The Gambia is divided into 8 Local Government Areas, which constitute the first and primary level of the country's two-tier administrative structure. These areas serve as the principal units of local governance, responsible for delivering essential public services including primary education, healthcare facilities, sanitation, and local infrastructure maintenance. Each Local Government Area operates with elected councils that manage municipal affairs, collect local revenues, and implement development programs within their jurisdictions. This administrative framework enables decentralized governance by bringing decision-making closer to communities while maintaining coordination with the national government. The Local Government Areas represent a key mechanism through which citizens engage with public administration and access government services at the grassroots level.