Our Mission & Mandate
The Intersectoral Services Network coordinates cross-cutting environmental policies across ministries, municipal authorities, and non-governmental institutions. ISN manages Gambia's highly vulnerable Atlantic coastline, guides community mangrove restoration efforts, publishes the statutory state of the environment report, and runs early disaster warning response systems.
Key Institutional Mandates:
- Integrate national environmental guidelines into sector-specific government policies.
- Protect coastal and marine zones against erosion, illegal sand mining, and marine litter.
- Formulate disaster preparedness frameworks and emergency coordination channels.
- Compile, manage, and disseminate national environmental indicators and data.
Mr. Lamin M. Camara
Director, Intersectoral Services Network
With over fifteen (15) years of progressive experience in environmental management, climate change adaptation, and natural resources governance, I am a seasoned leader dedicated to advancing sustainable development across sectors. For more than a decade, I have served in senior technical and leadership capacities, shaping policy and driving institutional excellence.Currently, I serve as the Director of Intersectoral Services at the National Environment Agency (NEA), where I oversee the formulation and implementation of critical programs spanning Environmental Education, Information Services, Coastal Zone and Marine Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources (land-based), and the Environmental Information System (GIS). My leadership is focused on breaking down sectoral silos promoting cross-sector awareness of sound environmental practices and ensuring that economic and social welfare are rooted in sustainability. My technical foundation is built on extensive expertise in the preparation and review of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA), and Environmental and Social Compliance Audits (ESCA). I hold an MSc in Water Science and Engineering, with a specialization in Land and Water Development for Food Security a discipline that informs my approach to balancing resource conservation with agricultural productivity.Over my 20-year journey with the NEA, I have risen through diverse programs, including Environmental Impact Assessment and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Today, I provide technical advice on mitigating the degrading effects of economic and industrial policies, manage a team of professional and semi-professional staff, and oversee the creation of an efficient cross-sectoral database that informs evidence-based decision-making on the state of our environment.
Sustainable environmental governance requires strong policy integration across all sectors of our public administration.
Core Operational Units
Exploring the specific technical departments and coordinating agencies under the ISN network.
Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) Program
Convenes the statutory ANR platform to align environmental goals across agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and water resources. Supports local environmental committees in implementing regional action plans.
Coastal & Marine Environment (C&ME) Program
Monitors Atlantic coastline erosion rates, sand mining sites, and coastal developers. Drives community-led mangrove replanting programs and coordinates the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Resilience Project.
Environmental Education & Communications Program
Develops environmental curricula for basic and secondary education. Coordinates school environmental clubs and handles communication drives for the monthly Set Setal (National Cleaning Day) campaigns.
Environmental Information Systems (EIS)
Collects and curates national environmental data to publish the official State of the Environment Report. Maintains the central agency database to support environmental researchers and policy makers.
Civil Engineering Unit
Provides technical civil engineering support for coastal protection structures, drainage systems, and environmental infrastructure projects. Conducts site assessments and supervises construction to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
Explore Other Departments
Office of the Executive Director
The Office of the Executive Director provides the strategic and governance backbone of the National Environment Agency. It ensures alignment between NEA's mandate, national government priorities, and international environmental commitments. The office directly oversees the Technical Advisory Committee, Procurement, and Internal Audit functions to maintain transparency, accountability, and policy coherence across all departments.
Directorate of Administration & Finance
The Directorate of Administration and Finance provides the essential administrative, financial, human resource, and logistical foundation for the National Environment Agency. DAF ensures transparent management of operational budgets in line with regulatory frameworks, administers fleet assets, and supports our regional monitoring offices.
Technical Services Network
The Technical Services Network operates as the scientific, analytical, and field enforcement division of the National Environment Agency. TSN regulates corporate environmental discharges, manages chemical imports, conducts baseline soil and water testing at our dedicated laboratory, and runs critical ozone depletion prevention initiatives across all administrative regions of The Gambia.