The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) organized a civic engagement forum in The Gambia to encourage greater youth involvement in the country’s democratic processes. Support for the initiative was provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Participants discussed methods to increase the representation of young people in public policy and electoral participation during the session. Officials from the National Council for Civic Education facilitated the dialogue to address barriers to youth engagement. The United Nations Development Programme remains involved in projects aimed at strengthening local democratic institutions through these partnerships. Organizers focused on gathering input from attendees to refine future outreach programs across the region.
Pillars of Democratic Strengthening
Yunusa Sambou, a member of the Kanifing Regional Youth Committee, identified participation, integrity, inclusivity, and resilience as four essential pillars for strengthening democracy in The Gambia. He argued that the institutional health of the nation depends on broad engagement rather than exclusive systems. "A democracy cannot exist when people are left on the margins, nor can it thrive if citizens lack confidence in the system that governs their choice," said Yunusa Sambou. He further emphasized the importance of equitable access to the electoral process, stating, "A ballot box that accesses only a few is a compromise of justice."
Aji Fatou Bah, a programme officer at the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice, framed the active involvement of young people as a fundamental component of the national democratic framework. She described the act of participation as a primary method for citizens to influence governance. "They are an opportunity for us citizens to exercise our rights, to make our voices heard, and to contribute to the direction of our nation," said Aji Fatou Bah.
Beyond individual participation, Aji Fatou Bah spoke to the collective obligations of the Gambian electorate. She noted that ideological differences between voters should not supersede the broader requirement to maintain stability. "We may support different parties or candidates, but at the end of the day, we all share a common responsibility to safeguard peace and social cohesion in our communities and in The Gambia at large," Aji Fatou Bah stated. Her role at the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice involves monitoring these shifts in civic engagement to ensure that youth perspectives remain integrated into the ongoing development of local democratic processes.