Latest
Press Release
13 October 2023
UNOPS and UN Women claim rural areas with equal opportunities for all.
Learn more
Press Release
19 September 2023
A Statement by The United Nations in The Gambia on Protecting the Rights of Girls and Women from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Learn more
Video
01 August 2023
Transforming Border Management with MIDAS: The Gambia Experience
Learn more
Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in The Gambia
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in The Gambia.
The Resident Coordinator leads the UN Country Team (UNCT) and ensures that the UN agencies support the national development priorities through three UNDAF outcome areas.
These are: (i) Governance, Economic Management and Human Rights supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening national institutions responsible for economic and financial management and oversee reforms to guarantee people their human rights; (ii) Human capital development supporting access to education and health care services, improving equitable quality and access to water, sanitation and hygiene, social protection and gender and youth empowerment; and (iii) Sustainable agriculture, natural resources, environment and climate change management covering agricultural production and productivity, food and nutrition security, environmental management, mainstream climate change in environment and disaster risk management.
The UN Country Team coordinate their work through joint Work Plans.
Story
01 June 2023
Changing lives in The Gambia: A UN Resident Coordinator blog
"When my mandate began, in 2018, it was not long after the end of the dictatorship [The two-decade rule of Yahya Jammeh]. The new Government was already embracing several reforms simultaneously, reviewing the constitution, the judiciary, and the security sector, and the UN had allocated funds for peacebuilding.
Truth and reconciliation
An important development was the establishment of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), with the backing of the UN and other partners.
People were enthusiastic to embark on the Commission, which has been very important for the country. Expectations were high from the victims, from the population, but also from different partners. It was important that it should be a Gambian-driven process, to avoid any influence from outsiders. We helped to set it up and provided the necessary expertise to run it.
The Ministry of Justice needs to be strengthened, because they are leading that process, and this is the first time that they have had to face a case like this. Here again, we’re providing the expertise to work on a roadmap that will lead to implementation of the Commission recommendations.
We’re involved in communications connected with the process: we want to ensure that the communities, local governments, and civil society all know what role they have to play, and manage expectations. These reforms are not going to happen in one day, it will take many years, and we need to make sure that is understood.
Now it’s time to put reforms into practice. So far, the Government has released a white paper approving almost all of the recommendations. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process, but I think that they are still committed to do more.
Laying strong foundations
It’s crucial to have a government that shows leadership. If not, you can outline a vision for where you think the country should go, but you won’t get anywhere.
We have supported the Government’s creation of a Department for Strategic Planning and Delivery, within the office of the President. We have trained the staff, and shown them best practice in other countries.
When we arrived, there was no Minister for Gender, so we advocated for a new ministry to be established, and we are seeing progress in terms of women’s empowerment.
Coming out of a twenty-year dictatorship, where human rights were abused, we supported the creation of a National Human Rights Commission, which is fully functional and, in many ways, a centrally important institution, which will monitor the implementation of the TRRC.
Going forward, it’s crucial for The Gambia to succeed in building strong institutions, something which is true for all countries. If institutions are weak, you can’t implement any plans, and you waste resources.
I think that this country is moving in the right direction. We have many more partners now, and the donor community is growing. After a five-year period, the transition is nearly complete, and we have helped the Government to lay the foundations for most of the reforms, policies, and strategies.
Changing lives for the better
Aside from supporting the reforms, we’ve been an active partner in developing the economy, empowering women, and climate action.
In terms of the economy, where tourism plays an important role, UN agencies have focused on providing training for young people and vulnerable groups such as returning migrants, and giving them seed capital to start their own businesses. Often, returning migrants feel like a burden on their families, but with our help many of them have been able to thrive.
Unfortunately, this is a country where there is significant violence against women, including female genital mutilation. Sometimes women don’t want to talk about the violence they suffer, so we have set up hotlines they can call, and built centres where they can go to be treated, and receive support.
The climate crisis is affecting The Gambia, particularly in terms of flooding; last year was the worst flooding experienced here in 38 years. It may not be on the scale of the floods seen in Pakistan but, for a small country with a small population, it made a big impact.
Our agencies provided food and shelter for those displaced by the flooding, and providing clean drinking water, but we are also helping the population to adapt, and become better prepared before the next floods arrive.
I’m confident that we have changed lives for the better in The Gambia. We’re still in the early stages, but I believe that we’ve created solid foundations for development, and that we will see even greater impact in the next five years, and see the country develop in a cohesive manner, in all regions of the country, with no one left behind."
The UN Resident Coordinator, sometimes called the RC, is the highest-ranking representative of the UN development system at the country level.
In this occasional series, UN News is inviting RCs to blog on issues important to the United Nations and the country where they serve.
Learn more about the work of the UN in The Gambia here.
1 of 4

Take Action
24 November 2020
Decade of Action to deliver the Global Goals
With just 10 years to go, an ambitious global effort is underway to deliver the 2030 promise—by mobilizing more governments, civil society, businesses and calling on all people to make the Global Goals their own.
1 of 4

Story
01 June 2023
First Person: Hatching a plan for success in rural Gambia
Gidom Sabally’s high school education was cut short because his family could no longer afford school fees. For many years, he struggled to find work as an unskilled labourer.
Now in his 40s, Mr. Sabally was able to take up the opportunity of free technical training, provided by a UN-led training programme, in 2018; having completed the course, he found work as an engineer, supervising the construction of culverts – raised roads that allow his community to cross land that is inundated by floods, a consequence of climate change that is affecting many parts of the country.
He explained to UN News that, with the money he has saved, he has been able to branch out, and become a successful poultry farmer.
“I live in my family compound in Brikamaba village, where I was born, in the Central River Region of Gambia. There are 14 of us, my brothers and sisters, their children, and my father.
Life is difficult here. There aren’t enough jobs and, when there is work, it is usually only available for a short period of time. So, people here find it hard to feed their families.
When I dropped out of high school, I was sad. I knew that, without education, it would be very hard for me to learn the skills I would need to become a professional and advance in life. For many years it was difficult for me to find work.
Breaking ground on a new career
In 2018, a friend of mine heard a radio advertisement about a free technical training course, run by the UN, that would provide me with construction skills. He told me about it, and I applied.
It wasn’t difficult for me to go back to school, even though I was 38 at the time. The teachers knew exactly how to support me. I learned many useful skills, including masonry, carpentry, and painting and decorating.
At the same time, I was also able to earn money by going to work on a UN project to build road culverts. At first, I was employed as a labourer, getting gravel, moving rocks, doing anything that was needed.
After I graduated, I was able to work on the next culvert project as a trained engineer, and today I supervise a team of 50 workers.
‘The women can do anything the men do’
We have 25 men and 25 women, because gender equality is an important part of the project. When it started, people in the community would say that women cannot do this job but, today, they are seeing the benefits!
As well as the money they provide, women can now work with their husbands to improve their own homes, they can contribute to the decision-making process, planning, and construction.
The women can do anything the men do, from fixing steel reinforcements to masonry. We have to give them opportunities to show what they are capable of.
Adapting to the changing climate
Building culverts is very important, because of the changing climate. The rains in The Gambia have become more and more extreme and have caused the roads to erode. These culverts will allow the community to cross flooded areas during the rainy season.
This will make a big difference. Children will be able to get to school, we will be able to access health care, and businesses will be able to trade.
It will make everything easier because now, when there are heavy rains, everyone has to take a much longer route to cross the water. These higher roads will change our lives.”
‘This belly is never full!’
The culvert-building projects are heavy jobs, and I’m not getting any younger! Also, they will be phased out soon, so it’s important to learn about entrepreneurship and business, so that you save some of the money you earn. My grandfather used to say “this belly is never full”; you always have to think about how you will get your next meal!
I decided to invest my earnings in starting a poultry farm, and it’s working well for me. I started with 50 chicks and, with the money I made from selling eggs and chickens, I was able to buy 100. It’s going well. I don’t even have to go to the market; people come to me, and I sell very easily.
I’m planning to rebuild the farm, and add more lights, so that I can house more chickens. I would like to have around 600, and employ some of the unemployed young people from my community.
