By: Haruna Kuyateh
United Nation Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and partners had joined the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day is celebrating on 8th March and this year 2021campaign Theme is Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.
The theme has highlighted the tremendous efforts that women and girls around the world are making in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the commission on the status of women, women’s full and effective participation and decision making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
The event held in Kerewan, North Bank Region attracted large participants from Lower River, Central River, and North Bank Regions.
Musa Kanteh Deputy Governor of North Bank Region underscored the important roles play by women in the upkeep of family.
The Deputy Governor commended the Chief of Upper Nuimi, Momodou Chatty Cham for inclusion of women into District Tribunal Court sitting. This he said has demonstrated the district’s commitment to women empowerment in decisions making process.
Malamin I L Bojang, chairman of Kerewan Area Council said the inclusion of women in district tribunal sitting has provided opportunities for fair dispensation of justice and by extension encourage women to report Gender Based Violence for redress.
Chairman Bojang described the intervention of UNCDF at ward levels as pivotal in strengthening Kerewan Area Council.
Saihou Jawara Chairman of Kuntaur Area Council said the support has increased their capacity to respond to development needs such as establishment of gardens, water projects and promote cash for work.
The chairpersons from the councils hailed European Union for providing fund to UNCDF to scale up intervention in addressing development needs and empowerment of Ward Development Committees (WDCs) in prioritizing community projects.
Ms. Niania Daboe, program management specialist officer of UNCDF thanked EU for the Jobs Skills and Finance Project implementing in NBR, CRR and LRR with funding from European Union to support women and youths to mitigate the effects of climate change.
It is an intervention that empowers women and youths to have access to finance through promotion of culture of saving income from cash for work.
According to her, the financial support strengthens local businesses and enhances economic wellbeing, and UNCDF has created 800 jobs and 400 bank accounts through microfinance services.
Ms Daboe affirmed that the support has promoted the culture of savings and enables most women and youths to establish small businesses. The event is organized to acknowledge the achievements that relate to the significant roles that women and youths have been contributing in the programme. Commenting on International Women Day, she noted that the day is important as it help to provide platform for women share achievements and challenges.
Among other speakers at the celebration included Awa Mary Lowe Khan, founder and CEO WOMAN BOSS, Chief Momodou Chatty Cham of Upper Nuimi, Jaila Bah of Toroba.
