Key findings:

Small-scale cross-border traders include a large number of young, Gambian mothers with no formal education. These traders import a large variety of raw materials and manufactured goods from Senegal. The average value of each consignment is low, between ca. USD 100 and USD 500. Trade flows that were observed during the rapid assessment were mostly imports from Senegal into The Gambia, although it is difficult to know the origin of the goods. Even though small-scale cross-border traders are

largely informal, most of them do make an important contribution to government revenues. In general, the rapid assessment found that the border environment at Keur Ali and Missera borders is benign for small-scale cross-border traders. The most prevalent challenge that traders face at Keur Ali and Missera borders concern formal and informal payments that are made at the border post. Although harassment is not as prevalent at the target borders as it is at other borders in the region, women traders in particular reported a non-negligible number of cases. Other obstacles to trade at formal border crossings (excessive paperwork, delays, etc.) do not seem to be a major problem for small-scale cross-border traders. Few respondents used informal routes.