By Nyima Sillah
One of the most relentless women in the UN system serving in The Gambia is Ms. Aissata De, the UNDP Resident Representative. She is a woman of charisma and inspires everyone.
On this segment, she discusses her career, different issues affecting the country, including the Coronavirus pandemic and UNDP interventions to address these and other development challenges in the country. s. Read on:
The Voice: For the benefit of our readers, could you please give a brief introduction of yourself, and overview of your previous work and assignments?
UNDP RR: I’m Aissata De, UNDP Resident Representative (RR) in The Gambia. I have served in The Gambia for over a year now, after having served different countries and people around the world through UNDP for quite some time.
In brief, I have worked with the UN as a Human Rights Activist, advocating for women and girl’s rights. I contributed to the drafting of Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, and thereafter joined UNDP on a program to promote women’s rights, as well as democracy in selected countries.
I served in Mozambique and Cambodia and was later appointed as UNDP Senior Elections Adviser, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After DRC, I served as UNDP Deputy Country Director in Burundi.
To cut it short, after Burundi I went to Cote d’Ivoire, also as a Deputy Country Director, and from there I went back to UNDP Headquarters in New York, where I managed a large portfolio on the Central Africa Region and the Great Lakes, covering 12 countries, many experiencing hardship and humanitarian crisis.
In 2018, there was a call for applications for UNDP Resident Representatives, where 1,500 candidates competed for 144 positions. After successfully competing in the assessment process, I was asked to suggest a list of countries where I would like to be deployed and I listed The Gambia as my most preferred choice. I wanted to be closer to home, Senegal, but also, I had not visited The Gambia for over 20 years since I was a high school basketball player and later attended sessions of the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights hosted in Banjul. I had very fond memories of this country
In the end, I was very honored and consider myself to be blessed to be appointed as UNDP RR in The Gambia working with a great team
The Voice: Let’s talk more about your professional background and previous assignments, and how your experiences could be useful to The Gambia.
UNDP RR: It has been my purpose since arriving in The Gambia to serve the people, especially the marginalized groups that include women, youth and persons with disability. The Gambia is the eighth country (including 3 peacekeeping settings) I have worked in, and I try to share lessons learnt from other countries. Although The Gambia did not go through a conflict, 22 years of dictatorship has had an impact on institutions and individuals, like in other post-conflict contexts. During such transitional situations, a lot of people-oriented investments are required to rebuild a better future for all, both personal and institutional.
I believe that my professional background and experiences are useful for The Gambia. I have had a long, interesting journey of working on several issues relevant to the ongoing context, in elections, security sector reforms, reintegration of ex-combatants, gender and peacebuilding.
On peacebuilding, for example, I have been in-charge of over 20 peacebuilding funded projects in several countries, including Burundi and Cote d’Ivoire t to support peacebuilding efforts on security sector reform, rule of law, gender and reintegration.
The Voice: Please tell us more about UNDP’s recent interventions, in the prisons for example.
UNDP RR: UNDP recently handed over 200-bed capacity dormitories to national authorities for the Jeshwang prison- an intervention built on the principal of “leaving no one behind.” Mile II was over-crowded, and we could not wait until there was coronavirus outbreak in the prison to respond. Therefore, UNDP in partnership with the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), supported the Ministry of Interior in taking the early decision to decongest Mile II, which contributed to there being no COVID-19 outbreak in the prison. Only a few cases were registered, and those few prisoners all recovered.
Investment in the prisons was not only aimed at curbing COVID-19 but also to decongest the prisons to make conditions there more humane. UNDP supported the Judiciary in setting up the first virtual courts to reduce the caseload for trials during the pandemic period.
UNDP invests in interventions that prepare populations to face any kind of shock that can occur unexpectedly because of natural disaster or conflict to build back better. In The Gambia, some issues that regularly surface relate to access to land, employment opportunities, education, and energy, and UNDP looks closely at these issues together with the Government within the UN Country Team (UNCT) framework, in collaboration with other partners.
As mentioned previously, interventions by UNDP and UNCT in general are aligned with government development priorities and the global Development Agenda. More so, the UN system has a common assistance framework to make sure that all the UN agencies’ interventions are coordinated through the Resident Coordinator’s office.
The Voice: What is your assessment of The Gambia, having emerged from 22 years of a dictatorial regime and now has a democratically elected president?
UNDP RR: I am honored to serve in The Gambia. Gambians are beautiful people, and it is a privilege to work in a place where I feel at home, even if I have found a home in many other places in the world.
