Summary
CIFAL Banjul
Established in 2023, the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in the Gambia (CIFAL Banjul) is hosted by the University of The Gambia (UTG) in Banjul, Gambia. The centre provides a range of learning opportunities to enhance capabilities, refine decision-making processes and foster knowledge exchange between public servants and leaders of the African Region countries to improve the decision-making processes and encourage sustainable development.
Scope: African Region.
Thematic areas:
- UN Sustainable Development Goals at the local level
- Environment and Climate Change Financing for Africa
- Challenges and opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- Circular Economy and Waste Management
- Public Health and Data Management
- Gender Mainstreaming
- Youth Empowerment
CIFAL Banjul Director
Dr. Christopher Belford
Dr. Christopher Belford
Dr. Christopher Belford is an Associate Professor in Economics at the University of The Gambia, with expertise in Economic Development, Climate Change Economics, International Trade, and Economic Policy Analysis in developing countries. Currently serves as Director of CIFAL Banjul, the first UNITAR-affiliated training centre in The Gambia, hosted at the University of The Gambia (UTG), where he also holds the position of Associate Fellow of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and Management from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from National Taiwan University, and a B.Sc. in Economics and Management from the University of The Gambia.
Dr. Belford has more than two decades of experience in academia, policy research, and institutional leadership. He previously served as Head of the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of The Gambia, where he led academic reform efforts and championed faculty development and research initiatives. His earlier professional experience includes work as a Business Relationship Officer at Standard Chartered Bank in The Gambia.
Dr. Belford has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from climate change impacts on agriculture to poverty analysis, fiscal sustainability, and public service delivery. He has presented his work at international conferences in China, India, and West Africa and has contributed to national and regional research commissioned by institutions such as the World Bank, UNESCO, the African Development Bank, and the Gambia Revenue Authority.
Among his numerous publications, Dr. Belford has authored papers on topics such as:
- An Economic Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on The Gambia’s Agriculture Sector: A CGE Approach
- An Empirical Analysis of Free Trade Agreements for Importing Goods from Africa to China
- Exploring the Twin Deficits Hypothesis and the Saving-Investment Nexus in The Gambia (1980–2023)
- Risk and Vulnerability: Analysis of Rural and Urban Households Poverty in Nigeria
- An Assessment of the Level of Affordability of Eye Health Care Services: A Case Study of OneSight – The Gambia
Dr. Belford is actively involved in national capacity-building initiatives and serves on advisory boards and committees focused on policy research, entrepreneurship, and stakeholder engagement. His work continues to bridge academic research with public policy and sustainable development practice in West Africa.
Contact Information
UNITAR
- Email: info@utg.edu.gm
- Address: MDI Road, Kanifing P.O. Box 3530, Serrekunda, The Gambia