The Association of Non Governmental Organisations (TANGO)
The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO) is the primary NGO network in the Gambia; comprised of more than 70 members and involved in diverse development issues in all regions of the country. TANGO helps to strengthen the overall management and governance systems of its membership through capacity building support. We also provide our members with the technical knowledge and skills to enable them to deliver effective services to the communities they work in. We serve as a mouthpiece for our membership organisations, ensuring that they are capable of participating in development activities and the policy making processes that affect the lives of the people they work with. |
To become a dynamic, pro-active, innovative and inclusive NGO network, playing a constructive role in building a strong, vibrant and independent civil society, in a democratic, peaceful and equitable Gambia. |
TANGO was founded in 1983 as an umbrella organisation for NGO’s operating in The Gambia. The Association was founded by a group of NGO’s to encourage the coordination and cooperation of civil society organisations. The founders sought to ensure the maximum use of resources mobilised by civil society organisations for relief and social development through the collaboration, networking and reinforcement of each other's activities. |
TANGO’s strategic direction is focused on 7 key areas: • NGO capacity building • Networking • Advocacy • Lobbying • Coordination • Knowledge Management • Monitoring and Evaluation TANGO's strategy seeks to build the capacity of its members to more effectively engage in evidence-based advocacy and lobbying in addition to their programme implementation activities. This is particularly important due to the emerging role of NGO’s as agents in influencing public policy and promoting human rights and good governance. |
TANGO and its members work towards improving the living standards of the poor and marginalised members of Gambian society by supporting poverty reduction interventions. We build the technical capacity of youths, women and communities; to empower them to expand their opportunities and improve their livelihoods. TANGO members play key roles in; providing services in healthcare and education, youth and women's empowerment, agriculture, micro-finance and the promotion of human rights and good governance. These interventions provide integral support to The Gambia’s achievement of the national development objectives enshrined in Vision 2020 and the Millennium Development Goals. |
• Sustainability: TANGO’s existence spans over two decades and it continues to grow in strength due to the efficient management of its resources and strong leadership. • Coordination: the Association embarks on an open method of coordination between TANGO members, public and private sectors, and civil society. We encourage the sectors to learn from each other through the sharing of information and comparison of initiatives which has enabled them to adopt best practices. • Capacity Building: TANGO provides the opportunity for NGO’s to acquire skills and knowledge to enhance their institutional and human capacity. This creates a platform for the exchange of ideas, information sharing and the promotion of NGO solidarity which is beneficial to the communities we work with. |
We look after our funds by producing quarterly financial reports and undertaking annual audits. We monitor our projects: TANGO uses a variety of methods to monitor implementation. We provide questionnaires before and after workshops and seminars have been conducted and hold structured interviews with participants. These approaches provide invaluable feedback about how effective and successful our trainings are. The TANGO team also submits reports after every programme. Our team has: • A Director trained in Gender, Human Rights and Governance, Monitoring and Evaluation (M &E), Advocacy and Climate Change • A Programme Manager trained in Policy Analysis, M & E, Human Rights and Governance • A Communications Officer trained in Marketing and Public Relations • A finance team trained in Accounting, Auditing and Procurement We engage with government: TANGO engages with government through policy forums and formal meetings. We sit in on Government and UN project steering committees to highlight civil society issues and also act as an NGO representative in a number of conferences with Government officials. We have worked with the European Union, African Capacity Building Foundation, Concern Universal, ActionAID in The Gambia and The Commonwealth Foundation. |
Human Rights training, Farafeni, October 2011. TANGO worked on an ‘Empowering Duty Bearers in the Promotion of Human Rights and Good Governance’ project funded by the European Union under the Non State Actors Strengthening Programme. The project targeted decision and policy makers to inform them of their responsibility to protect fundamental human rights and freedoms and provide them with tools that empower them to do so. An important aspect of the project was a Human Rights and Development Training that targeted communities throughout The Gambia as well as National Assembly Members which was organised and run by the TANGO team. The training sought to promote a rights based approach to development among the National Assembly Members. A rights based approach asserts that development is a right not a privilege or charity. A human right implies that there is a duty bearer who has an obligation to address that right. In this training the duty bearers are the National Assembly Members. The aim of the training was for them to leave informed of the fundamental human rights of The Gambian people and feel encouraged and empowered to address these rights. |
TANGO will continue to contribute to national development and governance efforts through expansion of membership and improving capacity building services. TANGO looks forward to promoting a strong Monitoring and Evaluation culture including; accountability, evidence and knowledge-based programming and advocacy, as well as continuing to promote human rights and good governance. Fajara M Section BOX PMB 392 Serekunda Email: [email protected] Tel: (+220) 439 0525, Fax: (+220) 439 0521 Website: www.tangogambia.org |