I want to pass on the skills I have learned, so that they can start their own businesses. I can’t do it all on my own! More people need to understand the importance of saving and investing. Because, even when you have millions, if you spend millions, you will end up with nothing.
I’m very happy that I was able to get the skills to work on the culvert project, because I am now a professional mason, and a successful poultry farmer. I have been able to fund more technical training, and earn an advanced level diploma, and put my kids through school. My life is far better than it was before.”
UNCDF in The Gambia
Mr. Jobe’s training was provided as part of the Jobs, Skills and Finance for Women and Youth (JSF) programme in The Gambia, the flagship programme of the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in collaboration with International Trade Center (ITC), and funding from the European Development Fund.
JSF addresses persistent challenges in The Gambia which include lack of job opportunities for youth and women, low levels of financial inclusion and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Climate change adaptation activities are implemented using the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility, LoCAL, a mechanism for channeling finance to local government authorities for locally led adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
The JSF programme supports Target 8.3 of Sustainable Development Goal 8, which calls for the promotion of development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
1 of 4

Story
01 June 2023
First Person: Starting from zero – Gambian returning migrant counts cost of attempted Europe crossing
“I’m from Jarra, a rural area in the Lower River Region of The Gambia, in the middle of the country. I moved to the capital, Banjul, when I was 15, to live with my brother and go to high school. I didn’t graduate, though, because we couldn’t afford the fees.
Around five years ago, when I was about 20, my friends encouraged me to leave The Gambia. This is not a wealthy country, and we heard that people had left, and became successful in Europe, sending money back to their families.
I wanted to go to Italy, because I thought that this was the easiest European country to get to. I knew that many people had died trying to get to Europe, but I thought that I could make it.
The first step was neighbouring Senegal, and from there we got a bus to Mauritania. I stayed there, with my sister’s husband, for five months, doing construction work, and whatever I could, to earn money for the next stage of the journey.
From Mauritania I went to Mali. This was a very long bus journey, and it took about 12 hours to get to the capital, Bamako. There were many other Gambians on the bus. Then we went to Agadez, in central Niger, via Burkina Faso. At each stage, we had to pay to be allowed to continue. We felt in danger but, by that stage, it was too late to go back.
There were about 25 of us in an open pickup truck, driving through the desert, with no shade. It was very hot and uncomfortable. We drove for three days, sleeping in the desert. At night, it was very cold, and we had to buy blankets and big jackets to keep us warm.
‘I was scared they would shoot us’
Sometimes the drivers were nice people, but others were very harsh, and they would beat us. When we got into Libya, we were beaten, and all of our money was taken from us. Luckily, I had hidden some food in the bus. The people who beat us had guns, and I was very scared that they would shoot us.
The next stage of the journey was to Sabhā, in central Libya. Because I had no money, I had to stay in Sabhā for four months, finding work to pay for my fare to Tripoli.
When you travel from Sabhā to Tripoli, you have to be smuggled in. If you are seen, people might kill you, so I had to hide in a dark room with no lights for three days. This was during the civil war, and there was a lot of danger.
‘They shot the boat’
I had to wait over a year in Tripoli before I could get to the coast and take a boat for Italy. One of my brothers found the money for me to get a place on the boat. Before we set off, there was some shooting and we soon realized that our boat was taking on water:.
There were armed men who didn’t want us to leave for Europe, so they just shot the boat, not caring if any of us died in the water. Our only option was to turn back towards the Libyan coast and, when the boat had taken on too much water, we swam to shore.
When we arrived on shore, we were taken to a detention centre. We were beaten by soldiers, who told us to give them money, but I had nothing left. I had to stay there for two months in these harsh, dirty conditions. Our phones were taken from us so we couldn’t contact our families; many of them though that we were dead.
Starting again from zero
Eventually, people from the UN came to the centre. They gave us clothes and some food and offered us a voluntary flight back to The Gambia.
I was very sad: I had lost everything and would have to start again from zero. I didn’t want to return home, but I had no choice.
When I arrived in The Gambia, the UN migration agency (IOM) offered to help me to start a business. They asked me what I wanted to do and, because of my experience working in construction, I told them that I could sell cement.
They provided me with tailored in-kind support in the form of a cement business, but, unfortunately, the place I found to store the bags of cement was not protected from the weather: it was the rainy season, and the water reached all of the cement. It was ruined.
I went back to the UN to ask for more help, and they offered me skills training. This was very useful, and I was able to get a certificate and go back to working with aluminium. I got a job working in a friend’s shop in Banjul, which sells aluminium window frames.
In the future, once I can raise the money, I plan to open my own shop. I’m married now and I have two children. I want to succeed here now, and I wouldn’t try to retry that journey to Europe. It’s too risky. If you don’t succeed, you lose everything.”
Mr. Jobe’s training was provided as part of the Jobs, Skills and Finance for Women and Youth (JSF) programme in The Gambia, the flagship programme of the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in collaboration with International Trade Center (ITC), and funding from the European Development Fund.
JSF addresses persistent challenges in The Gambia which include lack of job opportunities for youth and women, low levels of financial inclusion and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The programme supports Target 8.3 of Sustainable Development Goal 8, which calls for the promotion of development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
1 of 4

Story
20 June 2023
Closing the Gender Gap in Technological Access: The Key to Empowering Women in The Gambia
As we celebrate International Women’s Day in 2023, it is important to acknowledge the progress that The Gambia has made in terms of technological access. In 2007, less than two out of every ten Gambians owned a mobile phone, and only two percent of individuals had access to computers, with just one percent having access to internet facilities.
However, as of 2021, there has been a significant increase in access to technology. The majority of Gambians now live in areas with mobile network coverage and own a mobile phone. Additionally, a significant percentage of the population now has access to the internet. According to the 2019 government Demographic and Health Survey, seven out of every ten Gambians now use the internet daily.
Despite these gains, women in The Gambia still face significant barriers to accessing technology and digital services, with men being more likely to own mobile phones and have access to the internet.
For instance, the 2021 Gambia Afrobarometer survey shows that although most Gambians have a mobile phone, there are 10% more men than women who own mobile phones. Moreover, there are fewer women (11%) that own computers than there are men (17%), which has contributed to 5% more men having access to the internet. This disparity also affects women’s access to news and information on social media, with 48% of men compared to 39% of women reporting that they use the internet every day.
A more detailed analysis of the data shows that the gender gap in technological access is influenced by several factors, including socioeconomic status and educational attainment. Women in The Gambia are more likely to be living in poverty than men, which limits their ability to purchase and use technology. Additionally, women are less likely to have received formal education than men, which can limit their digital literacy and ability to use technology effectively.
Closing the gender gap in technological access is critical for empowering women and achieving gender equality in The Gambia. To address this issue, the United Nations (UN) is working closely with the Gambian government to implement several interventions. These interventions include providing women with digital literacy training, improving access to affordable and gender-responsive technology, and promoting women's entrepreneurship in the technology sector.
For example, UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health and the government of Italy supporting the digitalization of birth and civil registration since many children in The Gambia do not have birth certificates. According to the 2019 government Demographic and Health Survey, 53% of Gambian children under the age of five do not have birth certificates. Without proper documentation, these children may be denied access to education and opportunities that could improve their lives.
Digitalizing birth and civil registration can provide them with the necessary documentation to be protected from harm and have a chance to go to school and have a better future.
In addition, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is helping reduce gender inequality in access to technology in The Gambia by supporting the Department of Community Development to use computers and technology to deliver its services. Women and girls often face social and cultural barriers that limit their access to education, healthcare, and other services, which can be further compounded by a lack of access to digital technologies.
By using computers and technology to deliver services, the Department of Community Development can help overcome these barriers and ensure that women have equal access to the support and resources they need to stay safe, healthy, and supported.
Moreover, the use of technology can help reach women in remote or underserved areas who may face additional challenges in accessing services due to distance, transportation, or other factors. This can help promote greater inclusion and participation of women in social and economic development, thereby contributing to efforts to reduce gender inequality in access to technology.
Furthermore, the ILO, in partnership with the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), launched a digital platform that provides women entrepreneurs with digital tools and resources to help them formalize their businesses and access financial services.
