So 2023 saw my family move back to our beloved
#WestAfrica
and start to discover the beautiful country that is
#TheGambia
🇬🇲. So looking forward to more discovery and more achievement in 2024 with my incredible team at
@UKinTheGambia
. So much to be done and I’m excited!
Much excitement at the British 🇬🇧Residence here in
#TheGambia
this morning, as one of our new goats, Sally, has had her baby…Still deciding on a name..
An inspirational start to the day. I got to stroke a vulture’s head! Incredible work being done at Kartong Bird Observatory to research the amazing birds of
#TheGambia
🇬🇲. Bird migration research, conservation and education, in close partnership with the
#TheUK
.
@kartongbirdobs
Celebrated it almost being Christmas with
#Domoda
for supper last night at the British Residence.
#Gambianpeanutbutterstew
is literally my favourite dish in the world
Completely loved being part of 🇬🇲
#TheGambia
’s 2023 Janjangbureh Bicentenary Commemoration today. So much rich culture to celebrate and enjoy. Well done
@TheGambiaMoTC
for organising such a fabulous day.
The peace and beauty of 🇬🇲
#TheGambia
was mesmerising this weekend in Makasutu. So many stunning birds and fascinating baboons and monkeys. Loving discovering this incredible country.
Loving hanging out with my new best friends the
#greenvervetmonkeys
on our terrace this evening. Love
#TheGambia
🇬🇲 and it’s amazing wildlife and nature
Happy 59th Independence Day to my wonderful friends and colleagues here in
#TheGambia
. Here’s to a prosperous, peaceful and happy future for this beautiful country that I now call home.
First trip to State House to meet
@FirstLady_GMB
. She does so much to support women and children in
#TheGambia
🇬🇲, and
@UKinTheGambia
is excited about working together going forward.
I’ve become fascinated by the beautiful
#birds
here in
#TheGambia
🇬🇲. I was lucky enough to see an Abyssinian Roller yesterday evening, hanging out in our garden. Many more stunning birds to spot here over the next three years :)
One of the many great things I got to do today was have my first official taste of
#TheGambia
’s amazing
#mangoes
. They truly do bring joy to my life, and are one of the many many reasons I love this country..
Not sure who took the best selfie, but
@mkah
it was such a joy to finally meet you. We share so much passion for
#education
and
#humanrights
, and improving the future of
#TheGambia
.
While I’m busy meeting all the main political parties, my amazing Residence team is busy preparing local
#Gambian
🇬🇲 juices for a big gala dinner we are hosting tomorrow for
#CommonwealthDay
.
#Wonjo
still a firm favourite for my two kids…
In the 40th year of the amazing
#Chevening
programme it was a joy and inspiration to welcome back four of our latest contingent of scholars who have completed fully funded Masters degrees in the UK 🇬🇧.
@CheveningFCDO
.
@UKinTheGambia
.
Loved hosting all the many people supporting the health and welfare of
#TheGambia
to celebrate
#CommonwealthDay
2024. 75 years of incredible unity, that we must utilise and drive forward. Great to celebrate health and wellbeing here in
#Banjul
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Honourable Seedy K. M. Keita and I discussed the vital reforms underway to support the public and private sectors in
#TheGambia
🇬🇲. His vision and passion was truly inspiring (as was his agreement on Gambian Jollof rice).
@MofeaGambia
.
My family and I had a fabulous tour of the Bijilo Forest Park with the manager Soloman, discovering some of the incredible
#wildlife
that
#TheGambia
has to offer.
On behalf of UK charity Sunshine with Smiles, I presented the Edward Francis Hope Teaching Hospital with a key machine part. It now has the most modern and best mammogram machine in The Gambia 🇬🇲 for the detection of breast cancer. .
@UKintheGambia
.
It’s been a busy day! @
It was an utter pleasure to meet with Honourable Dr Amadou Lamin Samateh, the Gambian Minister of Health today. The UK does a lot through
@The_MRC
but I want to do more on
#health
. Lots to be done.
