By Lamin B. Darboe
The Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery (DSPD) under the Ministry of Public Service (MoPS) last week organised a day-long end-of-year review of UNICEF-Gambia Government Country Programme 2024-2028, held at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
Opening the meeting, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, and Head of the DPSD, Mr. Alieu Loum, said the implementation of the UNICEF programmes is a complementary part of the government’s own National Development Plan (‘YIRIWA’).
“As we therefore progress in this programme, we also progress in the RF-NDP. If you fail to plan and assess yourselves, there are lots of tendencies. If you don’t measure results, you will not reward success and if you cannot reward success, the tendency of rewarding failure in the presence of success is very high,” Mr. Loum cautioned.
He said UNICEF programme is anchored on supporting the future leaders of The Gambia, pointing out that no country can develop if it fails to plan the future of its children.
The DCS further argued that there are no resources the country can have than its future leaders, adding that children serve as the bedrock of any country’s future.
He advised parents to plan better future for their children, so that when they grow up, they can take good care of their parents.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Representative, UNICEF-Gambia Office, Mr. Armand Gnahore expressed his appreciation to The Gambia Government, Civil Society Organisations and UNICEF partners for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and wellbeing of children and women in The Gambia.
According to Mr. Gnahore, the forum marked a critical moment to celebrate achievements, assess challenges and renew their collective commitment to the deliver impactful results for the children and families UNICEF served.
Representatives from sectors including health, basic education, child protection, WASH, social protection, and nutrition made presentations based on activities implemented in 2024, including challenges and recommendations for improvement. DSPD also presented findings of the joint monitoring report including coordination mechanisms for effective implementation of the country’s program.