Similarly, the UNCDF is working with the Women Advisory Business Group to increase financial inclusion by developing mobile phone apps to help women with financial education.
These mobile apps and digital platforms provide women with convenient and accessible tools to manage their finances. They also improve their ability to access credit, or save money. This promotes greater financial literacy, empowers women, and enables them to participate more fully in economic activities.
By focusing on the specific needs and challenges women face, these services help address gender-specific barriers to financial inclusion, such as limited access to formal banking services or social and cultural norms that discourage women from engaging in financial activities.
A gender gap in technological access will result in missed opportunities and create new forms of inequality, which could lead to significant economic losses in the long run.
Therefore, we must ensure that all genders have equal access to technology and the opportunities it affords. This includes increasing access to computers, the internet, and mobile phones for women, particularly in rural areas, and ensuring that women have the skills and knowledge to use these technologies to their fullest potential.
We must also challenge the gender stereotypes that persist in the technology sector by promoting diversity and inclusivity and encouraging women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2023, let us choose to challenge these inequalities and advocate for increased access to technology for all genders.
By doing so, we can ensure that women have the necessary tools and resources to participate fully in society and contribute to the country’s economic growth and social fabric.
1 of 5

Story
20 June 2023
Building Bridges: The UN and The Gambia's Path to Sustainability
Nestled on Africa's westernmost coast, The Gambia, a narrow stretch of land defined by its river, is where an intriguing story of development collaboration is taking shape. This is not just a story of survival, but also one of enormous potential.
Home to 2.3 million people, The Gambia is at a crossroads between two sharply contrasting futures: becoming a beacon of sustainable growth or standing as an example of missed opportunities.
The Gambia's development journey showcases its resilience while also revealing a multitude of challenges closely linked to the worldwide Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The country has made earnest strides towards SDGs 13 (Climate Action) and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), showing a robust commitment to environmental sustainability and institutional reforms.
However, the path towards achieving other SDGs is filled with obstacles.
Issues like chronic food insecurity, malnutrition, high maternal mortality rates, and low use of contraceptives underscore the lag in progress towards SDGs 2 and 3.
Similarly, achieving quality education and eradicating cultural practices that hinder women and girls, demand immediate action to meet SDGs 4 and 5.
Furthermore, infrastructure shortcomings, slow economic growth, high youth unemployment, and limited access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity all highlight the urgent need for targeted efforts towards SDGs 6, 7, 8, and 9.
As The Gambia advances, it's critical to address these challenges in a comprehensive and coordinated way to ensure sustainable growth for all its people.
According to the UN Common Country Analysis report, the United Nations independent assessment of the country’s progress towards the SDGs, four key trends define The Gambia’s future: demographic changes, economic diversification, environmental resilience, and political stability.
The Gambia's youthful energy is a mighty force, ready to be tapped through significant investment in education, health, and employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, economic diversification could serve as a safeguard against external shocks and promote inclusive growth if it extends beyond a few select sectors.
The Gambia also faces a dual environmental challenge: rising as a green development leader amidst increasing environmental vulnerabilities, while supporting an agriculture sector threatened by climate change.
Lastly, the country's political stability depends on the successful strengthening of democratic institutions.
The country’s multifaceted risks to achieving the SDGs underline the necessity for The Gambia to make strategic decisions.
In this context, The Gambia’s green focussed National Development Plan (NDP) 2023-2027 provides guidance through these divergent paths, offering a comprehensive plan centered on resilience, inclusivity, democratic governance, and a green economy.
The NDP emphasizes the importance of tackling key challenges across seven pillars: resilience, governance reforms, macroeconomic stability, human capital development, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and infrastructure. It sets ambitious goals, including reforms in local governance, diversifying the tourism sector, and improving education and healthcare, particularly for women and children.
To support these goals, the UN in The Gambia is collaborating closely with the government to actualize the NDP through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
This framework serves as a crucial ally, laying out precisely how the UN will assist the government in achieving the NDP. By aligning with the NDP and the UN's global commitment to "leave no one behind," the UNSDCF is focusing on empowering seven specific groups: women and girls, children, youth, migrants, people living with HIV, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Besides empowering these vulnerable groups, the UNSDCF also aims to reinforce governance structures, enhance healthcare quality, and encourage a harmonious future.
The strategy involves investing in people, creating job opportunities, pushing for economic reforms, and promoting healthcare accessibility for everyone.
It also aims to fortify governance structures to rebuild public trust in government institutions and underlines the pursuit of justice to heal past wounds and foster a more harmonious future.
While the challenges are numerous, the strategic leadership of the Gambian government, the determination of the Gambian people, and the steadfast support from international partners like the UN, point to a future full of promise.
This blend of hope, struggle, and potential is a microcosm of many developing nations in this era of sustainable development. It highlights our collective journey towards a future where development is not just sustainable but also inclusive and resilient.
Every day, The Gambia awakens to new possibilities, inching closer to a future where its immense potential aligns with its development aspirations. The UN development system will, through the UNSDCF, rally with all Gambians as the nation embarks on this transformative journey because The Gambia's story transcends beyond its national boundaries - it's a captivating chapter in the worldwide pursuit of sustainable development.
1 of 5
Story
01 June 2023
INTERVIEW: ‘Every other young girl you see in The Gambia has undergone female genital mutilation’
Ndeye Rose Sarr When a girl starts to menstruate, that's when the problems usually start. From the age of 10, she begins to be looked at as a potential bride for an older man. And if she has not yet undergone FGM, there will be those in her community who will want to make sure that she does.
The rate of FGM in The Gambia is around 76 per cent in the 14 to 49 year age range, and about 51 per cent for girls up to the age of 14. That means that, on average, every other young girl you see in The Gambia has undergone this mutilation, which involves altering their genitals by cutting the clitoris or labia.
This leads to health consequences later in life. When they give birth, they may encounter complications, and the chances of a stillbirth are higher. If the baby survives, they may end up with obstetric fistula, holes that develop between the vagina and the bladder, that make women urinate when they sit. This can lead women being excluded from their communities, and their husbands to leave them.
‘Women are the ones practicing FGM’
Women are the ones practicing FGM. It is usually a grandmother, the keeper of the tradition in the family. Gambians living abroad will even bring back their children to be subjected to FGM. And men will tell you that this is a “women’s thing.”
What we are looking to do is engage men and boys. We are in a society where decision makers are men; they are husbands, traditional leaders, religious leaders who will indicate what to do and what not to do in society.
We want every young man in this country, all the men, whether they are fathers, husbands or traditional leaders in their community, to say no to the practice. We have studies that show that, in countries where men have become involved, the rates have gone down.
UN News: How long, realistically, will it be before we can see the end of FGM in this country?
Ndeye Rose Sarr: FGM has actually been illegal since 2015. However, only two cases have been brought to justice since then, with no convictions.
There has to be enforcement of the law. And the willingness of the government to continue prosecuting and also helping us with increasing awareness of the problem is key.
We also need to engage at a community level. Rites of passage for girls are important, but we don't have to go to the extreme of female genital mutilation. We can find innovative ways to create rites of passage, just as it is boys in this part of the world. It doesn't have to be harmful, and it doesn't have to be something that invades the bodily autonomy of the person.
Currently, it is even carried out on babies; you can't tell me that a baby girl knows what she's going through, and is able to consent.
UN News: Period poverty is also widespread. What can be done to address it?
Rose Ndeye Sarr: Yes, period poverty is an issue across The Gambia, but it’s acute in rural areas, where women are less likely to have access to sanitary pads.
Period poverty leads to girls skipping school for around five days every month because, if they don’t have access to adequate menstrual products, they worry about staining their clothes, and being shamed; that’s between 40 and 50 days in a school year.
Boys will therefore have an advantage because they will be attending school more often than the girls, who are more likely to drop out of education.
So, we developed a project in Basse, in the Upper River Region, to produce recyclable sanitary pads. This is a way of empowering young women in the community, who now have a secure job, learning new skills, and improving the menstrual hygiene of women and girls.
We go to schools to distribute the pads and, when we’re there, we take the opportunity to talk about bodily autonomy, and comprehensive health education, so that the girls know more about their bodies, what is happening to them, what is okay, what is not okay. I think we are making a difference in Basse.
We need to understand that there are girls in this world who don't have access to menstrual health and hygiene and who don't have access to menstrual products when they have their menstruation. And we need to put an end to that.
1 of 5

Story
17 April 2023
Young woman ignites a 3D printing revolution in The Gambia
In the heart of The Gambia, an intrepid young woman called Fatou Juka Darbor is blazing a trail for women fuelled by her fiery passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Her remarkable journey led her to co-found the country’s first and only 3D printing company - Make 3D Company Limited - in 2019, breaking boundaries and inspiring future generations.
Fascinated by machines from a young age, Juka was determined to uncover their inner workings, taking apart radios and calculators with unbridled curiosity.
“I always wanted to know what makes things work,” she says.
The young entrepreneur’s drive to build a career in STEM propelled her to overcome the challenges women often face in this male-dominated sector, brushing conventional norms aside. “In The Gambia, women were often discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM, as it was seen as a male-dominated field,” she says with a laugh.
Her unwavering dedication made her the only woman in her mechanical engineering class at the Gambia Technical Training Institute.
Reflecting on this journey, she says: “My experiences of the stigma attached to being ‘the woman’ in a male-dominated space made me realize how lucky I was to have parents that supported my decision to pursue sciences.”
The fact that a young woman like me is co-running this business and growing it so quickly shows how capable Gambian women are if given the chance and the support
Juka’s determination culminated in a prestigious role as a mechanical engineer at the Gambia National Petroleum Company.
Her ambitions, however, continued to soar. In 2019, she partnered with Silvestr Tkáč, a tech enthusiast, to create Make 3D Company Limited, introducing the revolutionary world of 3D printing to The Gambia.
“The fact that a young woman like me is co-running this business and growing it so quickly shows how capable Gambian women are if given the chance and the support,” Juka says.
Her company has been a catalyst for change, improving the lives of Gambians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, her Make 3D Company Limited collaborated with the Gambian Medical Research Council Unit (MRCG) to create protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers.
Partnering with UN
This innovative approach garnered partnerships with the United Nations through the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), manufacturing over 8,000 face shields for the country’s primary referral hospital.
Additionally, Juka’s company has developed prosthetic limb prototypes, offering affordable solutions and newfound hope to those who have lost their limbs due to accidents, diseases, or conflicts.
Juka’s steadfast commitment and resolve have garnered her numerous accolades, solidifying her status as a pioneer in her field.
Her message to young girls is unequivocal: “I hope I inspire young girls in Dumbutou and Basse to believe that they can be anything they dream of being. No career is specifically meant for men only. You can be whatever you want to be if you believe in yourself, even if no one does.”
The UN in The Gambia is supporting initiatives to bridge the gender disparity gap in STEM.
Through events such as the ‘UN Women and Girls in Science Day,’ the UN raises awareness about the obstacles women and girls face in STEM and offers capacity-building support to women-owned businesses.
Juka’s uplifting tale of courage and resilience amidst adversity is a potent reminder that, given the right opportunities and support, women can excel in STEM fields and leave a lasting, positive impact on their communities.
Read the original article on Africa Renewal
1 of 5
Story
18 April 2023
INTERVIEW: ‘Every other young girl you see in The Gambia has undergone female genital mutilation’
Ndeye Rose Sarr When a girl starts to menstruate, that's when the problems usually start. From the age of 10, she begins to be looked at as a potential bride for an older man. And if she has not yet undergone FGM, there will be those in her community who will want to make sure that she does.
The rate of FGM in The Gambia is around 76 per cent in the 14 to 49 year age range, and about 51 per cent for girls up to the age of 14. That means that, on average, every other young girl you see in The Gambia has undergone this mutilation, which involves altering their genitals by cutting the clitoris or labia.
This leads to health consequences later in life. When they give birth, they may encounter complications, and the chances of a stillbirth are higher. If the baby survives, they may end up with obstetric fistula, holes that develop between the vagina and the bladder, that make women urinate when they sit. This can lead women being excluded from their communities, and their husbands to leave them.
‘Women are the ones practicing FGM’
Women are the ones practicing FGM. It is usually a grandmother, the keeper of the tradition in the family. Gambians living abroad will even bring back their children to be subjected to FGM. And men will tell you that this is a “women’s thing.”
What we are looking to do is engage men and boys. We are in a society where decision makers are men; they are husbands, traditional leaders, religious leaders who will indicate what to do and what not to do in society.
We want every young man in this country, all the men, whether they are fathers, husbands or traditional leaders in their community, to say no to the practice. We have studies that show that, in countries where men have become involved, the rates have gone down.
UN News: How long, realistically, will it be before we can see the end of FGM in this country?
Ndeye Rose Sarr: FGM has actually been illegal since 2015. However, only two cases have been brought to justice since then, with no convictions.
There has to be enforcement of the law. And the willingness of the government to continue prosecuting and also helping us with increasing awareness of the problem is key.
We also need to engage at a community level. Rites of passage for girls are important, but we don't have to go to the extreme of female genital mutilation. We can find innovative ways to create rites of passage, just as it is boys in this part of the world. It doesn't have to be harmful, and it doesn't have to be something that invades the bodily autonomy of the person.
Currently, it is even carried out on babies; you can't tell me that a baby girl knows what she's going through, and is able to consent.
UN News: Period poverty is also widespread. What can be done to address it?
Rose Ndeye Sarr: Yes, period poverty is an issue across The Gambia, but it’s acute in rural areas, where women are less likely to have access to sanitary pads.
Period poverty leads to girls skipping school for around five days every month because, if they don’t have access to adequate menstrual products, they worry about staining their clothes, and being shamed; that’s between 40 and 50 days in a school year.
Boys will therefore have an advantage because they will be attending school more often than the girls, who are more likely to drop out of education.
So, we developed a project in Basse, in the Upper River Region, to produce recyclable sanitary pads. This is a way of empowering young women in the community, who now have a secure job, learning new skills, and improving the menstrual hygiene of women and girls.
We go to schools to distribute the pads and, when we’re there, we take the opportunity to talk about bodily autonomy, and comprehensive health education, so that the girls know more about their bodies, what is happening to them, what is okay, what is not okay. I think we are making a difference in Basse.
We need to understand that there are girls in this world who don't have access to menstrual health and hygiene and who don't have access to menstrual products when they have their menstruation. And we need to put an end to that.
1 of 5

Press Release
13 October 2023
UNOPS and UN Women claim rural areas with equal opportunities for all.
To mark International Rural Women’s Day, UNOPS and UN Women will launch a campaign to call for action to empower women in rural areas so they are better equipped to contribute to food security and climate change adaptation in their communities.
From 9 October to 15 October (International Rural Women’s Day), UNOPS and UN Women across Africa will be sharing messages on social media and hosting events in different African cities such as Harare (Zimbabwe), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Kinshasa (DRC) and Juba (South Sudan), among others.
