By: Haruna Kuyateh
Action Aid International The Gambia discussed a new UN Peace Building Fund project called Empowering Marginalized Young People for Inclusion in Civic Space and Local Infrastructure for Peace with the Senior Administrator at the Governor’s Office and Kerewan Area Council over the weekend.
Empowering Marginalized Young People for Inclusion in Civic Space and Local Infrastructure for Peace (YPI)2024 to 2026 project is with the slogan Voice Your Choice, Shape Our Future and will be implemented by the Action Aid International The Gambia.
The visit to officials to discuss the project formed part of the five-day stakeholders’ engagement with regional authorities under the United Nations Peace Building Fund on Youth Inclusion in decision-making and will be implemented in 4 Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Kerewan, Kuntaur, Janjanbureh, and Mansakonko Area Councils.
Speaking during the visit, Fafa O Cham Head of Programme and Policy at Action Aid International the Gambia reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to work with regional authorities and decentralized structures to enhance effective youth participation in decision-making processes.
He underscored the importance of meaningful dialogue between youth and duty-bearers in addressing community challenges while assuring them of the agency’s commitment to supporting regional authorities in initiatives that foster youth development and promote peace.
The two-year project aimed to advocate for strengthening the actual representation/participation of youth in decision-making structures, citing district tribunals, Village Development Committees (VDCs), and Ward Development Committees (WDCs).
On the Tribunal Act of 1993, he disclosed that a plan is in place to work with the relevant institution to review it.
Binta ML Ceesay, Women Rights Manager said the inclusion of the Women’s Tribunal Court is to empower women and strengthen justice delivery service. She thanked the management of the Kerewan Area Council and the general council for their proactiveness in passing a resolution for the appointment of seven women as tribunal members in seven district tribunal courts in the North Bank Region.
Taibou Sonko, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Youths and Sports, Ebrima Jammeh, Senior Administrator Officer at the office of the Governor thanked Action Aid for their unwavering contribution in complementing government efforts.
Sainabou Martin Sonko, Chief Executive Officer at Kerewan Area Council thanked Action Aid The Gambia for recognizing council roles in strengthening democratic governance through VDCs and WDCs, noting that youth inclusion at Ward and Village Development Committees would enhance the prioritization of development projects.
CEO Martin Sonko assured of the council’s fullest support for the capacity development of staff, councilors, VDCs, and WDCs, noting that her council started providing educational packages to individuals to pursue their higher education to the tertiary level.