By: Mustapha S Koli
Madam Fanta Bai Secka, Executive Director of Women’s Bureau, has said that Youth and Women Empowerment is critical to National Development.
Madam Secka was speaking in Janjanbureh, Central River Region yesterday at the opening of four days Capacity Building Training Programme organized by Women’s Bureau for 36 elected Female and Youth Councilors in the Gambia.
She said that the programme is with the objective of building the capacity of elected female and youth representatives at the various Area councils on diverse areas and dependable variables for Youth and Women empowerment including Women and Youth inclusivity and participation in politics, decision making, Political Representation amongst others.
She challenged the Chairmen of the Area Councils to mainstream gender issues into their various Councils development planning, implementation, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation whilst appealing for effective coordination of Youth and Women empowerment issues in the country.
Mr. Amadou Cham, the project Officer said that over 51 Percent and 60 percent of the Gambia’s population are Women and Youth yet there under representation citing the number of positions they occupy at decision making levels.
He added that in 2017 National Assembly Elections, out of 54 members, only three women were elected through the ballot box with the other three being nominated.
The project he added, will contribute towards increase momentum at decentralized levels among elected area councilors towards collaborative leadership, dialogue for women and youth empowerment and development for a gender sensitive and youth friendly decentralized infrastructure as well as to promote inclusive and effective participation of women and youth in decentralized administration and development.
Mr. Sulayman Barry, the Governor of Central River Region highlighted the significance that the government of the Gambia attaches to Women and Youth Development.
He cited the critical positioning of Women and Youth issues in the National Development Plan.
Mr. Barry challenged organizers to present on the National Development Plan for effective harmonization of programme and activity priorities as the Blue Print of theNational Development agenda to design practical solutions to factors affecting Youth and Women Empowerment in the country.
Participants were exposed to the Basic Gender Concepts, Gender Based-violence, National Gender and Women Empowerment Policy 2010-2020, Local Government Act, Youth development issues, Governance, Democracy, Decentralisation Policy, Lobbying, Networking and Advocacy, amongst others. The 4 days Capacity Building Training Programme concluded with the development of an action plan.
