European Union, Democracy International, and Ministry of Justice Launch “Nextgen Peacemakers” to Empower Youth as Agents of Change in The Gambia

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA —With the generous financial support of the European Union (EU), Democracy International (DI) is proud to announce the launch of Nextgen Peacemakers (NEXT-P). This 30-month initiative is designed to strengthen sustainable, in-country capacities for effective conflict management and peacebuilding by placing young people at the heart of The Gambia’s democratic transition. DI is joined by a consortium of Gambian government and civil society partners, including the Ministry of Justice.

With 77% of the Gambian population under the age of 35, the NEXT-P program directly supports the implementation of the country’s landmark National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace, and Security and engages youth in the advancement of the post-Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) reform agenda. The project aims to empower young women and men as positive agents of change in their communities and the public arena and will place particular emphasis on creating opportunities for young women to participate in peacebuilding and public decision-making.

“Young Gambians are essential partners in building lasting peace. Through Nextgen Peacemakers, the European Union is supporting a new generation of young women and men to take an active role in dialogue, justice and democratic reform across the country,” noted H.E. Immaculada Roca i Cortés, EU Ambassador to The Gambia.

In addition to DI and the Ministry of Justice, the NEXT-P consortium includes the National Youth Council (NYC), Think Young Women (TYW), the Alliance of Victim-Led Organizations (AVLO), and the Centre for Research and Policy Development (CRPD).

“Decisions made for Africa over the next decade will have an irreversible impact on our populations for the next century. The time has come for African youth to be equipped with sharpened tools to sculpt the future we want—a future grounded in peace and prosperity,” said the Honorable Dawda Jallow, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “Working side-by-side with the Ministry of Youth and the National Youth Council, the Ministry of Justice of The Gambia fully supports and will work with partners to advance our National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.”

“We are proud to be trusted as stewards of this important program by the European Union and our Gambian government and civil society partners,” said Aaron Myers, Democracy International’s Director of Global Programs. “The European Union deserves special recognition for its continued support of peace, justice, and human rights in The Gambia—and globally—at a time of pervasive cuts to international assistance and solidarity.”

Key Program Pillars:

• Capacity Building & Small Grants: DI will support youth-led and youth-serving organizations through the NYC and its member organizations, while supporting AVLO, and TYW to support grassroots and gender-responsive community-level peacebuilding efforts.
• Youth Fellowships: The program will establish youth fellowships within the MOJ’s Post-TRRC Unit, providing young professionals with opportunities to contribute directly to transitional justice and reform efforts, including supporting the Special Prosecutor’s Office and Victims Reparations Commission.
• Evidence-Based Research: CRPD will lead research to identify barriers to youth participation, ensuring that peacebuilding strategies are grounded in local data and insights.
• Institutional Coordination: The project will foster closer coordination between the MOJ and the NYC to align the NAP with post-TRRC reform agenda, maximizing the impact of national peacebuilding efforts.

About Democracy International: Democracy International (DI) is an organization with over two decades of experience implementing programs related to democracy, governance, and human rights in over 80 countries. Since 2023, DI has been a trusted partner in The Gambia, supporting the Ministry of Justice in establishing the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the Special Accountability Mechanism.

Media Contact:

Ndey Ngoneh Jeng

gambia@democracyinternational.com

DI Senior Project Manager

gambia@democracyinternational.com

This press release was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Democracy International and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.