@MohGambia
.
@UKinTheGambia
Hosted an inspirational group of women for lunch today, all of whom were clearly as passionate as I am about the rights of
#women
and
#girls
in 🇬🇲
#TheGambia
.
Highlight of my trip to
#London
this week was meeting H.E Dr. Fatou Bensouda, 🇬🇲 The Gambia’s High Commissioner to the UK 🇬🇧.
@UKinTheGambia
can’t wait to welcome you when you visit next month. So much we can do together for
#TheGambia
.
Absolutely delighted to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Dr. Mamadou Tangara this morning, following a hugely warm welcome to 🇬🇲
#TheGambia
. Excited to lead the work of
@UKinTheGambia
🇬🇧here.
Loved celebrating the launch of the National Citizen’s Assembly, bringing together stakeholders to support the Great Green Wall Frontline - a grassroots-led initiative supporting frontline communities to mitigate effects of
#climatechange
.
@GGWFrontline
.
@UKinTheGambia
So
#GlobalHealth
is so important to me. I’ve been in Africa during both Ebola and Covid 19 and there is so much we all need to do. Meeting Dr. Desta Tiruneh from
@WHO
was both serious and enjoyable as we exchanged our stories and plans to support
#TheGambia
.
Hosted a fabulous team of UK 🇬🇧 medical students from Swansea University - here as part of a longstanding partnership with
#TheGambia
to learn and support the medical system here.
@UKinTheGambia
.
@SwanseaUni
Honourable Baboucarr Bouy, 🇬🇲Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery and I met to discuss their ambitious agenda, and our shared passion for the work of the civil service in 🇬🇧 and 🇬🇲. His title is way more impressive than mine!
Met the amazing Manjit Gill today, who runs . As a woman - especially one with sisters and daughters - I passionately support the right to menstrual dignity for every girl and woman globally.
@UKinTheGambia
is so proud to be working with you
@BintiPeriod
.
Annual survey: countries where 🇬🇧 is represented by a woman: 74 of c.170 UK ambassadors/high commissioners/perm reps/governors are women. Aim is 50:50
#GettingThere
An exciting morning activity today - we planted four cocoa plants in the Residence garden, thanks to
@fadyhocheimy
. Who knew that
#TheGambia
could produce chocolate (
@fadyhocheimy
does, and is passionate about it)! Looking forward to a future chocolate harvest for
@UKinTheGambia
.
Such inspirational ambition and drive from the Gambian Youth Parliament, who I met yesterday.
@GambiaNYP
-
@UKinTheGambia
🇬🇧 looks forward to working with you on key issues where
#youth
in
#TheGambia
🇬🇲can be a real force for good.
Met yet another amazing CSO today (there are so many!) supporting women in
#TheGambia
.
@thewoman_boss
does inspiring stuff supporting Gambian women in innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership.
@ukinthegambia
shares your passion and drive.
A belated but huge congratulations to Di Miles for being awarded an MBE for her services to education in
#TheGambia
….🇬🇲. She has done incredible work in setting up and running the Afrikaya nursery here, supporting early years education. See .
A fascinating and informative meeting today with
@JahaENDFGM
, one of the leading voices in the fight against
#FGM
. Impressive work that her organisation
@SafeHands4Girls
is doing to empower
#women
in 🇬🇲, especially promoting the financial independence of women.
@UKinTheGambia
Shared my passion for higher education with Honourable Professor Pierre Gomez at
@MoHERST_gambia
. So pleased
#UK
🇬🇧 is such a popular destination for
#TheGambia
.
#Chevening
key for this.
Productive discussions between VP Jallow & new British High Commissioner
@HCKingFCDO
at State House today, focusing on bolstering strong UK-Gambia ties.
