By Sarjo M. Camara, communications officer
The Gambia’s Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, met with Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), on Friday at UN headquarters. The bilateral discussions, held on the sidelines of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), focused on strengthening peace initiatives and advancing women’s political participation in The Gambia.
Spehar reaffirmed the UN fund’s commitment to The Gambia’s peacebuilding efforts, citing the country as a model for transitional justice. She noted the PBF’s support for initiatives that promote youth development, security, and women’s empowerment.
Kinteh expressed gratitude for the PBF’s support, particularly in strengthening the role of women in local governance. She emphasized the need for continued funding to expand training programs for women councillors ahead of The Gambia’s upcoming general and legislative elections.
With concerns over declining USAID funding, both parties discussed strategies for securing additional resources from bilateral donors. Kinteh underscored the importance of sustained international support for countries transitioning from conflict, warning against complacency in peacebuilding efforts.
The talks also explored a joint resource mobilization strategy for women’s political participation, which aligns with The Gambia’s commitments under UN Resolution 1335. The meeting concluded with a strong endorsement of The Gambia’s ongoing efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and uphold national laws prohibiting the practice.
Kinteh was accompanied by The Gambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Lamin B. Dibba, as well as Ambassador Momodou Lamin Bah and Permanent Secretary Roheyatou Kah.
