is 18 months (implementation period 15 months), with a submission deadline of 01 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC, and results expected in the week of 26 October 2026 ¹.

Who Can Apply

Only **Public Administrations and Mandated bodies** from **EU Member States** may apply, strictly through their respective **National Contact Points (NCPs) for Twinning**; private companies, NGOs, and non-EU entities are ineligible ¹.

1. 1Applicant must be an official or assimilated agent of an EU Member State public administration
2. 2Proposal must be submitted by the Lead Member State Administration to the EU Member State's NCP for Twinning
3. 3Only one Twinning proposal per Member State is accepted by the Contracting Authority
4. 4Expertise must be available in-house within the public administration (no outsourcing to private consultants)

Project Objectives and Scope

The project aims to enable FSQA to effectively implement SPS measures and food safety systems in horticulture (e.g., mangoes, baby corn, chili peppers) to reduce export rejections and access EU/international markets ¹.

Three Mandatory Results (Components)

Funding and Budget Details

Budget:Total EU-funded budget is **€1,000,000**; this covers all project costs including expert missions, training, workshops, and RTA salary, but excludes capital investment in laboratory equipment ¹.

Twinning does not fund IT system development or laboratory accreditation capital costs; these must be contracted separately or undertaken by FSQA directly ¹.

Key Personnel Requirements

The proposal must include a **Member State Project Leader (PL)**, a **Resident Twinning Advisor (RTA)** based full-time at FSQA Headquarters in The Gambia, and up to three **Component Leaders (CLs)** for short-term missions ¹.

1. 1PL: Master's degree in Food Science/Safety/Public Health, 3+ years experience in food safety/SPS (3 as manager), English B2+, knowledge of EU SPS legislation required
2. 2RTA: Master's degree in Food Science/Agronomy/Plant Health, 3+ years in food safety/SPS, project management experience, English C1+, knowledge of EU SPS legislation required
3. 3CLs: Master's degree (or Bachelor + 5 years experience), 3+ years in food safety/SPS, project leadership experience, English C1+, comprehensive understanding of EU SPS legislation required

Application Process and Formalities

Proposals must follow the **Twinning Manual** template strictly and be submitted by the Lead Member State Administration to the National Contact Point for Twinning before the NCP's internal deadline, which is earlier than 01 October 2026 ¹.

1. 1Submit via email address of the Member State's National Contact Point for Twinning
2. 2PL must attend the selection committee meeting (week of 14 October 2026)
3. 3Evaluation uses Yes/No for selection criteria and 1–5 scoring for award criteria
4. 4Single negative evaluation on any selection criterion disqualifies the proposal

Context and Strategic Alignment

The project aligns with The Gambia's **Food Safety and Quality Policy (2023)**, **National Export Strategy 2021–2025**, **GNAIP II-FNS (2019–2026)**, and the **FSQA Strategic Plan 2026–2030**, as well as regional frameworks like **ECOWAS Food Safety Strategy** and **AfCFTA SPS Annex 7** ¹.

It addresses critical challenges including high aflatoxin levels in groundnuts (leading to enhanced EU control regime), fragmented institutional mandates, limited laboratory infrastructure, and inadequate SPS compliance constraining horticulture exports ¹.

Crosscutting Issues and Sustainability

The project integrates **gender equality** (inclusive participation of women inspectors and women-led MSMEs), **environmental sustainability** (GAPs, organic certification, EUDR compliance), and **climate resilience** (climate-smart agriculture, reduced pesticide misuse) ¹.

Sustainability is ensured through institutionalized training curricula, stakeholder involvement in reform design, and development of communication materials for post-project use ¹.

Contact and Further Information

The implementing agency is the **EU Delegation to The Gambia**; Program Officer is Emile Henri Van Caenegem (Emile.van-caenegem@eeas.europa.eu); beneficiary contact is Mary Johnson (Director of Regulatory Affairs, FSQA) ¹.

Detailed guidance is in the **Twinning Manual** and project **Twinning Fiches**, available only through EU Member States' National Contact Points for Twinning ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official Call for Proposals: Twinning Fiche and Annex C9, European Commission, Prospect Reference GM 24 NDICI AG 01 26, available at EU Funding Portal - Prospect 187388 and Twinning Fiche Annex C1.