The capacities building session also exposed participants to various strategies to counter both local and foreign influences on impactful research.
The initiative, held in Bakadaji, underscored the critical need for credible, ethical, and impactful knowledge in The Gambia, particularly as the country navigates in an increasingly complex information landscape.
Alasan Sowe, Programme Officer at Gambia Participates, highlighted the importance of the training, emphasising the need for continuous skill enhancement among young researchers.
"In developed countries, there's a strong focus on research, because without it, it's difficult to understand the gaps we need to address," Alasan stated.
The training, he added, also builds upon previous initiatives targeting social media influencers and journalists, all aimed at combating misinformation.
The goal is to empower researchers to produce unbiased work and adhere to methodological rigor.
Mr Sowe described the training as a crucial step in bolstering the capacity of Gambian researchers, by exposing participants to the fundamentals of research ethics and responsible conduct.
“This included a deep dive into protecting participants’ rights and ensuring the integrity of research findings.”
Participants were also given hands-on tools to navigate the treacherous waters of digital manipulation, propaganda, and algorithm-driven information flows that threaten objective inquiry.”
Adama M. Joof, a trainer at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication, and a participant also shared her key insights, highlighting the urgent need for understanding tools for authenticating and verifying information, especially with the upcoming election period.
"The public depends on journalists for information, so what comes from us should be authentic," she stated.
She also emphasised the importance of filtering true information from false narratives especially in today’s information landscape.
