Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about cooperatives and DoCD services
DoCD is the government agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security responsible for registering, regulating, and supporting cooperatives across The Gambia. This public platform helps citizens find cooperatives, verify certificates, explore sector data, and contact the department.
Open the Cooperative Directory from the main menu. You can search by name and filter by type, region, district, and services. Click any cooperative to view its public profile, including location details, activities, and current executives where available.
Public profiles typically include the cooperative’s name, registration details, location (region/district), status, value chains and services, and current executives. Sensitive internal records and staff-only documents are not published on the public portal.
Use Directory → View on Map (or open the Interactive Map from Quick Links). The national map shows cooperative locations so you can explore coverage by region and area.
Go to Verify Certificate and enter the certificate number or verification code printed on the certificate. The system will confirm whether the certificate is valid, expired, or not found, and show key certificate details when a match exists.
A valid certificate means the cooperative’s certificate is currently active according to DoCD records. An expired certificate means its validity period has ended and may need renewal through DoCD. If verification fails, double-check the number or contact DoCD for assistance.
Cooperative registration is processed by DoCD staff through the official registration workflow. Contact DoCD via the Contact page or visit the department with the required documentation. Staff will guide you through application submission, review, approval, and certification.
Requirements can vary, but applications commonly include identifying details for founding members/executives, proposed cooperative information (name, type, location), and supporting documents requested by DoCD. Confirm the current checklist with the department before you apply.
Processing time depends on completeness of documents, verification steps, and DoCD review. Incomplete applications take longer. For status updates on a submitted application, contact DoCD directly through the Contact page or the office phone numbers listed in the footer.
Compliance monitoring helps ensure registered cooperatives meet regulatory and reporting obligations. Staying compliant supports good governance, protects members, and helps cooperatives remain in good standing for certificates and continued DoCD support.
Private Individuals are people registered in DoCD programmes outside formal cooperative membership records—often smallholder farmers and rural participants supported through outreach, training, or input distribution. Public Insights pages show aggregate statistics; individual personal records are not publicly listed.
Input Distribution tracks agricultural inputs (such as seeds, tools, or related support) provided through DoCD programmes to cooperatives and/or private individuals. The Insights section presents summary statistics by input type and beneficiaries. Programme enrolment and distribution logistics are handled by DoCD staff and field teams.
Eligibility and distribution schedules are managed by DoCD. Contact the department through the Contact page to ask about current programmes in your region, required registration steps, and how cooperatives or private individuals can participate.
Insights provides public sector statistics such as cooperative counts, membership figures, certificates, private individual totals, input distribution summaries, and regional breakdowns. You can use filters where available to explore trends and coverage across The Gambia.
Yes. Public dashboards and Insights draw from DoCD’s live registry and programme data, so totals update as records are added or maintained by staff. Occasional processing delays can occur after recent updates.
Use the Updates menu to open News, Policies, Publications, Galleries, and Testimonials. You can search and filter many of these pages, and download policy or publication documents when a file is available.
Use the Contact page to submit a message online. You can also call or email using the details in the footer (Cape Point, Bakau). Staff review public inquiries and respond through official DoCD channels.
The public portal is for browsing and verification. Cooperative executives and DoCD staff use the secure staff portal for internal workflows (registration processing, compliance, HR, and administration). If you need staff access, contact DoCD for account guidance.
The public portal focuses on cooperative information, certificates, and aggregate statistics. Personal contact details of private individuals and confidential staff records are not published for open browsing. Only information approved for public transparency appears on cooperative profiles and public pages.
Please report it through the Contact page with the cooperative name, what looks wrong, and any supporting details. DoCD staff can review the registry record and correct it where appropriate.
Confirm you typed the certificate number or verification code exactly as printed (including letters and dashes). Try again without extra spaces. If it still fails, contact DoCD with a photo or copy of the certificate details so staff can help verify manually.
Yes. DoCD works nationwide. The Directory, Map, and Insights pages show cooperatives and sector activity across regions. Support intensity and programme availability can vary by location and season—ask DoCD for current regional services.