Introduction - UNDP The Gambia

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Table 12: Male and female representation in alkaloship positions in The Gambia
Total villages No of male alkalo No of female alkalo % of females
1873 1868 5 0.2%
Source: UNDP Governance and Gender in Development, The Gambia, 2005
Imams: The imam is a member of the
Council of Elders. Imams are mostly
considered as role models within their
communities as well as a point of reference
when it comes to issues of religion. There is a
great potential in utilising them when they are
well trained in development issues with
religious implications. Their role as
traditional leaders could be a focus for
sustainable development. However, their
capacity to take on the new role envisaged for
them should be geared towards a more
progressive thinking on development if The
Gambia is achieve the target set for the
MDGs and other development policies.
Ngansingba: In most Mandinka communities
the ngansingba is the women’s leader who
wields a lot of power and respect. She has a
group of elderly women whom she consults
on women’s affairs in the community. She
has decision-making powers among women
and she is the intermediary between the
women and the community of male elders.
The ngansingba negotiates on behalf of
women on issues such as kafoo interest, on
matters of land for communal work and
mobilises women for the implementation of
development activities. In most of the
communities, the ngansingba is the wife of
the alkalo.
Traditionally, the ngansingba is associated
with female genital mutilation, arranging
marriages and wedding ceremonies and being
an emissary between women of different
villages. She symbolises the cultural heritage
in most Gambian communities, which
accords her great respect. Her role in the
community ranges from providing delivery
services at the local level to the circumcision
of women and girls as well as organising
development work on behalf of women.
In the current development paradigm, the role
of the ngansingba is not a very positive one
in regard to the practice of FGM on young
girls and women, which has negative health
effects on female sexuality. The women’s
leaders were also the conduits through which
gender discriminatory practices were
reinforced in the community and, as a result,
they contributed to female subordination.
This negative role has been re- routed
towards a positive direction by building their
capacity to take on roles that contribute to the
improvement of the health of women and
children in their respective communities.
NGOs have used the ngansingba as change
agents in matters relating to reproductive
health. They have been trained to take on the
role of TBAs. Currently, they are responsible
for most of the home deliveries in the rural
communities. In the health sector, without the
TBAs, the number of maternal deaths would
have increased, because the required capacity
in response to the demand is not available in
this sector. They are also trained to transmit
messages of reproductive health, such as
family planning, nutritional taboos, early
marriages and teenage or early pregnancies.
NGOs have been able to convert some of the
ngansingba to stop the practice of female
genital mutilation by building their capacity
and giving them all the required skills to be
effective in their advocacy to stop harmful
traditional practices. For example, they have
been trained as midwives and have undergone
attachments and practical work .They have
also been provided with the necessary skills
to make them confident and effective in
bringing positive change to women’s health.
In addition to performing this role, the
ngansingba still maintain their leadership
positions in their various communities
without involving themselves in the practice
of FGM and other socio-cultural practices
inimical to the health and well-being of
women and children. Most of the data
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Building Capacity for the Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in The Gambia National Human Development Report 2005
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