West Africa Network for Peace Building The Gambia (WANEP-TG)
The West African Network for Peace-building is the leading and nationally recognised peace-building organisation promoting a culture of peace within a framework of human rights, democracy and governance. A Gambia characterised by just and peaceful communities where the dignity of the human person is respected and sustainable livelihoods are realised. “We educate to let people know that everyone has a stake in peace-building” Lamin O. Ceesay (Programme Officer, WANEP) WANEP is a regional organisation created over a decade ago in direct response to the outbreak of violent conflicts in West Africa. Over the years WANEP has evolved into a network of chapters in the 15 countries of the region. They are all working towards peace and stability through capacity strengthening of peace-building practitioners, institutions and civil society organisations. WANEP Gambia being one of the chapters in West Africa was established in 2003 and has a budding membership of 30 civil society organisations spread across the country. We act as a platform for individuals and organisations involved in peace-building and related programmes for the prevention of violent conflicts and sustainable development. “Peace-building is an active and everyday process.” Lamin Ceesay (Programme Officer for WANEP, The Gambia) Therefore we are guided by the 3 E’s: We Educate We Engage We Espouse Some of our best work includes: 1. Effective Local Government for Peace-building and Sustainable Development Project A 12 month project currently funded by the European Union’s Non State Actors Strengthening Programme; this project seeks to foster informed and accountable Local Government Authorities and communities in Mansakonko, Janjanbureh and Kuntaur. We are conducting training workshops for Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and women on the Local Government Authorities Act and an outreach and sensitisation campaign of monthly interactive radio programmes to generate awareness. Following our trainings and campaigns, government authorities and communities at local levels will be aware of their rights and responsibilities as stipulated in the LGA Act and its amendments. This is anticipated to translate into regular council meetings and the ability to amicably resolve community conflicts. 2. Democracy and Governance Programme a. Under the Democracy and Governance programme WANEP Gambia has successfully undertaken a number of highly successful projects. In 2006 WANEP created the first Civil Society Coalition on Elections Platform of over 20 national organisations aimed at contributing to the democratic process of Gambia. b. Supported by the US Embassy and the UNDP Basket Funding, the Coalition fielded the largest number of domestic observers in each of the 2006 election cycles – Presidential, National Assembly and Local Government Elections following intensive trainings. c. The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) is supporting a two-year project aimed at enhancing the participation of Women in Democracy in The Gambia in light of the up-coming election cycle (2011-2013). In its 11th month of implementation the project has produced the first tailor made training manual in The Gambia geared towards enhancing the participation and empowerment of women in democracy. 3. Small Arms and Light Weapons Project (SALW) (2005-2007) This was a two year sub regional pilot project, funded by CIDA in The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Senegal aimed at contributing to peace and security in the region. WANEP conducted focus groups, community and radio sensitisations in Koina, Upper River Region against the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. Highlights of the programme were: • For the first time in the Gambia a voluntary collection of arms in the community was conducted. A total number of 69 arms were surrendered and a symbolic destruction of the weapons was carried out in exchange for community development projects. • In 2007 the region witnessed the 100% registration of known unlicensed and inherited firearms. Around 30 illicit arms were collected and the first firearms destruction exercise in The Gambia was held. |
According to our mandate, we promote a culture of peace, based on human-rights, justice, democracy and governance for all. We believe that peace-building is the business of all and an everyday activity. Given the fact that we work in an environment with no history of armed conflict, our approach is that of conflict prevention. Our four thematic areas are: • Democracy and Governance • Women in Peace-building Network • Early Warning and Early Response for Conflict Prevention • Youth and Peace Education Accountability is our watch word! We look after our funds by : • Having a financial procedure manual • Using a computerised accounting system - Quick Books • Producing monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports • Practising yearly auditing • Utilising our financial management training under the EU funded Non State Actors Strengthening Programme. • National and Regional Boards play an oversight role in the disbursements of all funds received We are organised by having 6 professional board members who are elected at our Bi-Annual General Meeting for a two year term to oversee the organisation. We have participated in both international and national trainings: National trainings on: - Centralised planning, proposal development and writing - GAMInfo workshop - covering the retrieval of information - Gender and small arms - Human rights International training/ courses on: The trainings below have been run by the Kofi Annan International Peace-building Training Centre (KAIPTC). - Small arms training: marking and tracing, introductory course - Elections training - West Africa Peace-building Institute - Peace and security We use the learning and the skills we have gained to implement project activities and produce our monthly training, monitoring and dialogue reports. We communicate through weekly briefings, monthly meetings, a Biennial General Assembly and participation in the WANEP regional retreat meetings as well as using the WANEP newsletter to share our project experiences and best practices. We have also developed a communications manual which serves as a guiding tool for our team members. We engage with government by providing capacity building support and engaging in policy dialogue through workshops, meetings and letter exchange with National Assembly Members. Our partners: - The National Women’s Bureau - The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons - Ministry of Defence - Ministry of Interior - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - United Nations Democratic Fund (UNDEF) - European Union - Landmines and Cluster Munitions Coalition CONTACT US West African Network for Peace-building The Gambia Address: Off Mama Yakume Avenue, South Atlantic, Fajara, P.O. Box 2252 Serekunda Tel: (+220) 880 5885 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website: www.wanepgambia.org |