By Kumba Leigh
The Head of Programmes and Grants at Open Society Platform The Gambia (OSPG), said they are reviewing five key policies to see how best to proportionate, execute, and reflect on the representation, and specification of gender, most especially in the general responsive budget allocation for women.
Mr Adoulie Jadama was speaking at Metzy Residence, during a recent day-long validation workshop of review and analysis of five key policies: National Budget, Public Finance Act 2014, Gender Policy, National Development Plan and Public Procurement Act 2004. The forum was organised by OSPG, funded by the NDI in collaboration with CSOs and government partners.
He said this initiative aims to share knowledge on the country’s current policy directions towards gender as a critical and important issue that forms core of the fiscal accountability and transparency reform challenges in the country.
Mr Jadama observed that there is no clause in the Gambia Public Procurement Law 2014 that specifically indicates ‘women businesses law’; hence he suggested that there should be a quarter specification budget percentages for women businesses.
He called on the Gambia government to consider specifications of women quota in the budget allocation through identifying key priority areas to ensure that there are ‘gender focal persons’ in all the ministries. This he said make sure they participate in decision making processes in terms of budget allocation, establish tracking codes, and making sure women and children are factored in the national development programming.
Samba Jallow, member of the OSPG, mentioned that the social, and economic empowerment of women is crucial, and that there is need to establish women data protection, representation of women in decision making processes, and social protection in the civil service of The Gambia.
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Bintou Gassama asserted the need for M&E structures in almost every institution of government that will help in monitoring and evaluating women in businesses within and across border countries.
“There are lots of risks attached to women entrepreneurs in cross-border trade; as some border security officers take advantage of these women during their business activities,” she warned.
The validation workshop was attended by representatives from the Open Society Platform The Gambia (OSPG), ministries of Health, Justice, Finance, Gender and Women Affairs, Gambia Public Procurement, National Democratic Institute, CSOs, and the media.
