𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫

The Global Columbia Collaboratory – Environmental Humanities & Global Health in The Gambia has successfully concluded its third field cohort, bringing to an end another three-week programme of academic research, environmental conservation, community engagement and cultural exchange in Gunjur and other parts of The Gambia.

The 2026 field programme, which ran from 6 to 24 July, was organised by Columbia University’s Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement in partnership with the Gunjur Conservationists and Ecotourism Association (CETAG) and The Gunjur Project Association.

The programme brought together students, researchers, faculty members and local conservation practitioners to explore the connections between environmental humanities, global health, sustainable development and community-led conservation.

Hands-on learning in Gunjur

During the field programme, participants took part in a wide range of practical activities, including marine turtle conservation at CETAG Turtle Village, indigenous tree nursery development, citizen science, coastal environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation, community health and WASH initiatives, climate resilience activities and cultural exchanges with local communities.

The field experience allowed participants to gain first-hand knowledge of the environmental and social realities confronting communities along The Gambia’s coast, while also giving local organisations an opportunity to share their knowledge and conservation experience with an international academic community.

Mapping Southern Gambia’s ecotourism potential

One of the key areas of research during this year’s programme was the mapping of ecotourism sites across Southern Gambia and beyond.

The objective is to increase the visibility of community-based tourism destinations and help develop self-guided tourism experiences that can attract both domestic and international visitors.

Many of these sites possess significant natural and cultural value but remain relatively unknown to visitors. By documenting and promoting them, the initiative hopes to help communities unlock new opportunities for sustainable income generation, employment and improved livelihoods.

The project also has a wider social dimension, particularly in relation to the economic challenges facing young people.

By demonstrating the potential of sustainable tourism and conservation as sources of employment and entrepreneurship, the initiative seeks to contribute to addressing some of the factors that encourage young Gambians to undertake irregular migration, including the dangerous “backway” journey to Europe.

CETAG plays key role

As one of the programme’s principal local partners, CETAG played a central role in the field activities, providing students with hands-on conservation experience and opportunities to engage directly with communities in Gunjur.

The organisation supported field research, environmental education, stakeholder engagement and practical conservation activities, helping participants develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing coastal communities.

The collaboration also demonstrated the importance of combining international academic knowledge with local expertise and community experience when developing sustainable solutions to environmental and social challenges.

Appreciation to programme team

Special appreciation has been extended to the individuals whose leadership and commitment contributed to the successful delivery of the 2026 programme.

They include Dr. Shannon Marquez, Dean of Global Engagement and Programme Director at Columbia University; Rashawn Merchant, Programme Coordinator and fourth-year PhD student at Columbia University; Dr. Veronica Flake, Faculty Member at Columbia University; Jenny Ringstead, Co-founder of The Gunjur Project Association and The Gunjur Project Lodge; Dr. Ahmed Manjang, Microbiologist and Coordinator at CETAG; and Lamin Jassey, Conservationist, Consultant and Executive Director of CETAG.

Their combined efforts helped facilitate meaningful interaction between international students and local communities while advancing the objectives of the field programme.

A growing international partnership

The completion of the third cohort further demonstrates the potential of international academic partnerships to support conservation, education, research and sustainable development at community level.

For Gunjur, the continued collaboration provides an opportunity to showcase the town’s rich coastal environment, biodiversity, culture and growing ecotourism potential to an international audience.

The partnership between Columbia University, CETAG and The Gunjur Project also highlights the importance of ensuring that local communities remain at the heart of conservation and sustainable development initiatives.

As the Global Columbia Collaboratory continues to grow, the programme is expected to strengthen its contribution to experiential learning, conservation research, sustainable ecotourism and global health, while creating opportunities for continued knowledge exchange between international institutions and communities in The Gambia.

The successful completion of the third cohort therefore represents not only an academic achievement, but also another step towards building a stronger model of community-led conservation, sustainable tourism and international collaboration in Gunjur and beyond.