By Makutu Manneh
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy, on Saturday 23rd November 2024, gathered Councilors from various Councils across the country for gender-responsive budget training to equip them to understand and master the framework principles, processes, and analytical tools of gender-responsive budgeting at Councils. It also seeks to enhance their capacity on inclusive budgets that respond to the needs of the diverse population across the country.
The event was also part of WFD’s training that entails a process of concepts and methodological frameworks that combines organizing people, developing the grassroots, monitoring mechanisms, and democratizing knowledge, by using participatory tools for building public accountability and transparency to initiate people-centered advocacy processes.
Tabu Sarr Njie, the WFD Country Director explained to participants that gender-responsive budgeting is a method that ensures that resources are distributed equally and everyone has equal opportunity.
“It is a governance tool that helps ensure that budget items fairly represent the needs of men, women, girls, and boys in the country,” she said, adding that gender-responsive budgeting is important for gender and fiscal justice because it is a strategy for promoting gender equality which is of interest to governments, policymakers, researchers, and community groups.
Ms. Sarr said the training is not just an academic exercise but a practical opportunity for the Councilors to enhance their skills and knowledge, and she believes that the training will empower them to engage more effectively as duty bearers and policymakers, to influence legislative processes and implement meaningful reforms.
Ms. Sarr further hopes that after the training, the Councilors will be able to scrutinize Council budgets to meet the people’s needs and demands.
Alagie K. Saho, representing the Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA) said, “The training came at the right time because the Councils are in their budget preparation stage’’ and said this will help Councils to ensure gender-inclusive budgeting is done.
“When we go back to our respective Councils we will make sure that we inform our fellow Councilors about gender responsive budgeting because this is important in terms of achieving our democracy and development within the Councils and in central government,” Mr. Saho said.
Ndey Saine, a nominated member of the Brikama Area Council representing persons with disability, said such training will encourage persons with a disability because they are being empowered especially the women.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy is a UK public body that is dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world.
