The Agency for the Development of Women (ADWAC) with support from ActionAid International The Gambia recently funded an annual general meeting of Albreda and Jimbana Bolong Ecozones in the Upper Nuimi district of the North Bank Region. It was held in Albreda and Bakalarr in Upper Nuimi.
Saikou E Gassama, ActionAid’s Governance and Partnership Manager, underscored the importance of holding the AGM, noting that it was an important element in promoting good governance and public accountability.
He also noted the importance for members to meet once every year, but added that the AGMs are unique because the two Ecozones never conducted one in the 18 years of their existence.
Mr Gassama urged participants to take the meeting seriously, and assured them of his organization’s support.
Lamin Jarju, coordinator of LRP 9 of ADWAC, thanked the two Eco zones’ committees for their commitment and support to the protection of the environment.
He said the day gave members the chance to review the progress and challenges, financial and audit reports at the general assembly.
The Albreda and Jimbana Bolong are a community-based organization.
An Ecozone, according to the definition of ADWAC, is “the total landmass within a watershed/environmental unit, within which a number of village or communities share the same or similar inter-related socio-economic, political, physical and environmental problems.”
Each eco-zone has a management committee, representing all villages, that serves as the local governance body for discussions and decisions, designing and implementing projects, and organizing community members to address zonal and specific issues.
It serves as the main entry point for all development programmes for the cluster of villages within each eco-zone.
As set out in the constitution of the two ecozones of Albreda and Jimbana Bolong respectively, an AGM is fundamental in improving the welfare of the organizations.
Members of the eco zones were also able to review the constitution, and amendments were made and adopted by the general assembly.
Kanimang Jaiteh of Aljamdu was elected as the new president for Albreda Ecozone and thanked participants for their support.
