Promoting women’s representation in decision-making processes is pivotal to realising gender equality. Their involvement in such processes eases the addressing of various challenges faced by their demography and ensures that women’s issues are prioritised. Currently, women represent over 50% of The Gambia’s population and formed majority the electoral roll in the recently conducted Presidential Election on 4 December 2021. 

In a quest to contribute towards addressing the low representation of women in decision making processes, Think Young Women in partnership with the Women and Youth Branch of the Inter-Party Committee with support from UNFPA, conducted a 5-day engagement of 40 women from 18 political parties across The Gambia. The engagement was aimed at promoting women’s leadership and participation in decision making processes, building women politicians’ capacities on successfully mobilising support within their communities and inspiring more women to vie for leadership positions both at community and national levels. 

It is widely agree that, when women are left out in decision making processes, their peculiar issues and needs can easily be neglected, and their voices not heard. This ultimately will impact the advancement of the women population and have implications on the socio-economic development of communities and nations. With funding from UN peacebuilding, UNFPA is supporting the creation of more spaces to discuss women’s concerns, promote inclusive leadership at all levels of governance and ensuring that women and girls are at the heart of development endeavours.

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Media contacts: 

Haddy Jonga – Programme Analyst, Communications jonga@unfpa.org   

Faith C. Ememodo - UNV Communications Associate ememodo@unfpa.org