By: Haruna Kuyateh
Future In Our Hand (FIOH) The Gambia with support from the European Union and partnership with TANGO and FAWE has organised a daylong engagement on a project dubbed Enhancing Civil Society Capacity for Increased Participation in the Implementation of the National Development Plan.
The slogan CSO WATCHDOG: Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Resilience in the Gambia STAR. The synergy was recently held in Kerewan North Bank Region.
The interface dialogue, which formed part of the 3 years project 2021 to 2024 implemented by Future In Our Hand, FAWE GAMBIA and TANGO.
Governor Lamin Saidykhan underscored the government’s commitment to all-inclusive participation in the implementation of the National Development Plan. He noted that the engagement spearheaded by Future In Our Hand FIOGH as the lead agency in partnership with FAWE and TANGO to create public awareness on the impact of Education within NDP and challenges.
Governor Saidykhan said National Development Plan calls for all-inclusive participation to respond to the development needs of the population. The convergence will enhance a greater understanding of participants and can contribute to triggering stakeholders’ participation.
Yankuba Manneh, Future In Our Hand Fund Raising Manager, thanked European Union for supporting the interface dialogue, with the ultimate objective of creating public awareness of NDP and providing space to measure impact. He noted that the interface dialogue would broaden people understanding of the strives gained by the government on the implementation of NDP from 2018 to 2021 and the challenges.
The CSOs value all-inclusive participation in education, gender, peacebuilding, security, and climate change amongst others.
Ebrima Jaiteh, Regional Education Director for Region 3 said major strife registered in the Education sector and disclosed that his office signed a contract for the construction of 51 classrooms, computer labs, and staff quarters to build to address space for students and accommodation for staff.
He thanked the government through MoBSE and MRC HOLLAND for making education accessible to all. He described the dialogue on NDP as crucial, noting that it would enhance the understanding of school management committees and other stakeholders.
Samba Sowe from the Ministry of Finance Planning Unit said the dialogue will help the public to contribute to the attainment of national development and take ownership of their development priorities. The dialogue also gathered information on emerging national issues in the area of crime rate, and quality education through the provision of adequate learning and teaching materials.
