By: Mustapha S Koli
Tostan in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare on Tuesday 13th July 2023 organized a National Sharing Seminar and Strategic Plan Launching with Government Ministry’s Departments and Agencies, Non –Governmental Organisations, Sectors, The UN agencies and Media fraternity in the Gambia at the Metzy Hotel, In Kotu.
The activity, within the framework of Tostans Community Empowerment Programmes(CEP) implementation strategy with a strong belief in sharing programme objectives, strategies, and approaches as well as implemented activities with partners coupled with the development of a new Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP 2023-2030) called “IN PARTNERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY WELL-BEING” as a road map for the scaling and implementation of programmes in various countries including the Gambia.
In his remarks, Mr. Edrissa Keita, National Coordinator of Tostan Gambia, said that the seminar is aimed at sharing the SEP with partners, receiving feedback, and enhancing collaboration and partnership support for its successful implementation
In her remarks, The Chief Executive Officer of TOSTAN Gambia, Madam Elena Bonometti, dilated on the position of her organization to support the development initiatives of the Government of the Gambia.
She added that the activity is not only meant to take stock of the achievements registered over the years but also to chart a way forward by designing and implementing programmes to enhance the lives and well-being of the communities that matter within the vision of Tostans operations.
In delivering her opening statement, Madam Fatou Kinteh, The Honorable Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, emphasized on the long-standing partnership and close collaboration of her ministry with Tostan Gambia to promote and empower Gambian rural communities, especially women and girls.
The sharing seminars, she added, is a crucial strategy in highlighting and showcasing the work of Tostan in the Gambia, with stakeholders and partners to have a better understanding of the great and impactful interventions carried out by Tostan through its strategic plan thus the need for a scaling-up to Central River Region 2019 to 2022 in the rural communities.
The Seminar will also allow my Ministry to share the new National Gender and Women Empowerment Policy of 2022-2032 responding to Tostans Strategic Engagement Plan 2023 to 2030 called ‘in Partnership for Community Wellbeing” that will be launched this afternoon is a step in the right direction.
Tostan she buttressed began a new programme in 60 communities in the Central River Region (CRR) of the Gambia in the last quarter of 2020 called CRR Scale Up. The Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) intervention focuses on Good governance, human rights, Hygiene, and Health, Literacy, Management, and Decentralisation. The intervention is within the framework of the organisation’s Strategic Engagement Plan 2019 to 2022. The programme targets 30 Mandinka and 30 Fula communities in the Northern and Southern Parts of CRR in 4 districts, and 10 wards within the two local council areas of the region. There are 35 communities in CRR North (under Kuntaur Area Council and 25 Communities in the South under Janjangbureh Area Council) respectively.
The activity was characterized by presentations by officials from the Ministry of Gender and Tostan.