Renewed calls to boost women in Gambian politics

The dialogue aimed to confront the structural, financial, and cultural barriers limiting women’s political participation, while encouraging political parties to adopt more inclusive candidate selection processes ahead of key internal congresses.

Opening the session, WFD Executive Director Tabu Njie Sarr expressed appreciation to political parties for engaging in what she described as a critical national conversation. She underscored findings from WFD’s extensive research, including studies on the Cost of Politics and Violence Against Women in Politics, which reveal entrenched inequalities within the political landscape.

“It is disheartening to see that women form more than 50% of the population but remain adversely underrepresented,” Sarr stated, calling on political parties to take decisive steps to dismantle barriers and create safer, more enabling environments for women.

She further noted that many political parties still lack clear policy frameworks and safeguarding mechanisms to protect women and other vulnerable groups, stressing the need for concrete reforms that go beyond rhetoric.

The dialogue also spotlighted WFD’s flagship one-year programme aimed at empowering women and boosting their representation in decision-making positions, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to inclusive governance.

Presenting key findings from the groundbreaking Cost of Politics study, co-researcher Ndegen Jobe revealed the stark financial realities facing political aspirants, particularly women.

According to the study, candidates in the 2017 electoral cycle spent between D200,000 and D750,000, with political parties covering only about 10 percent of these costs. The non-refundable D100,000 nomination fee was identified as a major barrier, effectively excluding many capable candidates.

The research, which engaged 166 respondents including National Assembly members, councillors, and mayoral aspirants, highlighted that women often bear a heavier financial burden. Some female aspirants reportedly sold personal belongings to finance their campaigns, while others spent up to D50,000 at the primary level alone.

Jobe emphasised that beyond financial challenges, deeply rooted cultural norms, stigma, and harassment continue to discourage women from entering politics. She noted that women also spend disproportionately more on transportation, further compounding inequalities.

The findings paint a stark picture of a political system where access is largely determined by financial capacity and social dynamics, rather than merit and leadership potential.

Stakeholders at the dialogue agreed that addressing both economic and societal barriers is essential to building a more inclusive and representative democracy. As the country moves closer to key political milestones, pressure is mounting on political parties to translate dialogue into action and ensure that women are not only included but empowered to lead.

The policy dialogue marks a critical step toward reshaping The Gambia’s political landscape, but for many, the real test lies in whether these conversations will result in tangible change within party structures and at the ballot.