Empowerment - Gambia
Empowerment programs in The Gambia
Empowerment programs by government Institutions
Women’s Bureau
The National Women’s Act of 1980 established both the National council and the Women’s Bureau, which is the secretariat to the council. National Women council is an advisory body to government on all women related issues
Their policy objectives include mainstreaming of gender concerns in macro, micro policies and development strategies, to provide direction for the development of women
The Mission of the Bureau is: To accelerate gender equity and equality through advocacy, capacity building, socio economic and political empowerment, consultative processes as well as networking with NGO’s, Civil Society Organizations the media and development partners in order to achieve sustainable gender parity at all levels and in all spheres of life.
Goal: The overall goal of the gender and women empowerment policy is to mainstream gender perspective in all national and sectoral policies, programmes, plans and budgets with the view of achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in the development processes.
Programs
To empower women, they organize Staff training, Capacity building for Women Association’s also engage in advocacy programs through the provision of farm implements and inputs as well as labor saving devices.
Also in place are initiatives to link women with banks and other partners for possible funding. Available in addition is the Women Enterprise development Fund, whose objective is to strengthen capacities of Micro, Small and Medium Size Enterprises (MSMEs) which are largely dominated by women.
How to Access Support from Women’s Bureau
Local organizations access support from the women’s bureau. Most of the time, they deal with groups. They recognize groups that are legally registered. These groups would introduce themselves to the Bureau,
Their details are then captured in their database.
If opportunities arise they are assisted. Some write for support other times they are contacted depending on available opportunities
Contact
Women’s Bureau
14/15 Marina Parade
Banjul
The Gambia
Tel: 220 4228730
Assistant Director, Communications Educational Unit
Neneh Touray
Email: nenehtouray56@yahoo.com
Tel: (220) 9917338
Fb: @womensbureau-gambia
Department of Community Development (Ministry of Lands and Regional Governments)
The objective of the Department of Community Development is to enhance and promote the participation of the people in enhancing their destinies through participatory development processes as a government extension services provider. It provides technical support services to other sectors in the regions on people’s centered development through integrated approach to development. The Women’s Programme Unit of the department focuses on planning, programming and implementing women empowerment initiatives across the country, through its Regional Women’s Programme Supervisors in collaboration with stakeholders.
Trainings offered by the Organization
- Advocacy on women rights and policies
- Group dynamics, leadership and management
- Business management and entrepreneurship
- Livelihood Skills training on income generating activities such as weaving, tailoring, food processing, batik and tie-dye, pottery, bead making among others
Requirements for members who want to benefit from organization’s services?
Open to any group of individuals in any community that expresses interest for support through the village based extension workers known as Community Development Assistant (CDA), who transmits to the respective regional offices. Group sizes - criteria
Application for Finance - Tesito Project fund form
Antwerp- Banjul - form requesting for support
Services Provided to Entrepreneurs
Link associations to Apex bodies like NACCUG, NAWFA, SDF and other funding agencies.
Business training on proposal writing, and plan development
Facilitate completion of application forms for grant proposals,
Coaching and mentoring at community level.
Business advisory services from community development assistants to individuals and groups
Facilitate the registration of groups, organizations and individual businesses with the AG Chambers
The Department also supervises 21 Multipurpose Centres and Workshops across the country serving serving women and youth on multipurpose interventions. For more on these centres and level of engagement can be obtained on the contacts provided below
Contacts