The four-day training currently underway at Basse Area Council (BSAC) conference hall was being funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The forum, basically revolves around gauging participant’s level of understanding, why it matters for women participation in politics and decision-making processes, voter’s voice reporting, IEC media rules in elections and effective communication strategies, among others.
Addressing the gathering on behalf of the executive Director of TANGO, Alhagie Cham, Senior Program Officer, underscored the essential role played by women in leadership in the sustainable development.
He, however, noted significant barriers that continues to hinder the full participation of women; thus, the training was aimed at addressing those barriers and to promote women in leadership.
Cham believed that through such efforts they will explore effective communication techniques, harness the power of traditional and social media and cultivate a supportive network to elevate women’s narratives.
Deputizing the Governor of URR, Pateh N. Baldeh records Officer at the Governor’s Office, expressed gratitude to TANGO for such an important initiative, saying there is problem affecting women participation in the society.
This, forum he added, would help equip women with the requisite knowledge to become very productive leaders in the society.
He acknowledged that women have lot of capabilities and talents within themselves, but that traditional norms and values continue to hinder their effective participation in leadership responsibilities.
To this end, Baldeh maintained that traditional leaders and government are mostly backed by women, thus exposing them to such capacity building will grant them prerequisite knowledge to become leaders and how to advocate for leadership role.
Ejatou Jallow, Councillor of Basse Ward applauded TANGO and UNDP for funding such an important initiative in empowering women.
The meeting, she added, would undoubtedly create awareness, boost the courage and confidence of women to participate fully in politics and take up leadership roles.
Jallow reminded that the training would henceforth help eradicate most of the issues and barriers that hinders women participation especially during the politics.
For his part, Muhamadou Ceesay, chairperson of Basse Area Council (BSAC) highlighted the remarkable contribution of women in the economic and social development of any country.
He acknowledged that women constitute the highest number in terms of community development, saying studies also shown that women in leadership are more linked and connected to good governance and sustainability than any other gender in leadership.