The joint campaign aims to promote the role rural women play in supporting their households in achieving food security, generating income, improving rural livelihoods, and building climate change resilience. Banjul, 08 October 2023.― UNOPS and UN Women are marking International Rural Women’s Day by launching a joint campaign to underline the contribution of rural women to development in Africa and highlight the importance of investing in gender-sensitive infrastructure that will allow them to better contribute to food security and climate adaptation. The objective of the campaign is to call policy and decision-makers, societies, and international partners to action to support gender-responsive infrastructure in Africa that can empower rural women to access productive resources and opportunities, accelerate their socio-economic mobility, and boost gender contribution to climate adaptation and food security. The campaign will include joint activities in several African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Zimbabwe, among others. These events will be supported by a social media campaign in UNOPS and UN Women regional and national channels in Africa. On 13 October, UN Women Africa and UNOPS Africa will be hosting a live conversation, where stakeholders ―including a woman from an African rural area and a specialized journalist― will highlight the importance of addressing persistent gender gaps in the response to climate change and food insecurity. In The Gambia, UNOPS will be hosting a live radio panel discussion on October 14, 2023 on Paradise FM in Farafenni, North Bank Region to celebrate rural women in infrastructure, amplify their voices and call for gender-inclusive infrastructure and mainstream gender in infrastructure projects in the country. UNOPS Director a.i. for Africa Region, Dalila Gonçalves, said: “Gender-blind infrastructure limits women’s access to financial resources, land, education, health, and other rights and opportunities. Also, it limits their capacity for coping with and adapting to climate change impacts. Women can play an active role as change-makers and educators in embedding sustainability within different infrastructure sectors. Supporting the empowerment of rural women through gender-responsive infrastructure, UNOPS helps low and middle-income countries across Africa in their journey toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.” UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa and Regional Director a.i for West and Central Africa, Maxime Houinato, said: “Rural African women's pivotal role in bolstering regional economies and combating poverty is irrefutable. Yet, they grapple with pronounced challenges in securing vital agricultural resources, restricting their agricultural productivity and impacting their adaptability to climate change. UN Women studies reveal that gender disparities in agriculture have a direct impact on the economic growth of countries ranging from 13 to 28 per cent of GDP, equivalent to annually elevating 80,000 to 238,000 individuals above the poverty line per country. It's imperative that we advance programmes and policies that increase financing for rural women’s access to labour and time-saving equipment and services, fostering gender equality and improving rural women’s economic security." According to UN Women, women make up more than 50 percent of Africa’s population and 80 percent of them reside in rural areas. The International Labour Organization states that giving women the same opportunities as men could raise agricultural production by 2.5 to 4 percent in the poorest regions and reduce the number of malnourished people by 12 to 17 percent. The UNOPS Report, ‘Infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women’, stated that in rural areas inadequate infrastructure services disproportionately affect women’s time use because they bear the burden of household tasks, like collecting water and firewood, cooking, cleaning, and providing childcare. This limits the time available for pursuing educational, economic, or social activities. Women also face disadvantages when it comes to land and livestock ownership or equal pay which hamper their productivity and growth, resulting in weak rural economies, and impacting the local and global food systems and climate adaptation capacity. [ENDS] Press contact details: Hilaria Espin, UNOPS Africa Communication Specialist, anahilariae@unops.org, +45 30 17 75 42 Kadiatou Boiro, UN Women West and Central Africa Communications Analyst kadiatour.boiro@unwomen.org +221 77 402 00 52 Abdoulie Jammeh, UNOPS The Gambia Communicaitons Senior Associate abdouliej@unops.org +2203491022 About UNOPS UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. Read more: www.unops.org About UN Women UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress in meeting their needs worldwide. www.unwomen.org
The joint campaign aims to promote the role rural women play in supporting their households in achieving food security, generating income, improving rural livelihoods, and building climate change resilience. Banjul, 08 October 2023.― UNOPS and UN Women are marking International Rural Women’s Day by launching a joint campaign to underline the contribution of rural women to development in Africa and highlight the importance of investing in gender-sensitive infrastructure that will allow them to better contribute to food security and climate adaptation. The objective of the campaign is to call policy and decision-makers, societies, and international partners to action to support gender-responsive infrastructure in Africa that can empower rural women to access productive resources and opportunities, accelerate their socio-economic mobility, and boost gender contribution to climate adaptation and food security. The campaign will include joint activities in several African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Zimbabwe, among others. These events will be supported by a social media campaign in UNOPS and UN Women regional and national channels in Africa. On 13 October, UN Women Africa and UNOPS Africa will be hosting a live conversation, where stakeholders ―including a woman from an African rural area and a specialized journalist― will highlight the importance of addressing persistent gender gaps in the response to climate change and food insecurity. In The Gambia, UNOPS will be hosting a live radio panel discussion on October 14, 2023 on Paradise FM in Farafenni, North Bank Region to celebrate rural women in infrastructure, amplify their voices and call for gender-inclusive infrastructure and mainstream gender in infrastructure projects in the country. UNOPS Director a.i. for Africa Region, Dalila Gonçalves, said: “Gender-blind infrastructure limits women’s access to financial resources, land, education, health, and other rights and opportunities. Also, it limits their capacity for coping with and adapting to climate change impacts. Women can play an active role as change-makers and educators in embedding sustainability within different infrastructure sectors. Supporting the empowerment of rural women through gender-responsive infrastructure, UNOPS helps low and middle-income countries across Africa in their journey toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.” UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa and Regional Director a.i for West and Central Africa, Maxime Houinato, said: “Rural African women's pivotal role in bolstering regional economies and combating poverty is irrefutable. Yet, they grapple with pronounced challenges in securing vital agricultural resources, restricting their agricultural productivity and impacting their adaptability to climate change. UN Women studies reveal that gender disparities in agriculture have a direct impact on the economic growth of countries ranging from 13 to 28 per cent of GDP, equivalent to annually elevating 80,000 to 238,000 individuals above the poverty line per country. It's imperative that we advance programmes and policies that increase financing for rural women’s access to labour and time-saving equipment and services, fostering gender equality and improving rural women’s economic security." According to UN Women, women make up more than 50 percent of Africa’s population and 80 percent of them reside in rural areas. The International Labour Organization states that giving women the same opportunities as men could raise agricultural production by 2.5 to 4 percent in the poorest regions and reduce the number of malnourished people by 12 to 17 percent. The UNOPS Report, ‘Infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women’, stated that in rural areas inadequate infrastructure services disproportionately affect women’s time use because they bear the burden of household tasks, like collecting water and firewood, cooking, cleaning, and providing childcare. This limits the time available for pursuing educational, economic, or social activities. Women also face disadvantages when it comes to land and livestock ownership or equal pay which hamper their productivity and growth, resulting in weak rural economies, and impacting the local and global food systems and climate adaptation capacity. [ENDS] Press contact details: Hilaria Espin, UNOPS Africa Communication Specialist, anahilariae@unops.org, +45 30 17 75 42 Kadiatou Boiro, UN Women West and Central Africa Communications Analyst kadiatour.boiro@unwomen.org +221 77 402 00 52 Abdoulie Jammeh, UNOPS The Gambia Communicaitons Senior Associate abdouliej@unops.org +2203491022 About UNOPS UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. Read more: www.unops.org About UN Women UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress in meeting their needs worldwide. www.unwomen.org
1 of 5
Press Release
19 September 2023
A Statement by The United Nations in The Gambia on Protecting the Rights of Girls and Women from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BANJUL, 12 September 2023 – The United Nations in The Gambia takes note of the recent calls to reverse the legislation prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Recognised as an infringement on the fundamental human rights of girls and women, medical evidence consistently confirms the detrimental effects of FGM on their physical and psychological health.
The 2020 Gambia Demographic and Health Survey reveals a troubling statistic: Up to 73 per cent of Gambian women between 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, with an alarming 65 per cent being subjected to it before the age of five years.
The landmark decision by The Gambia in 2015, through the Women’s Amendment Act, to criminalise FGM showcased the country’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls. This dedication is in line with The Gambia’s obligations under international conventions it ratified, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and more.
Since the criminalisation, commendable progress has been made in protecting girls and women from harmful practices, ensuring that they realise their rights and potential in terms of health, education, income, and equality. Rolling back such progress would be a setback and undermine Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, aiming for the global eradication of FGM by 2030.
As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2023, it is essential to remember the commitment to safeguarding the rights of everyone, especially girls and women.
On this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (6 February 2023), UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised men’s and boys' crucial role in this fight. The UN in The Gambia reiterates the Secretary-General’s call, highlighting that all men and boys, in their capacities as brothers, fathers, health workers, teachers, and traditional and religious leaders, can actively advocate against FGM.
We urge national authorities, civil society groups, and traditional and religious leaders to foster a national dialogue towards a shared vision that prioritises the well-being of all girls and women in The Gambia.
The UN in The Gambia reaffirms its commitment and determination to support the nation’s efforts to create an environment where the rights and dignity of every girl and woman are upheld. We will continue to stand with women and girls, especially those who are survivors, supporting their leadership and engagement in the fight to end FGM.
###
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Abdoulie Badjie,
Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and Advocacy
abdoulie.badjie@un.org
1 of 5
Press Release
16 February 2023
The United Nations To Hold a Three Day Workshop Next Week to Shape how it will support the National Development Plan.
