Lead Firm Linkages

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History & Establishment

The Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project is being implemented by the Government of the Gambia, through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, with a US$68 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. The project's objective is to support the diversification and climate resilience of the tourism sector at selected destinations.

The PIU contracted a Management Consulting Firm (IBF International Consulting joint venture) to support subcomponent 1b, branded as the "Yokkute Accelerator." This sub-project runs for three years (2024 to end June 2027) and aims to increase the participation and sustainable integration of tourism MSMEs into value chains.

Key Objectives and Interventions

• Upgrading Domestic MSMEs: Facilitating the transfer of technology, knowledge, and skills.

• Improving Business Practices and Market Access: Providing tailored capacity-building services and co-funding through matching grants.

• Identification and Upgrading: Building partnerships with large firms (Lead Firms) to identify, train, and support MSME suppliers.

• Matching Grant Support: Providing funding to businesses that successfully graduate from the capacity building phase and demonstrate investment readiness.

Lead-Firm Linkages

Lead-firm linkages are structured partnerships between large, market-facing tourism enterprises—such as hotels, tour operators, and major restaurants—and smaller, local MSME suppliers. Within the Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP), these linkages are designed to strengthen local value chains, create jobs, and ensure that local communities benefit directly from tourism growth.

Through the Yokkute Accelerator, the project supports MSMEs to meet industry standards, access markets, and integrate into supplier networks of lead firms. This includes providing technical training, digital tools, and matching grants to help small businesses become “contract-ready.”

Benefits of Lead-Firm Linkages

• Enhanced Market Access: MSMEs gain stable demand by supplying goods and services to established tourism businesses.

• Improved Quality Standards: Partnerships with lead firms encourage MSMEs to upgrade production and service quality.

• Increased Local Participation: Women and youth entrepreneurs gain more opportunities through direct inclusion in tourism value chains.

• Sustainable Partnerships: Promotes long-term cooperation between lead firms and MSMEs through mutual growth and trust.

These linkages form a core part of TDRGP’s vision for a more resilient and inclusive tourism ecosystem in The Gambia—where local innovation, supply capacity, and partnerships with industry leaders drive sustainable growth across the sector.