The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) with funding from UNICEF Gambia has recently concluded another Training of Decentralized Community Structures On Civic Education and Inclusive Participation in Decision-Making Processes in Grassroots governance from the 11^th – 22^nd May, 2022.

Sequel to a similar training held last year, the twelve-day training was targeted at another batch of key actors within the decentralization structure to build their civic knowledge and skills for the advancement of inclusive participation in grassroots governance and sustainable peace and development.

Outlining the rationale of the training in Kundam Mafatty, Tumana District, Upper River Region, The Programme Manager of NCCE, Mr Yusupha Bojang, said that the training is design for heads of Multi-Disciplinary Facilitation Teams (MDFTs), Village Development Committees (VDCs), Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and Mothers’ Clubs and is “meant to promote civic education to increase inclusiveness and participation in decision-making in grassroots governance”. He added that the targeted participants are a representation of the critical mass in the grassroots and therefore have a key role in influencing the thinking and actions of their people. NCCE programme manager also challenged the decentralised structures leaders to put inclusion and consultation of all stakeholders in local decision-making at the centre of their engagements, adding that it is vital in having benign and beneficial policies that improve the poor’s quality of life and well-being.

With the theme “Inclusive Participation: Building Local Capacities for Sustainable Grassroots Development” the training was implemented in four venues in each of the regions of URR, CRR and LRR. Over 400 participants drawn from VDCs, WDCs, MDFTs, Mothers’ Club, youth and women leaders as well as person with disabilities benefited from the training which was facilitated by NCCE Official with presentation on key thematic issues like: Civic Educations and Citizens Engagement in Community Development initiatives, Importance of Inclusive Participation in Grassroots Governance; Local Government Act and decentralization policy; Civic Rights and Duties of Citizens in the Gambia.

The training gave participants a unique opportunity to debate and share ideas on how to make the decentralised structures more efficient and inclusive for a just and sustainable development.