By Aja Beyai
ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG) has completed a two-day validation session of the local Convention for the community of Niamina East on sustainable management of rangeland resources and infrastructure at a ceremony held in Kudang, Central River Region.
The convention aims to establish agreements with local communities on the sustainable management of their natural resources and infrastructures.
The convention will focus on enforcing regulations to minimize bushfires and illegal tree cutting, manage water usage, reduce overgrazing, and limit sand mining.
Additionally, the document’s strategic priorities include women’s and youth-led climate resilience, climate justice, the promotion of environmental sustainability, and food sovereignty for marginalized communities.
The strategy paper outlines priorities focused on promoting and advocating for the regular payment, collection, and use of tax revenue to ensure inclusion, gender responsiveness, transparency, and accountable public service delivery.
Mr. Saiba Susso, program manager for LRP8 & 11 in the Kudang ActionAid office, highlighted that ActionAid acknowledges the various legal instruments and protocols that The Gambia has signed, including the 1997 constitution and the Forest Act, which focus on protecting the environment and natural resources.
He emphasized the importance of creating local regulations to safeguard the environment, saying that this led to the development of the local convention following a community sensitization on climate change.
He explained, “The document is a collaborative effort; despite ActionAid’s support, it ultimately belongs to the people of Niamina East.”
Mr. Susso urged the community to adhere to the convention’s implementation as they are the custodians of their environment.
He praised the efforts of partners such as the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Agriculture.
He informed the gathering that the document would ultimately be overseen by the District Chief, Omar Touray, to ensure the effectiveness of the committed efforts. He also mentioned that the initiative is a pilot project in Namina East; if it succeeds, it will be replicated in other areas.
Mr. Ibrahima Kinteh, the Regional Administrator of the National Human Rights Commission for URR and CRR, said the initiative aims to transform the document into a working paper that will serve as a guiding framework for communities.
He added that this is principally to enhance the lives and livelihoods of the people in communities.