When I first arrived, I was really impressed by the contributions of the TRRC in the country’s truth-seeking and reconciliation process. The Gambian truth commission- the TRRC- has a unique character unlike any other truth commission, in that it’s hearings and operations are very open and accessible to all. The hearings are live and transmitted in local languages so that people can know in detail, exactly what happened in the past. It is a truth commission that is exemplary, and UNDP is honored to be supporting such an important process together with the OHCHR. UNDP also applaud the TRRC for increasing accountability and fostering an amazing team, most of whom are young people, behind the scenes, dedicated to their mandate. Overall, this signals to me that The Gambia is determined to move forward.
Other reforms, such as the security sector reform and the constitutional review process are also unfolding, despite it having always been a challenge for countries to manage simultaneous, complex reform processes. That is why in 2019, UNDP conducted a nationwide tour together with the National Youth Council and Private Sector Influencers for the public to understand that the interconnectivity of these processes.
I think The Gambia’s reform model is a great achievement with all these institutions and process having been established only a few years ago. Reform processes also offer a unique opportunity for countries to conduct multi-dimensional analyses on the status of women and girls, and thereafter, implement solutions for their empowerment and increased participation in public discourse.
This gave me an extra reason to invest more resources in these different reform initiatives, be it the constitutional review process, security sector reform, the TRRC and most recently on the next electoral cycle, the successful realization of which would be another milestone for The Gambia.
The Voice: Can you please elaborate on how the next electoral cycle could be a milestone for The Gambia?
UNDP RR: The December 2016 election resulted in change of government, and the December 2021 election would be an opportunity to consolidate democracy and stability of the country. UNDP together with other UN agencies and other partners is committed to provided electoral assistance in The Gambia. The elections project 2020-2020 is designed to strengthen transparency throughout the electoral process; ensure inclusive participation of marginalized groups to strengthen elections credibility; support capacity of electoral stakeholders and initiate mechanisms for early warning and early response to elections related throughout the electoral cycle
For The Gambia to achieve these several milestones within four years, whilst also addressing the pressing development challenges of the country and contribute to the sustainable development goals, is not just amazing but an indicator of the resilience of the people of this great country.
When I dwell on the achievements of this country, considering its recent history, I am motivated to always do more, and to always think of how I can contribute further, so that in years to come, we can witness a more developed and stable Gambia, with strong democratic and accountable institutions.
The Voice: What is special about UNDP interventions in the country?
UNDP RR: One thing that is distinct about our interventions is the diversity of our partners and stakeholders. We are working with the Government, but we also have close relations and partnerships with the private sector through the GCCI, to accelerate the country’s sustainable development agenda.
You cannot have decent or sustainable jobs without having an enabling environment for a strong private sector- the engine of growth, and the private sector in The Gambia, has not only been key in the development of The Gambia, but it can do much more if well-mobilized and supported. In this regard, UNDP has a strategic partnership with the private sector to create decent jobs for youth and women, through the Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development Project, whose steering committee is chaired by GCCI.
Another key action with the private sector is the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal (GES) approach with high (8) companies allowing them to effectively mainstream gender in their respective institutions and activities. We also support all the institutions responsible for economic management in the country, through capacity building on evidence-based planning, budgeting and policy-making. Our support is also extended to aid coordination and reporting, SDG tracking, domestic resource mobilization efforts and strengthening audit and accountability frameworks.
Beyond the private sector, UNDP also works very closely with civil society organizations through TANGO, the National Youth Council, WANEP, and several others in advancing issues surrounding the environment, human rights, and development. At the same time, we support the creation of platforms for dialogue, and are supporting the Gambia Press Union (GPU) to strengthen the capacity of journalists and public access to accurate information.
We have recently initiated a partnership with the University of the Gambia (UTG) to among other objectives, promote the SDGs, implement the gender equality seal approach and work closely with the AccLab in identify development solutions from the communities that could be scaled up as innovative actions.
We are also working with the Inter-Party Committee (IPC) to strengthen political party structures, democracy, and ensure peaceful elections. Since 2005, we helped political parties to set up the IPC which is a framework that brings all parties together to discuss various matters outside the parliament since it is not all political parties that have representatives at the National Assembly. To ensure increased participation of women in politics, we have also been supporting the CSO, RAFELA.
Overall, I am grateful to be in The Gambia during this transitional period, to be able to contribute to several important, unique opportunities for sustainable development, and to have a dedicated team behind me.
The Voice: What are your thoughts on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic?