The United Nations in The Gambia is inviting community leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from NGOs, civil society organisations, the private sector, the government, the Universities, research centres and other development partners to a three-day workshop to discuss how the UN can best support the government’s new national development plan.
The workshop will take place from 21 to 23 February 2023 at the Sir Dawda Jawara International Conference Centre at 9am
The workshop’s goal is to ensure that the UN’s support for The Gambia’s development priorities is relevant, effective, and adaptable to changing needs. The workshop will shape the UN strategy to support The Gambia’s National Development Plan, also known as the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). It’s a multi-year plan that outlines the UN’s support for a country’s development priorities and is aligned with The Gambia’s National Development Plan and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The United Nations in The Gambia is excited to collaborate with community leaders, influencers, and decision-makers to build a more sustainable and prosperous future for The Gambia.
If you want to learn more about the workshop and what to expect, please contact abdoulie.badjie@un.org or richard.gomez@un.org or register on CF Visioning Exercise Registration.
1 of 5
Press Release
09 August 2022
A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia
Office of the Resident Coordinator SUMMARY REPORT1 A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 28 June 2022 Tamala Hotel 1. Context The Gambia is taking giant strides in its transition from an authoritarian regime towards a system of governance characterised by peaceful and credible elections, a vibrant media landscape, meaningful separation of powers, accountability for crimes of the past, and a commitment to national reconciliation and healing. But there is one area where The Gambia is standing still or even regressing — the proportion of women occupying elected office in the country.
Women make up more than half of The Gambia’s population and a full 57 percent of its registered electorate. And yet, in the April 2022 legislative elections, only 8 percent of candidates were women. Only 3 of the 19 women who stood were elected and only one of those represented a political party, the other 2 being independent candidates. This is the same number of women who were elected in the legislative elections of 2017, indicating a certain stagnation when it comes to women’s political empowerment in the country. The problem exists not only at the level of the National Assembly but at all echelons of elected office in The Gambia. In fact, the farther down one looks in the political hierarchy, the smaller is the proportion of women who hold office. Only 3 of the 22 Ministers (13.6 percent) in the current Cabinet are women, down from 21 precent in the previous Cabinet. Only 5 women sit in the current 58-seat National Assembly (8.6 percent), down from 10.3 percent in the previous National Assembly. And only 7 percent of Local Counsellors in The Gambia are women, a figure that many are hoping will increase after the May 2023 local elections.
The trajectory of The Gambia’s long-term political and socio-economic development and its ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will be impacted by the extent to which the entire population is empowered to contribute its ideas and 1 Report compiled by Patrick Mc Carthy, UN Peace & Development Advisor (mccarthy@un.org). A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 2 talents to this end. Women have a full and equal role to play in this regard, as underlined by SDG 5 on gender equality, which includes a specific target to “ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decisionmaking in political, economic and public life” (SDG 5, Target 5.5). It was in this context that the Minister of Gender, Children & Social Welfare, Hon. Fatou Kinteh, and the UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia, Mrs. Seraphine Wakana, led a high-level conversation on the political empowerment of women in The Gambia on 28 June 2022 at Tamala Hotel.
The conversation, which was moderated by Mr. Peter Gomez, the Managing Director of West Coast Radio, comprised three panels addressing the following questions: • What existing policies, strategies and best practices at national and regional levels are fostering women’s leadership & political empowerment? What are the remaining policy gaps and how can we address them? • What are the main impediments preventing women from being elected to political office in The Gambia? • What could be done to increase the number of women holding political office in the country at national and local levels? 2. What existing policies, strategies and best practices at national and regional levels are fostering women’s leadership & political empowerment? What are the remaining policy gaps and how can we address them?
This panel discussion began with presentations by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Hon. Fatou Kinteh, and the ECOWAS Political Advisor in The Gambia, Mr. Claude Condor. At the national level, Minister Kinteh outlined a raft of policies, strategies and laws aimed at promoting not only the political empowerment of women but also their economic and social empowerment. These include the Ministry’s Strategic and Investment Plan (2021- 2025), the government’s Gender and Women Empowerment Policy (2021-2030), the National Strategy and Policy on FGM/C (2021-2030), the National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security (2021-2025), and the Women Enterprise Fund Act (2020). The Minister stressed, however, that while such policies, strategies and laws were testament to the government’s commitment to promoting the role of women in the A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 3 economy, society and politics, there was still a large gap between what has been committed to on paper and what happens in practice.
The Minister called for redoubled and sustained efforts by government and civil society, with support from the international community, to ensure the timely implementation of existing policies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. Mr. Condor of ECOWAS noted that gender inequality remains a major barrier to human capital development and economic growth in West Africa and that addressing it would contribute to surmounting barriers to sustainable peace, security, stability and development in the ECOWAS region. He said it was time to move “from rhetoric to reality” in uncovering and redressing the entrenched systemic and systematic discrimination and marginalization of women in democratic governance processes and decision-making in the region. Since its formation in 1975, ECOWAS has made considerable efforts in promoting women’s participation in governance and decision-making processes both at the national and regional levels and has developed legal frameworks that recognise the significance of the role of women in governance, electoral processes, conflict prevention and resolution, and peacebuilding.
These frameworks include: • The ECOWAS Revised Treaty (1993), Article 4(g) on the recognition, promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. • The ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001), Section VIII on Women, Children and Youth, especially Article 40, which recognises that “the development and promotion of the welfare of women are essential factors for development, progress, and peace in the society” and undertakes “to eliminate all forms of discrimination and harmful and degrading practices against women.” • The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, which is a multi-purpose regional agency promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the ECOWAS region. It works with Member States towards the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Gender Policy with the aim of “transforming West Africa into a fair and safe community in which men and women have equal opportunities to participate, decide, control and take advantage of all development initiatives.” • The ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (2008), one of whose 14 components focuses on “Women, Peace and Security,” aims at facilitating implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325; relevant provisions of the 1993 ECOWAS Revised Treaty, in particular Article 63; and the provisions dedicated to Women and A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 4 Youths in Articles 40, 42 and 43 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. •
The ECOWAS Gender and Elections Strategic Framework (2015), which is designed to enhance women’s political participation and representation in line with the Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security (1999), the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and other relevant international conventions and treaties. • The ECOWAS Parliament Supplementary Act on Equality of Rights between Women and Men for Sustainable Development in the ECOWAS Region (2015), which is a legal instrument that commits all ECOWAS Member states to promote gender equality and equity in all sectors through appropriate policy and legislative formulation and reviews, as well as strategy alignment. • The ECOWAS Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Guidelines on Women, Peace and Security (2020), which provides guidance on the empowerment of women to control over their own livesthrough awarenessraising, building self-confidence, expansion of choices, and increased access to and control over resources, as well as actions to transform the structures and institutions that reinforce and perpetuate gender discrimination and inequality.
• The ECOWAS Parliament Regional Strategy to End all Forms of Suppression Against Women (2021), which recommends, inter alia, that the ECOWAS Parliament should (1) develop a regional affirmative action bill or a regional common approach on gender parity that is fair and balanced and (2) ensure that there is at least one woman from every Member State in the Bureau of its Standing Committees in order to ensure that women take part in decision-making processes. • The ECOWAS Vision 2050, which has the inclusion and empowerment of women and youth at its core. During the discussion that followed the presentations by Minister Kinteh and Mr. Condor, many participants underlined that the policies, strategies and best practices that exist at national and regional levels should be largely sufficient to make significant progress on women’s political empowerment in The Gambia but that a lot more needed to be done to move from equality on paper to equality in practice. The former Vice President of The Gambia, Hon. Isatou Touray, went as far as to say that, with the raft of national and regional policies and strategies that the country has developed or signed up to, The Gambia had achieved “formal gender equality” but that the situation on the ground looked a lot different.
