By: Haruna Kuyateh
The Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Value Chain Development Project (GIRAV) on Friday organised a daylong forum with stakeholders on Gender-Based Violence against women and children in North Bank Region.
The event was held in Kerewan in North Bank Region with a focus on the Environmental and Social Framework, Labour Management Procedure with risks associated and workers’ safety, and also, with stakeholder Engagement Plan and Informant Disclosure and Gender-Based Violence.
At the forum, the North Bank Regional Grievances Redress Mechanism task force review the operational manual and signed it.
Deputy Governor Dembo Samateh described the engagement as crucial in protecting women and children from all forms of abuse. He called on beneficiary communities to support the implementation of projects and report any cases of gender-based violence.
Lamin Camara Environmental Specialist at GIRAV dilated on the background information of the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agriculture and Value Chain Development Project (GIRAV) with a Grant totaling US$40 million from World Bank to finance part of the cost of the Gambia Inclusive Resilient Agriculture Development Project (GIRAV).
To address this global problem, WB projects put in measures to mitigate the problems of the GBV. The project is committed to sensitise its stakeholders including the beneficiaries’ communities especially the women and young girls who in most cases vulnerable to GBV during project implementations.
The objective of the forum is to promote the development of inclusive and competitive agriculture value chains, focusing on smallholder farmers and agribusinesses in Project targeted areas.
John Mendy, the Regional Agriculture Director for NBR hailed the project for their support to farmers, citing the high quality of improved seed during the 2022 farming season.
Fafandi Katiri Kinteh, the Social Development Specialist at GIRAV said the World Bank and Gambia Government attach great importance to the project to addressing all forms of Gender Based Violence with the ultimate objective of responding to risks through the Regional Grievances Redress Mechanism established.
He said the project strongly advocates for all-inclusive participation in project implementation and with emphasised respect for human rights.
The Deputy Director for Projects and Programmes at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare has underscored the importance of the implementation of conventions and protocols geared towards addressing gender-based violence and strengthening the human rights approach to sustainable development.