Highlights include support for justice, armed forces, education, & a commitment to further strengthen the partnership 🇬🇲🇬🇧
So great to have
@CPA_UK
here in
#TheGambia
, further strengthening their fruitful partnership with the National Assembly here. The Honourable Speaker was our guest of honour at a reception, joining CSOs,
@CPA_UK
, and National Assembly members.
@AssemblyGambia
.
@UKinTheGambia
.
#ClimateChange
is close to my heart. Honourable Rohey John Manjang and I discussed waste management, coastal erosion, renewable energy and other key issues. So much to do.
@UKinTheGambia
🇬🇧is keen to support
@Meccnar_Gambia
and The Gambia 🇬🇲 where we can.
Inspiring visit to the Gunjur Inclusion Centre last week, where disabled children are able to access play and feel fully included in society, with amazing support for families also. We need more of these here. More at .
@DirectoratDA
Met the inspiring Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Commonwealth Secretary General, and with The First Lady, we launched the Commonwealth ‘No More’ Global Campaign in The Gambia - a clear stance against gender based violence.
@PScotlandCSG
.
@FirstLady_GMB
.
@UKinTheGambia
🇬🇲
Having a health focussed week - last night I hosted more medical professionals (fully qualified this time) working with Gam Med () who also provide incredible support to the medical system here in
#TheGambia
I’ve been busy this week meeting with political parties here - NPP, UDP, PDOIS and GDC. Fascinating insights and analysis into the political context of
#TheGambia
🇬🇲.
@UKinTheGambia
Having first met at Heathrow at 6am the day I flew to
#TheGambia
🇬🇲, it was great to properly meet the Chief Justice of
#TheGambia
this morning.
@UKinTheGambia
🇬🇧is proud to support important work in the Justice sector here.
Could have talked for hours with the Honourable Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, the inspirational Mrs Claudiana A. Cole. We covered the importance of
#girlseducation
and the close links between 🇬🇲and 🇬🇧on
#education
U.S. Secretary of State Recognizes Fatou Baldeh at 2024 International Women of Courage Awards
Banjul, The Gambia - On March 4, at 16:30 GMT, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, along with the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, will host the annual International…
Cricket has always been part of my life. My Grandpa was obsessed, as is my husband. So it was fabulous to meet with the captain and vice captain of the
#Gambia
national cricket team today.
@BubacarrKuyate1
thank you for your warm welcome.
I was so delighted to visit the Afrikaya Nursery this morning. . An inspirational self-funding and self-sustaining project, supporting early years education in the New Yundum community, full of happy kids enjoying learning.
@UKinTheGambia
It was wonderful to meet with the Vice Chancellor of the
@UniOfGambia
today. Education, especially at University level is so key to the future of
#TheGambia
. Keen to do all we can to support and partner in this area.
@UKinTheGambia
Today, we were honored to host Her Excellency
@HCKingFCDO
, the British High Commissioner to The Gambia.
The meeting with our Vice Chancellor, Prof. Herbert Robinson, highlighted key areas of cooperation-
#Agriculture
and
#Health
.
Exciting collaborations lie ahead!
🇬🇲🤝🇬🇧
End of an era as David Belgrove, former HC to The Gambia and Ambassador to Liberia, retires from the FCDO. Thank you for 41 years of service
@D_R_Belgrove
! It has been an honour.
@UKinTheGambia
@UKinLiberia
Another boat visit today - this time to meet with Lt Cdr, Head of the 🇬🇲Maritime Operation Centre, and his team. End of two weeks of key training provided by 🇬🇧
#UK
Totally inspired by my visit to
@RidersforHealth
today. Amazing work being done, alongside
@MohGambia
to ensure access to health facilities nationwide, using quality motorbikes and other vehicles, ensuring top class maintenance and training.
@UKinTheGambia
.
@2WheelsforLife
.
