Introduction - UNDP The Gambia

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The local institutional structures such as the
alkaloship and other traditional forms of
decision-making bodies do not allow the
effective involvement of women and the
youth as strategic decision-makers. Yet these
are the critical actors whose support and
contributions are sought when it comes to
realising development objectives at the
community level.
At the same time, the gender representation of
VDCs within the mainstream development
framework at the community level is not
impressive. The absence of women in the
decision-making process will make the
outcomes of the development plans not
gender responsive and will thus contribute to
the non-attainment the MDGs.
However, mainstreaming gender into all the
existing structures should be a priority to
strategically place gender issues within them
in order to achieve the targets. This is
necessary because both women and men are
critical actors in achieving the targets of the
MDGs. Thus gender equality is viewed not
only as a goal in its own right but also as a
key factor in enhancing developmenteradicating
poverty, and stamping out
violence against women, ensuring education
for all, improving maternal health, reducing
child mortality and combating HIV/AIDS.
Gender equality in such structures will
address the gaps, as they are interrelated.
It is observed that the MDGs cannot be fully
attained while women and girls, men and
boys do not enjoy equal rights, treatment and
access to resources in a climate of freedom
from discrimination (Commonwealth POA
for Gender Equality, 2005-2015). Table 13
shows the gender gaps in area councils in The
Gambia. This pattern seems to be the same in
all the other local structures.
Table 13: Comparison between women and men area councillors in The Gambia
Council No of males No of females Total % of females
Banjul City 8 4 12 33
KMC 20 1 21 4.7
Mansakonko 19 1 20 5
Kuntaur 11 2 13 15
Brikama 29 2 31 6
Janjangbureh 15 1 16 6
Kerewan 19 1 20 5
Basse 15 2 17 12
Total 136 14 150 9
Source: UNDP Governance and Gender in Development, The Gambia, Medium-Term Plan, 2005-2009
5.4 Conclusions and Recommendations
This chapter critically examined the Gambian
traditional structures that can play important
roles in the development landscape and, in
particular, the rural communities. It looked at
the structures by describing their roles in the
past and present, and what they can be in the
current development of The Gambia in
ensuring sustainable development.
It also looked at the challenges and
opportunities facing these structures, and
provided suggestions on how they could be
empowered to respond to the roles and
responsibilities they are expected to play to
ensure the implementation of development
activities in The Gambia.
It is clear from the above analysis that The
Gambia should embrace a development
paradigm that will allow for citizen
participation to effect the necessary change
for its population. It will also have to provide
an enabling environment to allow the citizens
to take charge of their own development. The
majority of Africa’s population lives in the
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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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