By Maimuna Sey Jawo
Three Days National Congress of the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF), The Gambia Platform, was recently held in Trans Gambia Lodge, Pakalinding, Lower River Region.
Among others, the congress was attended by 30 Women Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) leaders.
The Congress was facilitated by the National Farmers Platform Gambia (NFPG) with funding from Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO) through Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) programme.
The general role of REFACOF is to support the protection and conservation of the forests within The Gambia, whilst maximizing benefits to its members as well as carrying out advocacy at the level of Government and the international development partners for the implementation of reforms and include women’s needs, interests, specific challenges to meet these, as well as land and forest tenure rights, in their agendas.
In his welcome remarks Honorable Sheriffo I Bojang, National President of NFPG emphasized on the need for groups to regularly communicate among members about the platform and ensure that the objectives of the platform are sustainable
He thanked FAO through FFF programme for supporting the country in achieving key outcome areas for FFF Phase II as demonstrated by the implementing partners during FFF Phase I. Regular and timely payment of group contributions to guarantee in accessing the intended support from the National Executive members was elaborated by NFPG President.
Also speaking at forum was Kaniman Camara, Consultant, of FFF Phase II, he said REFACOF is the outcome of initiation of 45 women leaders of different countries of West Africa (Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Senegal) and Central Africa (Burundi, Cameroon, Gabon, CAR, DRC) who played an active role in the ongoing land and forest tenure reform processes both nationally and globally, with the goal of ensuring that land and forest tenure rights are recognized and secured.
Mr. Cherno Gaye, Head of Participatory Forest Management Unit at the Department of Forestry (DoF) on behalf of the Director of DoF, encouraged the Congress delegates to deliberate democratically on the key issues to be treated during the Congress.
He thanked the outgoing National and Regional Executive members for serving the Platform and urged delegates to select wisely in the re- constitution of a new Executive to run the affairs of the Platform in the next five years.
Presenting the Technical Report of REFACOF, The Gambia platform, the president Mrs. Anty Rohey Ceesay, said the Platform conducted its first sensitization activity in 2017 after the formation of the Platform to inform Women’s Groups involved in the management of Forests about the Platform’ concept, how to become a registered member and issues related to ensuring women rights on land.
She noted that the activity reached out to more than Five Hundred (500) Women in the 6 Agricultural Regions of the country. \
“The Large-Scale Ecosystem- based Adaptation (EBA) Project contracted REFACOF to provide the Project with 6,000 Tree Seedlings. Through this initiative, the Platform supported 7 Women groups with seeds and nursery management materials to participate in raising tree seedlings in their village tree nurseries. All the seedlings produced by the groups were bought by the EBA Project,” she explained.
