Advocacy
The NSASP's work with its partners in the area of advocacy addressed three key issues: participatory identification of advocacy issues; identification of priority policy issues for advocacy; support of advocacy coalitions on priority issues.
In December 2011, the NFP held a ten day outreach forum with grassroots members, aimed at strengthening the functioning of district and regional network platforms. Two regions and three districts were targeted, with discussions focussing on activities and governance, the financial capacity of the platform and its future direction. The NSASP also supported a two-day Constitutional Review, aiming to prepare the Platform for its 2012 Congress and Annual General Meeting. |
In support of UN General Assembly's Resolution to 'Ban Female Genital Mutilation in the World', The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices celebrated the internationally recognised Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM on 6th February 2012. The purpose of the day was to raise awareness on FGM with a view to eliminating the practice in the Gambia through attitudinal change and national legislation. |
The NSASP conducted a conference to reconfirm and support advocacy on Women in Governance, in partnership with WANEP-TG and Concern Universal. Held at Tendaba Camp, the conference focused on regional Gender Action Teams, and the role of women in local government as a means of peace building and sustainable development. The conference brought together GAT members, Area and Women Councillors, the Ministry of Local Government, Ward and Village Development Committees and other stakeholders. The participants identified key agents for change and the actions that should be followed in support of women's increased participation in governance. The discussion and networking paved the way for greater cohesion in the drive to promote equal gender representation in governance structures. |
In order to offer farmers the opportunity to review the year's rainy season performance and its impact on harvests, the NATC held the One-Day Farmers' Conference' in December 2011. The aim of the Conference was to enhance farmers' understanding of climate change; highlight the link between climate change and sustainable agriculture; develop an early warning system for future rainy seasons; develop climate change mitigation systems. Twenty NBR villages participated in the Conference, with 95 percent of attendees women farmers. The outcomes will now form the basis for a Regional Master Plan. |
Between January and February 2012, GFD conducted three key activities in close partnership with the NSASP. Focus groups involving women with disabilities highlighted key advocacy issues Journalist training and the establishment of a Disability Media Monitoring Network raised media awareness on the negative implications of insensitive reporting The launch of The Day of the African Child brought together key development actors and the media to raise awareness of challenges faced by children with disabilities |