The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) with support from the UNICEF Gambia, through the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), has completed a six-day community dialogue initiative among, youth and community leaders/structures. The activity which commenced in Mansakonko LRR and ended in Giroba, Fulladu East, URR South with the aim of empowering young people and women to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes and engage with traditional leaders to promote and support women and youth in decision making and peacebuilding processes. The activity was designed to strengthen the women and youth skills and capabilities to participate in decision making processes and raise the awareness of traditional leaders to support women and youth to actively participate in decision making and peacebuilding in line with the targets of the United Nation Peacebuilding Fund Project in the Gambia.

Speaking at the launching of the activity in Mansakonko, LRR, The Chairman of NCCE Alh Sering Fye, acknowledged the recent increase in the numbers of women and youth in various sectors of national development but was quick to point out that some structural, socioeconomic, political and cultural barriers are still resulting in many of these two groups to be side-lined and underrepresented in decision making. Giving the significant benefits of inclusive decision-making, the chairman stated that his institution attaches “great significance to the participation of youth and women in our governance processes. We strongly believe that no meaningful development, sustainable peace and democratic maturity can be attained if women and young people are left behind”. That is why he went further, “within the framework of our mandate to create and sustain awareness of constitutional democracy for the achievement of political, economic and social stability through civic education, we have over the years intensify our activities in peace-building through country-wide public sensitization campaigns.”

The Governor of LRR, Rohey John Manjang said that an issue targeting peaceful dialogue is a very important pillar in the governance system. She said; “peace and peace-building require ownership and that ownership should be built. We need to understand that this is not only for the country but for ourselves. Women and youth leading that is an important milestone”. She heaped encomium on NCCE for the timely dialogue programme as the 2021 presidential elections is on the horizon.

About 240 participants (women, young people & community/traditional leaders) including the physically challenged, across the Lower River, Central River and Upper River Regions benefited from the dialogue sessions between the 16th to 21st January, 2021. Presentations on peace-building; conflict prevention, management and resolution; inclusion of women and youths in governance; and role of local authorities in promoting women and youth participation in leadership and decision-making were made by NCCE staff and followed by interactive debates and comments and questions from participants.