By: Sainabou Sambou
On Thursday, the Association of Non-Governmental Organizations held its end-of-year engagement conference for Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations at a local hotel in Kolilo. The conference theme was “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Development: Empowering Civil Society to Address Poverty and Build a Unified Future.”
In her statement, TANGO Chairperson Yadicon Njie Eribo stated that civil society organizations in the Gambia have made great strides toward achieving a number of resounding successes, including advocacy for the implementation of the post-TRRC white paper, the constitution, representation of women and girls, and the ban on FGM in the country.
Chair Njie recognized the resilience and courage demonstrated by the Gambian CSOs over the recent years, saying that through grassroots initiatives, national advocacy, and global partnerships, the Gambian CSOs could potentially intensify “social cohesion, support vulnerable communities, and advocate for policies that promote justice, equality, and sustainability.”
She also underscored TANGO’s continued efforts to address critical national issues, including climate change, human rights, public health crises, and economic inequities.
Eric R. Mehler, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, said that in 2020, the United States’ total assistance to the Gambia was around $3 million, and today that figure has significantly risen to over $100 million.
“The United States works across the spectrum of society: supporting women and girls, strengthening the media, building capacity for CSOs, supporting communities, building the capacity of National Assembly Members to hold the Executive accountable,” Eric disclosed.
He added, “As the FGM issue demonstrated so clearly, coordination, cooperation, and communication were absolutely critical to success.”
In his statement, Karl-Frederick Paul, the UN Resident Coordinator, said that the United Nations recognizes that sustainable development cannot be achieved in isolation and that civil society organizations bring unique strengths, on-the-ground knowledge, innovative approaches, and the ability to mobilize and amplify the voices of those often left behind.
“The UNA’s role in this partnership is clear: to provide platforms for dialogue, to facilitate collaboration between governments, civil society, and private actors, and to support an enabling environment where civil society can thrive,” the UN Resident Coordinator explained.
