United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative to the Gambia Mandisa Mashologu has said The Gambia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security is an important achievement which demonstrates the country’s commitment to unlocking the transformative power of younger people in building sustainable peace and development.
Madam Mashologu was speaking during the launching of the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security 2025 to 2030. The event was held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo on Tuesday, 11 February 2025.
The National Action Plan is anchored on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2050, which urges member states to give young people a greater voice in decision-making at all levels, especially where matters of peace and security are concerned, Mashologu stated.
She said that in The Gambia 77% of the population is between 15 and 35 years, hence stakeholders must increase efforts to harness the energy, creativity, and resilience of young people to build a more inclusive and peaceful society.
The National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security is a key step in the right direction, she said: “This Action Plan is a formal recognition of the important role that young Gambians continue to play towards sustainable peace. It also aligns with the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan, ‘Yiriwaa’, which emphasizes youth empowerment and inclusive development in The Gambia.”
According to her, through funding from the UN Peace-building Fund Infrastructure for Peace Project, UNDP has supported the development of the National Action Plan, working in close collaboration with UNFPA, GIZ-AU and the National Youth Council.
Between 2023 and 2024, over 2000 young people have been consulted as part of the process, she said, adding: “We have also supported training sessions on youth, peace and security for government officials including 171 Local Government Authorities and 15 National Assembly Members.”
On a global level, she cited, the United Nations acknowledges that the full, effective and meaningful participation of youth is critical to maintaining and promoting international peace and security.
She said the report would propose recommendations for targeted interventions in education, economic inclusion and job creation, health and well-being, and civic engagement and social inclusion.
The document, she went on, will serve as a tool for tailoring their interventions to enhance the capabilities and opportunities of young people, ensuring that they can fully participate as active citizens in a peaceful, economically viable, and supportive environment.
