By: Fatou Krubally
Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA), in partnership with the EU-UNDP GREAT Initiative, on Monday opened a five-day capacity-building workshop designed to strengthen the planning and resource mobilisation skills of local councils across the country.
The training, hosted at Tendaba Camp in the Lower River Region, brings together planners, finance directors, and administrative staff from all eight local councils. It seeks to improve strategic planning, monitoring, and inclusive governance in line with The Gambia’s on-going decentralisation reforms.
Declaring the workshop open, GALGA President Mahamadou Ceesay underscored the importance of effective planning and resource mobilisation in ensuring councils deliver quality services. “Local governments are in the lead in the delivery of basic services that touch the lives of our citizens. But the success of these endeavours relies on our ability to plan effectively, spend wisely, and monitor performance aggressively,” he said.
Ceesay thanked the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme for their continued support, describing the training as “timely” in strengthening decentralised governance and inclusive service delivery.
Reading a statement on behalf of UNDP Resident Representative Mandisa Mashologu, Project Manager James Monibah highlighted the strategic role of planners in shaping sustainable development. “Effective local planning is not just about technical skills it’s about engagement, vision, and leadership,” the statement read, stressing the importance of empowering councils to localise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For participants, the training could not have come at a better time. Aminata Ndongo, Administrative Director at Brikama Area Council, said she was “overwhelmed” by the opportunity to refresh her knowledge and collaborate with peers outside their usual work environment. “This training is really good it’s reminding us of our roles and helping us work together as councils rather than in isolation,” she said.
Mawdo S. Baldeh, Finance Director of Janjanbureh Area Council, described the workshop as the best he has attended in his career. “This will show us the way we can prepare our strategic plans for five years, something we were lacking before. It is more than important for the future of our councils,” he said.
The training runs until Friday, September 26, covering planning techniques, data-based decision-making, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and fundraising strategies. It forms part of the EU-UNDP GREAT Initiative’s support to strengthen local governance, inclusivity, and citizen participation.
By equipping councils with practical skills in planning and resource mobilisation, the workshop is expected to improve service delivery and accountability across The Gambia’s local government system ensuring that communities benefit from more inclusive and sustainable development.