Page 2 - Economic transformation
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Background
The CCA companion guide emphasizes that economic transformation is broader
than structural change. Economic transformation also has to pay attention to a wider
range of issues and processes, including spatial distribution of population, demographic
transition, changes in institutions that should accompany productivity increase brought
about by structural change. Employment is also identified as the lynchpin of the links
between economic growth and social development. This is because it is through creation
of decent jobs that productivity gains can be translated into improvement of quality of
life of the vast majority of the population.
The CCA companion guide therefore defines economic transformation under the
2030 Agenda as follows:
Economic transformation comprises fundamental changes in the economy that
raise the overall productivity level while ensuring adequate quantity and quality of
employment, equitable distribution of income and wealth, and access to quality public
services, and protection of environment.
This chapter assesses The Gambia’s economic transformation and its broad multi-
dimensional implications on sustainable development.
Peace, the foundation of social cohesion, development and economic
transformation
Central to economic development is peace. Without peace, the country’s
development is compromised and most likely unattainable. The covid-19 pandemic has
made peace even more important as it threatens to destabilise it in various ways. Like
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