By Amadou Manjang
Twenty (20) aspiring women politicians cum candidates in Janjanbureh have been trained by National Centre for Civic Education (NCCE) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
They were trained on grassroots mobilization and campaign strategies.
The women are aspiring to participate in the next electoral cycle.
Held on Thursday, the training is part of the UNDP Women Leadership Project.
Speaking at the training ground, the head of UNDP Women Leadership Project Thomas Kimau said they have the mandate to empower women. He said the project was designed to advance that mandate. He said they will work with the community to change mindset as well as to work with the government to change the laws barring women empowerment.
He added that the capacity of women is low and they need to be empowered with community mobilisation, and confidence building among other skills needed for political contests.
He said they will support women to contest in elections through capacity building and they will continue to support grassroot organisations as well as political parties to enhance the participation of women at that level.
He said the project is in line with the National Development Plan of the Gambia and UNDP will continue to help women to get the thirty percent of representation in public office as enshrined in the National Development Plan.
The Governor of Central River Region Ousman Bah said women should be persistent in vying for political positions and that they should support each other in their endeavours. He added that women should not leave all political positions in the hands of men.
He further added that the development of the country cannot go without women and youth of the country.
Yusupha Bojang, Chief Civic Education Programme Officer said women can empower each other to win parliamentary seats if they get the required skills. He said women should be ready for the coming electoral cycle.
He further said that the training is for women to empower each other to hold more political offices; adding that this training is going to address it.
‘We want to see you in political positions,’ he added.
