The
Gambia Press Union (GPU) Saturday,29th February 2020, launched its Affiliates
Support Programme. The programme is part of a 30-month project that the Union
is co-implementing with Gambia Media Support (GAMES), a Denmark-based
non-profit organisation set up to support the Gambian media.
The
project, launched in June 2019, seeks to further strengthen the GPU as an
advocate for members, the media and democracy in The Gambia.
The
Affiliates Support Programme component of the project is designed to strengthen
the six formally registered affiliates of the GPU on key areas such as policy
formulation, organisational administration, financial management, fundraising,
and communication and advocacy.
Speaking
on the occasion, Pa Modou Faal, head of GPU Board Programmes Committee, said
the GPU is ever committed to supporting and strengthening its affiliates
through capacity building and financial support.
“Affiliates
are important to the GPU that is why the leadership of GPU never relents in
looking for opportunities to strengthen them,” he said.
Mr.
Faal urged the affiliates to make best use of the opportunity to position
themselves better for the interest of their members and the media industry in
general.
Sheriff
Bojang Jr, president GPU, said it is important that the affiliates and other
groups of journalists in the country focus on their areas of interest and
passion.
“My
hope under this project is that each of the affiliates will be re-energised and
will continue to work in the interest of its members,” he said. “When all the affiliate groups work
effectively towards their set objectives, the work of the GPU will be much
easier.”
President
Bojang called on the affiliates to be accountable to their members in the implementation
of their programs just as the GPU is accountable to its mass membership.
The
six beneficiary affiliates under this program are:
• Women Journalists Association of The
Gambia
• Young Journalists Association of The
Gambia
• Sports Journalists Association of The
Gambia
• Network Agricultural Communicators
• Human Rights Network The Gambia
• Network of Community Radios of The
Gambia
A
sum of D2 million is to be rolled out for the Affiliates Support Program. Out of this, D900, 000 is for the affiliates
to send their members to the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication
(MAJaC) for core journalism training.
There
is another D900, 000 for the affiliates to implement their own activities.
Also
as part of the project, each of the affiliates is to send an intern to the GPU
for two months and the person will receive transport allowance each month.
