by Isatou Jawara
ActionAid The Gambia in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and United Purpose (UP), has embarked on a six-day regional advocacy caravan under the project: Empowering Civil Society Organisations to Mobilise Citizens Actions towards the Green Economy and Environmental Sustainability. It is funded by the European Union.
The caravan tour brought together members of the Rural Women Assembly, Rural Forestry Platform, All Gambia Forestry Platform, Women Pressure Group, Ministry of Environment, Activista The Gambia, Agency for Village Support (AVISU) Traditional Leaders and Traditional Healers Assembly (TRAHASS).
In Jakoi Sibrik Village in Foni, West Coast Region the team held a successful community meeting . Topics discussed included the impact of climate change, youth and climate change, bush fires and environmental protection, women’s land rights, community forestry and the importance of traditional medicine.
Mrs Sarjo Camara of Action Aid, who also doubles as the project coordinator for empowering civil society organisations to mobilise citizen actions towards a green economy and environmental sustainability in CRR North and South and North Bank Region, urged various communities to properly manage community forest parks to avoid bush fires.
She also detailed priorities of NDP associated with climate change and how Action Aid empowered various women groups to be economically sufficient by enhancing their capacity through a green economy.
Mr Momodou Sukari Sanyang of Kiang Batteling highlighted Action Aid’s interventions such as building a school in this community, as well as a community forest .
“We won regional community forestry competition and were provided grants. We also were trained by the German Project and Department of Forestry to gain ownership and manage our community forest”.
Chief of Dampha Penaii Villag, Niamina West commended Action Aid for supporting and empowering civil society organisations and helping in eradicating poverty in Niamina East and West.
Malik Jammeh from Sankulay Kunda CRR North noted the need to empower women to have more of them representing the district tribunals and to have access to finance.