The three year project which is funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, targets security institutions including The Gambia Armed Forces, Gambia Police Force, Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Gambia Immigration Department.
At the launch, Mandisa Mashologu, UNDP resident representative, described the launch of the project as a testament to their shared commitment to fostering peace, security and sustainable development for all Gambians.
She, on behalf of the implementing agencies, UNDP, OHCHR, and UNODC, expressed their collective commitment to support the government of The Gambia in realising its security sector reform agenda.
The UNDP resident rep extolled the sound leadership and guidance provided by the government and institutions to be able to support the country in this endeavor.
The project, she added, is designed to build strong, accountable and effective security institutions, and is fully aligned with the government’s recovery focused National Development Plan (NDP).
“The NDP is not just a road-map, it is an inspiring vision that underscores our shared aspiration for a secured, prosperous, peaceful and inclusive Gambia.”
She maintained that a key component of the project is the promotion of gender-responsive reforms within the security sector, ensuring that the rule of law and human rights are upheld.
She observed that currently women’s participation in the Gambian security sector is limited, often due to entrenched social and cultural norms.
“This support aims to address these barriers head-on, ensuring that women are not only included but empowered to participate fully in decision-making and leadership roles within the security sector.”
To achieve this, she said, a comprehensive gender-policy for all security institutions accompanied by a monitoring and evaluation framework will be developed to ensure its effective implementation.
For his part, Karl-Frederick Paul, UN Resident Coordinator to The Gambia, described the project as pivotal in supporting the implementation of the country’s security sector reform strategy.
He noted that the overarching goal of the project is to build strong, accountable and effective security institutions that safeguard the human rights and aspirations of the Gambian people.
“In a post-transition project, our commitment to this ideal is especially crucial for conflict prevention and for sustaining peace in our country. Together with the Government of The Gambia we embark on this journey to ensure that security sector reform is not only about strengthening institutions, but also enhancing the relationship between the security sectors and the citizens that they serve.” he said.
He spoke of their resolve to support the Gambian people in creating security institutions that not only are effective and accountable, but also grounded on the principles of human rights and gender inclusion.
Permanent Secretary, Pateh Jah, representing the Secretary General and Head of Civil Service, Salimatta Touray, said: “There is no doubt that effective security institutions are very crucial for peace, development and freedom.”
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