WOMEN’S AFFAIRS

In every society, the level of development of women is a reflection of the general well being of that society. Therefore the empowerment of the female population goes a long way in determining the overall socio-economic development of that society.

Achievements

The Gambia, like any developing society is concerned about bringing better lives to its citizenry has set up lofty goals for its women since 1994. The desire to make role models out of Gambian women has been vigorously pursued. This commitment for impromement in the welfare of women was demonstrated on 29th May 1995 with the official opening of the Women’s Bureau Headquarters by His Excellency, Dr Alhagie Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh. The Bureau was envisaged to be a center point for the coordination of all women’s activities.

In this regard the National Women’s Council was strengthened as the advisory body to Government in all women related matters. It acts as a platform for hearing the voices of women. It mobilises support through collaboration with relevant partners. All the 37 districts are equally represented in the Council. This is in addition to three representatives from Banjul City Council and Kanifing Municipal Council. This enhances a framework where by women representatives nationwide meet quarterly to discuss issues of concern. They work in close collaboration to sensitise and mobilize women into income generating ventures. The members of the Women’s Council were trained in decision-making in 2002. The objective was for

councilors to gain skills to manage their women groups, acquire good negotiating, communication and advocacy skills. They are expected as role models to pass on these skills to women at the grassroots.

Access to credit and micro finance facilities by women has improved, as more than 80% of women’s groups nationwide have benefited from the Revolving Fund administered by Women’s Bureau. GAWFA, IBAS, SDF and VISACA have been instrumental in mobilising savings schemes and credit facilities. For the past ten years we have seen establishment of more VISACAs giving better access to micro finance facilities to women in the villages. The Government initiated credit facilities have lessened poverty level of women especially the rural based. It has given women significant economic power base.

In order to alleviate the heavy workload of women especially in the rural areas, the Government of the Gambia through the Gender and Development Project of the UNFPA funded programmes has provided Coss milling machines to rural communities in Western Division in the last country programme GAM/98/PO6. This saves time spent on their food processing chores, gives them more time for child care, leisure and other income generating activities.

Coos Milling Machine (click on photo for larger view)

The APRC Government in an endeavour to create awareness in rural based women and to help in income generation has established about 20 video halls across the country through the WID Project. This helps in the creation of gender awareness in our communities through film and video shows with relevance to the lives of women. The income generated through the token ticket fees collected during film and video shows is saved on daily basis at village level. This fund is later transferred to an account in the nearest bank. Part of the fund is used for the maintenance of the video halls and other related activities to strengthen the project.

Traditional Communicators are used nationwide to sensitise women on issues of advancement and empowerment of Gambian women. They have benefited from a series of training programs to equip them with skills to enhance theatrical performances. They compose songs on poverty and other important messages that have positive impacts on the target beneficiaries.

Three Community Radio Stations have been opened in Brikama, Kerewan and Farafeni through the WID Project to boost up information sharing, communication and education in rural communities. Women’s programmes are disseminated over these stations on weekly basis. Women are part of the management communities that oversee the operation of these stations.

A pilot project designed to increase the number of girls in the field of Science was initiated in 2002 through the UNFPA funded Project GAM/98/PO6. A remarkable number of female students in the Senior Secondary Schools throughout the country got sponsored through the scheme.

The Gambia Government did not only focus on activities to empower women and gender awareness creation. Its tireless efforts to foster appropriate policy and legislations are demonstrated in the numerous women friendly international conventions like CEDAW that were ratified.

Distinguished Personalities at the Launching of The Gambia’s initial, second and third reports on the CEDAW, 2004 (Click photo for larger image)

The National Policy for the Advancement of Gambian Women 1999 – 2009 was launched in 2000 and acts as the blueprint guiding activities.

Other remarkable achievements of the Bureau are as follows:

Number of women in cabinet positions

* One woman has been appointed as Vice-President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs.

* Two women are currently serving as Secretaries of State.

Women as National Assembly Members

• Three women have been elected as National Assembly members.

• Four women have been nominated as National Assembly members.

Women in decision-making positions

Two women have been appointed as Permanent Secretaries.

• Five women are currently serving at Deputy Permanent Secretary positions.

• Three women are currently holding Acting. as Deputy Permanent Secretaries.

• Two Deputy Permanent Secretaries are presently on secondment.

Challenges

As in every situation, the Bureau also has its challenges, these include inadequate financial resources to carryout most activities, high staff attrition rate, unsatisfactory inter agency linkages, inadequate staffing at field level, inadequate financial support to enhance Council operations.

The Way forward

The Bureau will strengthen it’s collaboration with other sectors, raise gender awareness among the staff of the Bureau and focal points. The Bureau will solicit for more funding to be able to implement activities while at the same time to advocate for the increase enrollment and retention of girls in schools, mainstreaming HIV/Aids in to all women’s activities, increase access to micro finance and the number of women holding positions especially in the diplomatic services.

NUTRITION, POPULATION , OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT: