By Sarjo M. Camara
On the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), Hon. Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Hon. Kinteh, has held crucial bilateral meetings with development partners, including the UNDP leadership.
The Minister met with Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at UNDP, along with her team: Fatoumatta Mboge-Ba, Special Advisor to the Director and Team Leader for West and Central Africa, and Sophie Conteh, Desk Officer. The discussions centered on FGM/C laws, girls’ education, STEM development, and women’s empowerment.
FGM/C Law and the Role of Political Will
The Minister emphasized the critical role of President Adama Barrow’s leadership in the successful defense of the anti-FGM/C law. The government’s commitment and the establishment of a cabinet sub-committee helped lobby National Assembly Members across party lines to protect this vital law.
Addressing Gender Parity in Education
Girls’ education was another focal point. Hon. Kinteh discussed challenges such as school dropout rates and the need for more support in transitioning from primary to university education. The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) and STEM programs supported by the World Bank were cited as positive steps towards addressing these gaps.
The “From Here to Africa’s Future” Initiative
Ms. Eziakonwa shared that UNDP is mobilising $1 billion in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation for an innovation initiative titled “From Here to Africa’s Future.”
The program, leveraging the AfCFTA, will create a unified market and focus on establishing 10 tech hubs across Africa. The initiative aims to invest in 10,000 startups, scale 1,000 startups, and impact 100 million livelihoods.
Empowering Women in Cross-Border Trade
A key discussion revolved around AfCFTA’s role in addressing challenges faced by women in cross-border trade. The Minister emphasized the need to connect academia with business, especially in empowering women to produce essential packaging materials, which will help enhance economic empowerment.
Hon. Kinteh also highlighted The Gambia’s potential in human capital and the blue economy and expressed interest in hosting the UNDP Global Governance Forum to further transitional justice and peacebuilding efforts.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to continue the Women Leadership Project, which aims to build the capacity of women political aspirants and push for gender quotas within political parties.
Integrated Financing and Energy Initiatives
Meanwhile, Mr. Lamin Dibba, The Gambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, discussed the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF) and the Africa Mini-Grid Program (AMP), set to launch in 2025, with The Gambia among 21 participating countries. The Gambia’s work on Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM) and crowdfunding was also highlighted.
The UNDP leadership’s collaboration with The Gambia further underscores the country’s commitment to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development.
Reporting from New York, Sarjo M. Camara, Communications Officer, Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare.
