The Gambia has launched the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) Immigration project that aimed at strengthening the efficiency and accountability of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID).
Speaking at the launch of the project, Dr Touray said it was clear to her government that they were taking over a security sector that had been deeply politicised and not responsive to the needs of Gambian people.
She said that led to the government of The Gambia coming up with the clear vision, which states, “A security sector that is effective, efficient, apolitical, affordable, accountable, transparent and responsive to the security and justice needs of the people based on democratic norms and principles”.
According to her, the overall objective of the project we are launching today is to support The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) to enhance its effectiveness in delivering its core mandate of immigration management, to improve the overall governance framework in the management of border security, and to support its efforts to become more accountable to the Government and to the local communities it serves.
She said DCAF intervention would address some of the “critical gaps” in the GID’s legal and policy framework as well as support the institution and other security institutions in the country.
“Specifically, DCAF intervention will aim to address some of the critical gaps in the GID’s legal and policy framework and notably, support the GID and other security institutions in applying a more coordinated and collaborative approach to border security and immigration management. In addition, the programme endeavours to improve accountability of GID personnel and promote their respect to professional standards through a strengthened internal oversight framework and mechanism. Last, the programme aims to strengthen the leadership and management system of the GID, with a view to maximize its capabilities and capacities, thereby improving the efficiency and utilization of resources of the institution,” she added.
Vincenzo Mascioli, Director for International Affairs, State Secretariat for Migration Switzerland said their partnership with The Gambia is not a short-term but a long-term partnership; aimed at helping the Gambian youths to acquire requisite skills and knowledge in different fields.
“Three principles are essential to our operation: trust, reliability and the spirit of partnership. What do we mean by partnership? Partnership to us does not mean that we are not here to quickly solve your problem and then leave again, no. Partnership to us means we look at our cooperation from a long-term perspective. It is in that sense; Switzerland might be able to support the Gambian path of a young democracy by supporting you in terms of building and developing your instructions. That’s why Switzerland is here today launching this important project being implemented by DCAF,” Ambassador Mascioli said.
Meanwhile, Seedy Touray, the Director General of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) underscored the importance of the project to the daily work of his institution.
“This is an important breakthrough in the history of our partnership between the Gambia Immigration Department and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance DCAF which is the leading centre of excellence in justice and security sector governance. In other to facilitate the operationalisation of this project, I carefully selected two senior officers with the requisite skills, knowledge, competence and of course experience in strategic management, immigration planning fields to serve as project focal persons to create an interface between the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) and DCAF. The GID is fully committed to this project,” he said.
