By: Haruna Kuyateh
A five-day training for advocacy groups on women’s land rights campaign has ended at Mansa Wally Lodge in Jenoi, Lower River Region.
Action Aid International-The Gambia (AAITG) in partnership with ROOTS Project organized the training aimed at supporting the advancement in the empowering efforts for consideration and support in ensuring lands are accessible and women have control over land.
The five-day training focused on Refection on Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), advocacy skills, campaign strategies, feminist leadership, and planning for district advocacy.
The Head of Policy and Programmes at AAITG, Fafa Cham also the lead facilitator for the training, described the partnership between AAITG and ROOTS as crucial in creating public dialogue on women’s land rights and ownership.
He noted that the use of a multi-stakeholder approach to the land rights campaign would contribute to promoting women’s rights and trigger public discourse on land ownership.
Mr. Cham reiterated Action Aid’s total commitment to partnering with ROOTS in the quest to bring about positive thinking and support to women.
The Program Manager Action Aid Kudang Office, Binta M.L Ceesay, said the pilot scheme with ROOTS aims to register success in advocating for women to have control and ownership of land, emphasizing that the training would contribute to enhancing understanding of the Human Rights Approach HRBA, advocacy techniques, campaigning, and feminist leadership, and prepare the team for planning for district advocacy.
She called on local authorities and landowners to support the noble cause.
The Women’s Bureau Lady Councilor for Tumana, Fatou Keita, and the women leader of Dingiri in the Upper River RegionMariama Krubally both hailed Action Aid International for empowering women to have access and control over productive land to boost food production and diversification of economic activities.
Madam Krubally used the moment to call on agricultural projects and NGOs to support the women of Dingiri with a vegetable garden and other income-generation skills to contribute to poverty reduction.
Women leaders said land ownership posed the greatest challenge for rural women and therefore, developing strategies and approaches for embarking on land rights campaigns would contribute to women’s empowerment drive.
Meanwhile, the training will be replicated in the North Bank, Central River North and South, Upper River, and Lower River regions.