By Yunus S Saliu
A four-day workshop on Peace Building: Strategic Policy, Best Practices and Delivery organized by the Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery of the Office of the President and supported by the ECOWAS European Union Peace and Stability Mandate project, Tuesday, kicked-off at the Paradise Suite Hotel.
The peace building workshop within span of four days will cover different areas which among are peace building situation analysis; National Development Plan-Strategic Policy and Delivery; Conflict and Development Analysis, Capacity Building Assessment in Peace Building; Roles, Responsibilities, Challenges and Actions for Various institutions in Peace Building and Conflict Prevention; ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework.
In his opening remarks on behalf of the Secretary General, Mohammed Jallow, Permanent Secretary at Office of the President outlined the importance of peace, security and democracy; noting that the three go simultaneously as there cannot be democracy without peace and security.
He disclosed that in the 70s and 80s The Gambia was actually recognized all over the world as the bastion of peace and human rights which was one of the reasons for chosen the country as headquarter for Human Rights.
Watching the session of the ongoing Truth Reconciliation Reparation Commission (TRRC) more evidences are revealing on daily basis about what has happened in the past two decades whereby the peace and security of the country were chattered that some even left the country.
Vabah K Gayfah, ECOWAS Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission described the support of the project by the ECOWAS European Union Peace and Stability Mandate as a means of contributing meaningfully to the consolidation of democratic governance in The Gambia.
Giving an in-depth background of the workshop, she admitted that the objectives of the workshop is quite informative and resourceful as highlighted thus among others – to provide an understanding of ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) and how it is implemented in the promotion of peace, security and stability mandate in the West Africa region; equip high-level public policy makers knowledge necessary to integrate conflict prevention mechanisms in the public policy, practice and delivery and as well to strengthen the capacity of the Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery to be able to effectively execute its coordination mandate.
This, she said are in consonance with the aspirations of both the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework and the National Development Plan of The Gambia.
Madam Gayfah reiterated ECOWAS’s commitment towards continuing support of the process and as well ensures the effective implementation of it which is quite fundamental for the implementation of ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF).
The representative from the European Union affirmed that the workshop will support the Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery to play its coordination role of government actions.
Through more informed decisions, and improved coordination, she said the government will be more able to deliver on its development aspirations as detailed in the National Development Plan.
She called on the participants to be committed towards the workshop activities and understand the ECOWAS Conflict Preventions Framework, and as well develop a plan of action for all institutions and entities involved directly in the peace building and conflict prevention.