Stakeholders validate CSO engagement strategy document

The validation forum was held at Metzy Hotel. The document, according to officials, would not only serve as a guide, but will also go a long way in enhancing the ongoing democratic transition in The Gambia and more importantly on the security sector reform.

At the ceremony, Dr. Luqman Saka, a resource person at CRPD, expressed sincere appreciation to members of the country’s security apparatus that have been consistently partnering with them throughout the journey as it relates their engagement on the security reform process since the beginning.

“We would also want to extend sincere appreciation to members of the Civil Society Organization in The Gambia under the auspices of the Gambia under the association of the Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO). We applaud your commitment and dedication to the course of advocacy and engagement on most issues has to do with our democratic transition in The Gambia and more importantly on the security sector reform.”

He observed in the past there was some sort of disconnect between the security institutions and the larger civil society, which he said, was largely informed by the stories of the country’s past.

He reminded that since they began their programme under the African Transitional Justice Fund (ATJF), they have been working closely with members of the civil society, adding that the culmination of that project is the day’s validation forum.

To that end, Saka commended the participants for their dedication and commitment both at institutional and individual levels.

‘Because if there is no commitment at the institutional level, you cannot come to this gathering, and therefore, you represent institution. For that we thank you for your efforts.”

He reminded that security sector reform is a process and for a process they cannot in clearer terms say this is the beginning and the end.

Welcoming participants, Sait Matty Jaw, executive director, Centre for Research and Policy Development (CRDP), expressed appreciation to partners for their active dedication, saying that is the sort of partnership needed to bring about development.

Jaw observed that many a time what people tend to focus on is that government must lead and do a lot of things, but at the end of the day government is working for us and therefore we need to show government how we want to engagethem.

He thanked all their partners and called on participants to develop a document that CSOs’ and even their partnerscan use as a guide.