The conversation then naturally turned A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 5 to why this was the case and what was stopping women in the Gambia from taking full advantage of the national and regional policies and strategies that aim to empower them to become more active in political life. 3. What are the main impediments preventing women from being elected to political office in The Gambia? This panel discussion began with opening reflections from two of the five women currently serving in the National Assembly — Hon. Fatou Cham and Hon. Amie Colley — and one woman who served in the Previous National Assembly, Hon. Ndey Yassin Secka, all of whom outlined the challenges they faced, and continue to face, as female politicians in The Gambia. During this panel discussion, the following main impediments were identified:
• Existing gender roles disadvantage women: Participants stressed the importance of re-examining and re-shaping the gender roles that Gambians themselves have created that impede women from presenting themselves for political office and that this process must begin in the home and in school. From a very early age, girls are told that boys are leaders, and this narrative and belief system continues into adulthood. Institutions and communities also reinforce this message. Participants stressed that it is time to change these narratives and to encourage girls to become leaders in order to dislodge these gender stereotypes.
• Women are more engaged in politics that men, but mainly in supporting roles: Participants pointed out that women represent a full 57 percent of the registered electorate in The Gambia and so are more engaged in politics than men. But they play mostly supporting roles, e.g., as voters and party organisers and mobilisers. Often, when a woman and a man want to run for the same political party, the woman is asked to step aside to make room for the man. Many participants pointed out that this needs to change since women are now ready, willing and able to take on more leadership roles.
• There is no quota system enshrined in law: Participants pointed to the results achieved in other countries in West Africa and farther afield that had introduced laws requiring a minimum proportion of women to be represented in elected offices and lamented the fact that such laws did not yet exist in The Gambia, despite their inclusion in the draft Constitution and despite recent attempts to pass a Gender Bill in the National Assembly. One participant pointed out that is such a quota system were enshrined in Gambian law, a political party that A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 6 presented too few female candidates would be rejected and the lesson would be learned that the time for excluding women has passed.
• Fear prevents women from running for office: Fear prevents women from running for elected office in The Gambia — fear of acceptance by their husbands, their husbands’ family, and their own family, all of whom must be asked permission before running for office. Women also fear the opposition they will face from men and women in their communities with traditional views about gender roles, as well as men and women within their own parties who do not wish them to succeed if it means they themselves cannot. The opposition faced by women running for office takes many forms, but two widely cited examples are character assassination and cyber bullying, often of a sexual nature. Faced with such virulent opposition that can have a serious negative affect on their personal lives and self-esteem, many women — including those who are well qualified and equipped to represent their communities — choose not to run for or accept public office.
• Elections are expensive: The high cost of running for public office in The Gambia deters women from presenting themselves as candidates.2 Political parties in The Gambia do not receive any support from the State. Candidates running for election also receive relatively little financial support from their respective parties and are expected to finance much of their campaigns using their own funds or financial support from family and friends. Independent candidates have no party structures at all to fall back on. The absence of campaign financing laws, coupled with the prevalence of vote-buying (direct and indirect), means that candidates must spend large amounts of their own money to have any chance of being elected. Since women in The Gambia tend to be relatively financially disadvantaged compared to men, most female aspiring candidates are not able to raise the capital required to run a successful campaign. Participants pointed out that the economic empowerment of women is key to their political empowerment.
• The right women are not always chosen to run: The few women who political parties do choose to run for office are often not the most active women in their communities, which decreases their chances of being elected. Participants stressed the importance of empowering the most active women in their communities to present themselves as candidates in order to increase the proportion of female candidates who are elected. Asking women to vote for women just because they are women is not the solution. Women, like men, will 2 The Cost of Parliamentary Politics in The Gambia. Westminster Foundation for Democracy. October 2020 - www.wfd.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/Cost-of-Parliamentary-Politics-in-The-Gambia221020.pdf A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 7 vote for the person they think will best represent them and their community. The solution is empowering women to do just that.
• There are not enough role models: While The Gambia does have a small number of exceptional female politician role models — including the former Vice President, current and former female members of Cabinet and the National Assembly, and female Mayors Local Counsellors — their relative scarcity limits the inspiration that young women receive to consider following in their footsteps. Nevertheless, participants stressed that the mentorship role that established female politicians play towards such aspiring young women is incredibly important in encouraging and equipping young women to run for public office. 4. What could be done to increase the number of women holding political office in the country at national and local levels? This panel discussion began with opening statements by the Co-Chair of the Inter-Party Committee (IPC), Hon. Halifa Sallah, the Co-Chair of the IPC Women’s Branch, Ms. Fatou Sallah Jobe, the Co-Chair of the IPC Youth Branch, Mr. Bakary Ceesay, and the President of the CSO Gender Platform, Ms. Tobaski Njie Sarr. The following recommendations emerged from the discussion. • Men and women must come together to change the landscape of women's participation in politics in The Gambia. More than 50 percent of the population cannot continue to be reflected by less than 14 percent of Cabinet, less than 9 percent of the National Assembly only 7 percent of Local Councillors.
• The Inter-Party Committee has a crucial role to play in encouraging change: The IPC is an invaluable platform for promoting constructive and cordial political dialogue between all 18 of The Gambia’s officially registered political parties, especially during electoral periods. It demonstrated its effectiveness in helping to ensure a peaceful and credible presidential election in December 2021, especially by addressing the issue of hate speech. It has also demonstrated its commitment to promoting women’s participation and leadership in politics by creating dedicated branches for women and youth. The IPC is also working on developing a Political Party Inclusion Policy that seeks to promote internal party reforms to ensure the strengthened representation of women, young people, and persons with disabilities.
• But real change can only come from the political parties themselves: The InterParty Committee can only go so far, however. Real positive change to women’s participation in politics in The Gambia will only come when political parties begin A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 8 to change their behaviour, e.g., by appointing more women to senior leadership roles within the parties, by ensuring that the party committees that select candidates are gender balanced, by selecting more, qualified and viable, female candidates to run for election, and by putting the full support of the party behind each woman’s candidacy. 5. Proposed next steps The conversation drew to a close with the Minister for Gender, Children & Social Welfare and UN Resident Coordinator presenting ideas on next steps that could be taken to advance the political empowerment of women in The Gambia. The following actions suggest themselves based on the sum of the discussions that took place.
1. Conduct a national survey on the reasons for the low representation of women in political decision making and use the findings to develop and implement a comprehensive advocacy / sensitisation programme designed to increase female representation in politics at all levels.
2. Build the capacity of female members of the National Assembly and Area Councils (e.g., through training and study tours) in order to provide them with the skills they need to act as mentors to and role models for aspiring female politicians.
3. Since the empowerment of women should begin when they are girls, the primary and secondary school curricula and teacher training materials should be reviewed and updated to ensure that the message is clearly conveyed to children — both girls and boys — throughout their education that girls, just like boys, can be leaders too. This would help to counteract, in the medium- to long-term, interpretations of gender roles that undervalue women’s leadership potential.
4. Introduce a legal quota of women’s representation in elected office. Whether this is achieved through a new Constitution or a stand-alone Act of the National Assembly, such affirmative action would ensure that a certain percentage of women would be represented in public office and would increase the number of role models for young women and girls to emulate, thus creating a virtuous cycle.
5. Pending the introduction of a quota system, all political parties should formally adopt the inclusion policy developed by the Inter-Party Committee through which they commit themselves to a minimum level of participation by women, youth and persons with disabilities in senior party leadership roles and among the candidates they present for election. A Conversation on the Political Empowerment of Women in The Gambia 9
6. A strategy should be developed to detect and address character assassination, cyber bullying and other malicious speech directed against any candidate for elected office, be they female or male. The measures included in such a strategy should be applied equally to protect and provide redress to male and female injured parties. Further research should also be carried out to identify the full range of impediments that prevent women from running for elected office.
7. Pass a campaign financing law and stop vote buying. Both of these measures would help to regulate and reduce the cost of running for elected office in The Gambia and would contribute to levelling the playing field for male and female candidates for political office.
8. Encourage and empower female local community activists to consider running for office. In order to maximise the chances that women who run for office have a good chance of being elected, it is important to encourage the right women to run, i.e., those women who are already actively engaged and well known in their communities. Such women should be provided with mentorship and encouragement from established female politicians, as well as practical skills training on developing a political platform, public speaking, campaign financing, etc. Annexes 1.
