Commenced at the Basse Area Council, the training aims to equip 160 individuals selected from 4 VDCs across each of the 8 Local Councils with practical skills in resource mobilisation and sustainability planning, facilitating independent, community-driven development.
Village Development Committees (VDCs) are crucial for grassroots development in The Gambia, acting as the main link between communities and local government. However, many of them encounter difficulties in mobilising resources and planning for long-term sustainability, resulting in reliance on external aid and unsustainable initiatives.
Amadou Jallow, Programme Manager of GALGA, stated during the launch that the training is vital for promoting inclusive, responsive, and sustainable development at the grassroots level. He emphasised that by providing VDCs with essential skills and tools, the training will enhance community engagement, improve service delivery, and strengthen governance structures to better address the needs of local populations.
He mentioned that the training program will include a structured feedback mechanism to ensure ongoing improvement and alignment with the needs of participants. “Participants will complete pre- and post-training surveys to assess their understanding, skill development, and confidence in applying what they have learned. Additionally, interactive feedback sessions will be conducted at the conclusion of each workshop to collect immediate insights regarding the training's relevance and effectiveness.”
Lucien Nadieline, Programme Manager of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Senegal-The Gambia, remarked that KAS is a German organisation dedicated to promoting democracy and development.
Founded in 1964, the foundation has its roots in the "Society for Christian Democratic Education Work," which was established in 1955. KAS functions both nationally within Germany and internationally, overseeing more than 200 projects across over 120 countries from its Berlin headquarters, where the Academy, an event centre, was inaugurated in 1998.
Mr Nadieline added that KAS's mission is to foster peace, freedom, and justice through political education at both national and international scales. He noted that KAS has been active in Senegal since 1976 and is set to commemorate its 50th Anniversary this year.
He expressed appreciation for the foundation's collaboration with GALGA, highlighting that since their partnership began in 2021, they have successfully conducted numerous capacity-building initiatives and town hall meetings with grassroots communities aimed at enhancing local government.
Bakary Fofana, the lead trainer and Principal of the Rural Development Institute (RDI), emphasised the crucial role of VDCs in socio-economic development, asserting that the training is vital as it will empower VDCs to gather resources for community advancement.
"Many communities possess significant resources but lack the means to utilise them. This training will enable communities to maintain local initiatives, lessen reliance on external funding, and improve ownership of community projects," he remarked.
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