The West Africa Network on Peacebuilding (WANEP) The Gambia is currently building the capacity of a group of women from the West Coast Region and Lower River Region on peace building and conflict mediation techniques and skills.
The programme is being supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and held at the National Nutritional Agency (NaNA) premises.
The forum began on Thursday 4th October 2012 and ran for three days with intensive training on various modules of peace building and conflict resolution strategies, and it attracted 30 participants selected from the two regions.
Speaking at the official commencement of the training session, Ms Pamela Cole national coordinator for WANEP Gambia, stated that the training was held under the theme: “Women in Business of Building Peace “
She underscored the need for increased capacity building of women in peace processes and decision making processes, for the development of conflict resolution mechanisms and conflict prevent.
According to her, WANEP Gambia is an NGO established in August 2003 working mainly in the areas of peace building and conflict prevention.
The network comprises 20 civil society organizations constantly striving to build and promote a culture of peace across countries in the sub region including The Gambia, making use of strategies of advocacy capacity building and sensitization in the implementation of the NGO’s core programmes, one of which is the Women in Peace building Network (WIPNET) programme.
Ms Cole added that the WIPNET program was conceived to mainstream women’s participation in peace building and conflict resolution as key stakeholders and actors.
“This programme also served as a platform for mobilization of women’s groups, and acts as both a pressure and interest group for the promotion of peace and stability”, she added.
Ms Julliet R. Lewis-Wakka administrative and finance officer of the NGO outlined the training strategies and modules that were dealt with during the course of the training session.
She said the ultimate objective of the forum was to strengthen the capacity of women in peace building and conflict resolution mechanisms.
“This training program provides the space for interaction, learning, sharing of experiences and networking among the women of the two regions,” she said.
She used the opportunity to urge participants to live up to expectations and spread the message to their fellow women who are not fortunate to be part of the training forum.
“If each of you educates one person in your various meeting points or interaction points the information will reach every person at the grass root level,” she added.
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