🇬🇧
@HCKingFCDO
honoured to attend
#AU
#PSC
on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Children in Situations of Conflict
🇬🇧supports
#Gambian
leadership as Co-Chair of the Africa Platform on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts
#Agenda2063
@UKinTheGambia
It was great to meet with
@NHRCGambia
this morning. They are doing so much valuable work here, and
@UKinTheGambia
is delighted to be their close partner.
H.E
@HCKingFCDO
new British High Commissioner to The Gambia held an introductory meeting with
#NHRC
to discuss UK support to the Commission and future partnerships.
We welcome Her Excellency to The Gambia and wish her a successful tour of duty and strengthening our partnerships
Congratulations
@NDowJames
OBE. Well deserved recognition including the
@BAUSurology
St Paul’s Medal. An honour to know this dear friend of
@USANZUrology
. You are a shining example for many.
@aberdeenuni
Loved talking to Honourable Mr. Bakary Y. Badjie, 🇬🇲 The Gambia’s Minister for Youth and Sports - two things close to my heart - about everything from cricket to youth entrepreneurship today. Thank you
@MOYSTheGambia
.
@UKinTheGambia
🇬🇧 is proud to work with you.
With representatives from the
#Gambian
National Cricket Team, alongside the amazing Dr Steve Bick, who with his British Charity Sunshine with Smiles is supporting
#cricket
here with much needed equipment.
The UK’s 🇬🇧National Crime Agency
#NCA
is working closely with the Drugs Law Enforcement Agency
#DLEAG
here in 🇬🇲
#TheGambia
. Delighted to meet with their Director General Alh. Bakary Gassama to discuss how
#UK
can continue to help support the fight against drug trafficking
7/3/24:
@IHRDAfrica
Executive Director,
@EmiliaSiwingwa
, pays courtesy visit to British High Commissioner to The Gambia, Her Excellency
@HCKingFCDO
. They discussed the High Commission’s & IHRDA’s areas of work & have committed to maintaining relations in areas of mutual interest.
The President’s International Award - The Gambia
@pia_awardGambia
- Your work is truly inspiring, and it was great to hear this morning how you are striving to help the youth of 🇬🇲
#TheGambia
.
@UKinTheGambia
is proud to be your close partner.
The UK is supporting
@Gavi
in the fight against malaria.
British science is behind the world-first vaccines that have been shown to reduce malaria cases in children by 90% when used alongside bed nets and other tools.
Together, we will help save lives.
@JainabaFaye
@HEAminata
@JainabaFaye
thankyou for all you have done for
@UKinTheGambia
. You will be sorely missed, but you remain part of our High Commission family, and our dear friend! Wishing you all the best in the next stage of your adventure. May you continue to shine.
So happy to see my friend
@HCKingFCDO
take up her role in
#Gambia
and wish her every success. I hope that she will experience the same wonderful time that I did as High Commissioner & will receive the warmest of welcomes to the
#SmilingCoast
Our Royal Marines from
@42_commando
🗡️ trained with colleagues from Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼, The Gambia 🇬🇲 and Senegal 🇸🇳.
We sharpened vital board & search techniques for countering piracy, smuggling and other illegal activity at sea off West Africa. 🏴☠️🌍
#GANo23
#TeamTrent
Such a productive meeting at the 🇬🇲Gambian Ministry of Justice this morning. Delighted that
@UKinTheGambia
🇬🇧 will continue to work closely with my new friend, Honourable Mr. Dawda A. Jallow and his team.
Great news!
Vice President Jallow Officially Opens 2024 Legal Year🇬🇲
Acting on behalf of President Adama Barrow, VP Jallow marked the occasion with a speech highlighting pivotal legislative strides and international collaborations shaping the nation's legal landscape. (1/3)
You have two weeks left to submit your
#Chevening
application for your chance to get that
#ChosenForChevening
feeling 🕺
We highly recommend submitting as early as possible before the 7 November deadline to avoid technical issues.
Go on, press submit:
Please watch this video. So important to address the imbalance on
#gender
, which is ingrained at such an early age. A woman can do anything a man can do!