Three-tier governance
The structure is contained in the NRIF Act, 2025 and aligns with findings of the national stakeholder consultation identifying multi-stakeholder governance and independence from political interference as non-negotiable foundations for NRIF's legitimacy.
MoHERST
Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology. Provides policy oversight, ensuring NRIF's alignment with national policies. Does not direct operational decisions.
Governing Board
Strategic leadership, governance, and oversight, composed of distinguished professionals from government, the private sector, and independent expertise. Convenes quarterly.
NRIF Secretariat
Operational management, programme implementation, and day-to-day delivery of all NRIF activities. Led by the Executive Director.
How NRIF governs
Three principles underpin every governance decision NRIF makes, enshrined in the NRIF Act, 2025 and reinforced by the Grants Manual.
NRIF operates free from political interference. Funding decisions are made by the Governing Board and TAC solely on merit and national development relevance. MoHERST provides policy oversight but does not direct grant outcomes.
All evaluation criteria, scoring weights, and award decisions are published. Applicants receive written evaluator feedback regardless of outcome. NRIF publishes an annual report and programme accounts.
The Governing Board is accountable to the Government of The Gambia and reports annually to the National Assembly. Grantees are accountable to NRIF through milestone reporting, financial audits, and Secretariat oversight.
Governing Board
The Governing Board is the highest decision-making body of NRIF. Quorum: two-thirds (9) of voting members. Funding allocation decisions require a simple majority.
Former Executive Secretary, CODESRIA
MoHERST
MoFEA
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Agriculture
MoECCNR
MoYS
MoTIE
MoHERST
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
The TAC provides independent technical assessment and leads the evaluation of all funding proposals. Members are appointed by the Governing Board for each window cycle on the basis of relevant expertise.
TAC composition for each window must include at minimum one international reviewer with no affiliation to any Gambian institution. Each evaluator scores independently and must sign a conflict-of-interest declaration before the evaluation begins.
NRIF Secretariat
The Secretariat handles operational management, programme implementation, and day-to-day delivery of all NRIF activities.
