The training, held at Metzy Residence Hotel, brought together 26 participants, including councillors, Village Development Committee (VDC) members, and council planners. Over the week, they explored how human security principles can be applied to strengthen local development and food systems.
Officials said the programme was designed to enhance the capacity of councils to create people-centred, resilient, and community-driven development plans. Participants were trained on all seven components of the human security model and tasked with linking these pillars to existing initiatives in their regions.
Yusupha Keita, ITC Country Representative, described the framework as a “360-degree approach that leaves nothing behind” in addressing community challenges. He urged participants to translate the training into “tangible results” by mainstreaming the human security model and strengthening local food systems through practical implementation.
Speaking on behalf of Brikama Area Council, Councillor Modou Lamin Sowe of Brikama Wassadu Ward highlighted the impact of the programme on their planning processes. He confirmed that the council has committed to incorporating the school feeding programme into the 2027 budget, recognising its role in improving education, nutrition, and community well-being.
Councillors also pledged to link school feeding to their Ward Development Funds from 2026, ensuring sustained support at ward level.
The initiative forms part of a broader project supported by the Localising SDG Fund, through which ITC, WFP, and GALGA aim to pilot strategies for enhancing food security and human development in Brikama and other regions.
GALGA President, Mahamadou Ceesay, stressed the importance of shifting from state-centred security to human-centred security, noting that sustainable development cannot be achieved without prioritising the safety, dignity, and empowerment of people. He welcomed councils’ commitment to making school feeding a budget priority and pledged GALGA’s continued support to ensure sustainability beyond donor-funded projects.
