Findings show that 74 percent of officers have received training outside the police academy, with female officers recording significantly higher participation than their male counterparts (83 percent versus 69 percent). Women also reported more recent training exposure, yet remain underrepresented in senior ranks and specialised units highlighting a disconnect between training access and career advancement.
The report points to a gendered pattern in training allocation: female officers are more frequently trained in SGBV response, while male officers dominate tactical and legal trainings. Experts warn that this reinforces stereotypes, limits women’s leadership pathways, and weakens overall operational efficiency due to uneven skill distribution across the force.
Regionally, URR recorded the highest training coverage and recency, a trend linked to the high prevalence of SGBV and female genital mutilation (FGM) in the area, which has attracted concentrated intervention efforts. In contrast, LRR and WCR2 lag behind, underscoring persistent geographic disparities in access to training.
While 86.8 percent of officers said training improved their skills, the report flags internal SGBV within the police as a critical institutional risk. Nearly half of both male (48%) and female (46%) officers reported the existence of SGBV within the force. Although 95.9 percent confirmed that disciplinary mechanisms exist, the continued prevalence of abuse raises concerns about enforcement, prevention, and institutional culture.
Legal literacy gaps further complicate SGBV response. Although 98 percent of officers are aware that SGBV is criminalised, only 68 percent expressed confidence in explaining the legal definitions potentially undermining survivor-centered policing and accountability.
Community members consulted echoed concerns about confidentiality breaches in SGBV cases, warning that such practices erode public trust. They called for stronger ethics, human rights training, and expanded community policing.
The report recommends diversifying training content, strengthening legal literacy, introducing independent oversight mechanisms, and reintroducing promotion examinations to ensure transparency and merit-based advancement. It also urges donors to strategically invest in equitable training, leadership development, and accountability systems.
By exposing both progress and deep-seated challenges, the assessment provides a critical evidence base for reform; positioning police training, gender equity, and accountability at the heart of justice sector transformation in The Gambia.
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