List of participants 2. Programme Office of the Resident Coordinator PARTICIPANTS Conversation on Women’s Leadership and Political Empowerment 28 June 2022 Tamala Hotel ORGANISATION NAME FUNCTIONAL TITLE 1. Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Welfare 1. Hon. Ms. Fatou Kinteh Minister 2. Ms. Ndey Marie Njie Permanent Secretary 3. Ms. Mariyann G. Jabang Director, Directorate of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 2. National Assembly 4. Hon. Ms. Fatou Cham National Assembly Member 5. Hon. Ms. Amie Colley National Assembly Member 6. Hon. Ms. Ndey Yassin Secka Former National Assembly Member 3. Inter-Party Committee (IPC) 7. Hon. Mr. Musa Amul Nyassi Co-Chair 8. Hon. Mr. Halifa A. Sallah Co-Chair 9. Mr. Ba S. Jabbi Acting Secretary 10. Ms. Faatu Sallah-Jobe Co-Chair, Women’s Branch 11. Ms. Fatou Jallow Co-Chair, Women’s Branch 12. Mr. Bakary Ceesay Co-Chair, Youth Branch 13. Mr. Yankuba Sanneh Co-Chair, Youth Branch 4. Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) 14. Hon. Dr. (Ms.) Isatou Touray Executive Director (and former Vice President of The Gambia) 5. Gender Platform 15. Ms. Tobaski Njie Sarr President 6. West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) 16. Ms. Salama Njie National Coordinator 7. ECOWAS 17. Mr. Claude Kondor Political Advisor 8. Embassy of Nigeria 18. Ms. Temidayo Balogun Second Secretary 19. Mr. Oluwutosin Adebayo Second Secretary 9. Embassy of Senegal 20. H.E Mr. Bassirou Sene Ambassador 10. Embassy of Sierra Leone 21. H. E. Ms. Lucretia M. Shereef High Commissioner 11. Embassy of the USA 22. Ms. Susan Solomon Public Affairs Officer Conversation on Women’s Leadership and Political Empowerment ORGANISATION NAME FUNCTIONAL TITLE 12. UN Resident Coordinator’s Office 23. Ms. Seraphine Wakana UN Resident Coordinator 24. Mr. Patrick McCarthy Peace & Development Advisor 25. Mr. Abdoulie Badjie Communication & Advocacy Officer 26. Ms. Ndella Faye Colley Head of PBF Secretariat 27. Mr. Mamadou Salieu Bah M&E Officer, PBF Secretariat 13. UNDP 28. Ms. Aissata De Resident Representative 29. Mr. Thomas Kimaru Governance Officer 14. UNFPA 30. Ms. Joy Micheal Gender Specialist 31. Ms. Fatima Sonko PBF Programme Manager Office of the Resident Coordinator AGENDA Conversation on Women’s Leadership and Political Empowerment 28 June 2022 Tamala Hotel 08:00 Buffet Breakfast A buffet breakfast will be available in the Tamala breakfast room any time from 8am. Participants are requested to come early enough to have breakfast before the commencement of discussions promptly at 9am in the Kalimba Hall. 09:00 WELCOME REMARKS Ms. Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator 09:10 ROUND OF INTRODUCTIONS 09:30 PANEL DISCUSSION 1 What existing policies, strategies and best practices at national and regional levels are fostering women’s leadership & political empowerment? What are the remaining policy gaps and how can we address them? Moderator: Mr. Peter Gomez Panellists: Ø Honorable Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children & Social Welfare Ø Mr. Claude Condor, Political Advisor, ECOWAS 10:00 Open discussion 11:00 Refreshments 11:30 PANEL DISCUSSION 2 What are the main impediments preventing women from being elected to political office in The Gambia? Moderator: Mr. Peter Gomez Panellists: Ø Hon. Fatou Cham, National Assembly Member Ø Hon. Amie Colley, National Assembly Member Ø Hon. Ya Kumba Jaiteh, Former National Assembly Member 12:30 Open Discussion 13:00 Lunch 14:30 PANEL DISCUSSION 3 What could be done to increase the number of women holding political office in the country at national and local levels? Moderator: Mr. Peter Gomez Panellists: Ø Inter-Party Committee (IPC) Co-Chair Ø Women’s Branch of the IPC Co-Chair Ø Youth Branch of the IPC Co-Chair Ø The Gender Platform 15:15 Open discussion 16:00 Refreshments 16:30 PROPOSED NEXT STEPS AND CONCLUDING REMARKS Ø Ms. Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator Ø Honorable Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children & Social Welfare 17:00 Cocktail Reception and interaction with the media
1 of 5
Press Release
07 July 2022
The Gambia government and UN launch new initiative to empower adolescent girls and young people.
Banjul, 06 July 2022 -
The government and the United Nations in The Gambia are launching a new initiative that responds to high HIV rates among adolescent girls and young women. Education Plus Initiative will be launched by the First Lady of The Gambia, H.E Fatoumata Bah Barrow, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center on July 07, 2022. Education Plus is a five-year high-level drive to accelerate action and investments to expand access to quality secondary education for all girls and boys and advance adolescent girls’ and young women’s health, education, and rights in The Gambia.
Completing secondary education, an urgent concern in the COVID-19 context, is a right in and of itself. Evidence shows it significantly contributes to reducing HIV among adolescent girls and young women—with drops in new cases of HIV by as much as one-third to one-half in some countries. Besides reducing vulnerability to acquiring HIV, girls, their communities, and countries reap multiple social and economic benefits from their completion of secondary school through the reduced likelihood of child marriage and teenage mothers, increased prospects for securing jobs and higher income and boosting national GDP, among others.
The Education Plus Initiative leverages the education system as an entry point to provide a holistic “plus” package of essential elements that adolescent girls and young women need as they become adults. These include comprehensive health education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV prevention, freedom from sexual and gender-based violence, economic security, and empowerment through school-to-work transitions. Although The Gambia has made great strides towards gender equality and HIV prevention, many barriers persist.
In The Gambia, only 48% of adolescent girls complete lower secondary education, while only 30% complete upper secondary education (UIS, 2020). In 2020, more than half (55%) of the estimated 27 000 people living with HIV in The Gambia were females aged 15 years and above. Among young people aged 15-24, three out of four new HIV infections were in females. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV and AIDS prevention remains low among young people. It is estimated that 75% of adolescent girls and young women and 68% of adolescent boys and young men aged 15–24 years do not have knowledge of HIV prevention. While women and girls are biologically more susceptible to HIV than men and boys, unequal gender power dynamics and harmful gender norms are the root cause, compounded by intersecting forms of discrimination.
Child marriage prevents many adolescent girls from pursuing education and exposes them to gendered inequalities and violence. A quarter (23%) of young women aged 20-24 in The Gambia were married before 18 years (DHS 2019-20). Adolescent girls and young women face multiple forms of gender-based and sexual violence, including in schools and from intimate partners. Adolescent girls and young women’s decision-making power is key to their access to sexual and reproductive health rights and services, yet less than half (40%) of adolescent girls and women aged 15–49 years in The Gambia can make decisions concerning their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. Harmful practices such as female genital mutilation affect many adolescent girls and young women in The Gambia, with 75% of all adolescent girls and young women aged 15–19 years having undergone female genital mutilation (that, is three out of every four adolescent girls and women).
Education Plus advocates for gender-responsive reforms in policies, laws, and practices to guarantee the education, health, and other social and economic rights of adolescent girls and young people. This includes changes in parental consent requirements and eliminating user fees for adolescents to access basic HIV and other sexual and reproductive health services, supporting pregnant adolescents and young mothers to complete their education, and tackling gender-based violence, menstrual hygiene management, and mental health, among others.
The initiative also galvanizes partners to address structural barriers to young women’s effective school-to-work transitions, skilling, and training. Structural gendered inequalities have only been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and threaten to roll back gains on their rights and gender equality. Through the Education Plus Initiative, government and partners will commit to step-up policies and investments that work best, not only for adolescent girls and young women but for communities and the country. Young women’s participation is central to the initiative.
With the launch, The Gambia joins eight other African countries to be a champion for the Education Plus Initiative. The UN system in The Gambia is a key partner and supporter of domestic resource mobilization efforts and young women’s participation to ensure that Education Plus delivers for young people. The launch will bring together representatives from relevant government ministries, United Nations agencies, educators, teacher-parent associations, communities and leaders, and young people in The Gambia.
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
1 / 11