#Headlines

 DCAF conducts capacity building for Gambia's Security Sector

Sep 11, 2023, 10:14 AM

In its support of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) efforts in The Gambia, the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) has initiated two concurrent training programs aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) and the Gambia Immigration Department (GID). The training for the GPF focuses on Intelligence-Gathering, while the GID's training centres on Leadership and Performance Management.

The training for the GPF is geared towards augmenting their intelligence-gathering capabilities, with a primary focus on Regional and Divisional information proficiency concerning Transnational Organized Crime. This specialized training, developed following a comprehensive two-day workshop, is set to benefit thirty-five intelligence officers, including five from the GID. The overarching objective of this initiative is to enhance the crime prevention and detection capabilities of the Gambia Police Force through the implementation of Intelligence-Led Policing strategies. Over the course of the training, participants delved into topics such as intelligence-led policing, covert human intelligence, information exchange and recording, intelligence reports, and data analysis.

Simultaneously, a parallel training program is underway, designed to bolster the leadership and performance management skills of twenty-seven participants. This group comprises twenty individuals from the GID, five from the GPF, and two from the Ministry of Interior. This training curriculum will cover a wide array of essential subjects, including leadership principles, effective communication, performance management, defendable decision-making, gender sensitivity, and crisis management.

These trainings are integral components of DCAF's broader efforts to support SSR in The Gambia through funding from the European Union (EU) for the GPF project, and the Swiss Confederation for the GID project.

The GPF project, titled "Gambian Security Sector Reform Process for Improved Security, Migration, and Border Management," is a comprehensive two-year endeavour aimed at driving positive transformation within The Gambia's security sector. With EU backing, this initiative seeks to fortify the foundations of security and border management, thereby enhancing the nation's overall safety and security landscape. On the other hand, the GID project is dedicated to advancing the efficiency and accountability of the Gambia Immigration Department. DCAF's projects for the GPF and the GID are pivotal steps towards achieving comprehensive SSR in The Gambia.