UNDP RR: COVID-19 has forced us to stop and think about ourselves, our lives, and humanity, because each of us has been affected by the pandemic in one way or another, yet we are still in the pandemic and we still need solidarity. To me, the greatest lesson of COVID-19 is that without solidarity, we cannot survive as a human race.
The pandemic has severely affected the economy of the country. It is heartbreaking to see most hotels almost empty. Yet, you also see the resilience of Gambians, how they are still trying using the little that they have, to rebuild. This is encouraging and it tells you that Gambians are very resilient and determined people.
After 22 years of hardships, The Gambia managed to rise and is forging forward to a more democratic society, and although COVID-19 has made life harder for all, I believe that Gambians will rise again and rebuild the health and other affected systems after the pandemic which gives the opportunity to reflect as a whole society, on the future of development.
The Voice: UNDP’s support to the Government is significant but are you satisfied with the unemployment rate in the country?
UNDP RR: Meaningful employment is a global challenge because it is determined by several factors, such as the demographic situation of a place, growth of private sector and education standards, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more challenging to increase job opportunities.
A conducive environment for job creation must exist for people, especially the youth to secure meaningful employment, and UNDP supports both up and downstream interventions aimed at creating such an environment, as well as jobs, for youth and women.
UNDP provides support to several policy and strategic institutions central in the creation of meaningful employment and jobs, including private enterprises such as Gamjobs, where we supported through the Accelerator Lab (GMAccLab) the development of its online platform (gamjobs.com) , and continue to find innovative ways of expanding this platform in order to provide SMS job alerts for example. At least 7,000 people have benefited from the service, whilst UNDP continues to strengthen initiatives such as the Gambia-Songhai Centre and the EMPRETEC Project, which has provided over 5000 youth with relevant skills and knowledge for self-employment.
People in general tend to aim more for traditional jobs, but there is a growing global trend of self-employment in formal and informal sectors. I am aware for example, that in The Gambia, agriculture has a lot of potential to create meaningful employment, if agribusiness is packaged in a way to attract more people, particularly youth.
It is a priority for the Government to provide opportunities for employment, but this is a challenge, especially in a pandemic circumstance. The Gambia still has many potential opportunities, but people have personal responsibilities to create jobs to complement Government efforts. We need to encourage the consummation of local products, to boost local production and markets and the economy.
The Voice: As in other countries, hotels, schools, offices, and other public places were forcefully closed due to the Coronavirus. How has UNDP supported these sectors during this period?
UNDP RR: UNDP’s support aligns with government priorities, as reflected in the different pillars of the National Development Plan. However, with the Coronavirus pandemic forcing a shift in national and global prioritizations, and with UNDP having been awarded the mandate within the UN system to technically lead the socio-economic response to COVID-19, in all the countries we serve, our response in The Gambia has been in line with the National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, as well as the UN Country Team Response Plan. This translated first and foremost into supporting the Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Health and other partners, to building resilient health systems.
On addressing the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, which interestingly in The Gambia, was presented by the Government as an invitation for partnership building, UNDP has supported different assessments, analyses and action plans, under the coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator’s office, including a national socio-economic assessment, rapid assessment on remittances and study into ‘lumos,’/open markets. This resulted in the re-programming of UNDP’s resources and activities to urgently respond to assessment findings, on health, security, communication, and livelihood. On health for example, UNDP invested significantly in partnership with the World Bank and GCCI, the renovation of Ndemban Clinic, which is today a well-functional health center for the testing and treatment of COVID-19 cases.
We also supported the training of security officers on COVID-19 response, with a focus on those stationed at the border points of entry.
In the tourism sector, we collaborated with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and The Gambia Tourism Board to provide cash transfers to 6000 people working in the sector, and we are currently supporting the formulation of the national tourism policy and strategy, aimed at increasing and improving the great contribution of the sector to the economy, especially through employment.
On environment, we supported the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) and Banjul City Council (BCC) with personal protective equipment and fumigation of key public places, including the open markets.
In conclusion , COVID-19 has come with its fair share of challenges, but it has also revealed several opportunities for efficiency, innovation, and growth, especially in the health sector where systems have been strengthened in response to COVID-19, to save people’s lives.
COVID-19 also demonstrated the strong, meaningful partnership UNDP has with the Government, other UN agencies, private sector, NGOs, local governments, University, and many other stakeholders, as well as how we connect these partners and stakeholders to one another and contribute to finding efficient solutions to challenges of the day.
The Voice: Thank you for sharing this moment with us, despite your busy schedule.
UNDP RR: I thank you!