Officials said the groundbreaking initiative, which is supported by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), is aimed at bringing information such as health, safety, sexual and gender-based violence, finance, job opportunities, access to women enterprise fund among others to the doorsteps of women.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Fatou Kinteh, Minister for Gender, underscored the significance of the initiative, describing it as a breakthrough in their quest to empower Gambian women.
Innovation and excellence, she said, is at the core of everything the ministry does, adding: “Over the past months, our dedicated team has worked tirelessly with the Insist Global, with support from the UNCDF to develop a women’s resource application that we believe will redefine the pledge of women in the country.”
The application, she added, represents the culmination of their commitment to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, saying: “The application is just not about introducing new items to the Gambian women, it’s about showcasing the future of women in the country. Therefore, the application with the very many features it houses is very vital in women’s empowerment.”
Mandisa Mashologu, the UNDP Resident Representative, said: “The application represents a pivotal step forward in addressing critical gaps for women entrepreneurs in the country, providing access to financial services, capacity building opportunities, and other essential resources tailored to their needs.
“This programme aligns with UNCDF’s strategic focus on women-owned enterprise financing, one of our six priority areas, which underscores our commitment to empowering women economically as outlined in our UN Cooperation framework and UNDP country programme document 2024-2025.”
The UNDP Resident representative also said: “As this application becomes a valuable resource for women across the country, UNCDF reaffirms its unwavering commitment to partnerships that prioritize gender equality and economic empowerment.
“By supporting Gambian women with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need, we can collectively unlock their full potential, strengthen communities, and drive inclusive economic growth.”
Dr Jorjoh Ndure Tamdebou, Chief Executive Officer of Insist Global, spoke at length on the importance of the app and the many benefits it will bring to the beneficiaries.
“I am really glad to launch this app today in collaboration with the ministry of gender and the UNDP with support from the UNCDF,” she said. “We developed this application a couple of months ago, and we are very excited to see people benefiting from it.
“As we prioritize gender empowerment and women empowerment, it’s also important to prioritize technological access, but also digital literacy in women. The app is exciting for all.”
“The main focus of the app was financial inclusion and introducing the women enterprise fund but also resources on how to access this fund. However, we also found it a good opportunity to bring on board and have issues that women deal with, but also to have a safe space for women, where we can network, lift and empower women through the digital era.”
The launching ceremony ended with a demonstration of how to use the app and its benefits by the software engineers from Insist Global.
