By: Isatou Sarr
A one-day forum on collaborative advocacy with the aim of bridging gaps between rural and urban advocacy groups and the media was held yesterday at Metzy Residence Hotel.
Representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and journalists took part in the forum.
The day-long event was held under the Gambia Participates project. It brought together 80 participants from across the country to review existing partnerships, identify challenges, and chart ways forward for stronger cooperation in advocacy and governance initiatives.
Speaking at the opening, Marr Nyang, Executive Director of Gambia Participates, noted the difficulty faced by the media in accessing rural areas and highlighted the limited collaboration between urban CSOs and rural CBOs. “The media finds it difficult to travel to rural Gambia to cover stories, while CSOs in urban Gambia only get to engage CBOs when they have an activity in the rural areas,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the UNDP Resident Representative, Sainey Ceesay emphasized the importance of inclusivity in national advocacy. “The gathering brings together voices from rural and urban Gambia, CSOs, media, and development partners with a shared purpose to strengthen our collaborative role in building a more inclusive, peaceful, accountable, and participatory democracy,” he said.
Ceesay stressed that despite progress in governance, accountability, and citizen education, more work remains to ensure advocacy translates into tangible human development benefits. “It is about building trust, creating synergies, and ensuring advocacy is not limited by geography, age, gender, or ability. Whether you are in Basse or Banjul, Brikama or Janjanbureh, every voice matters,” he added.
He further noted that The Gambia’s progress in media freedom, ranked 46th globally in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, but cautioned against the growing influence of misinformation and disinformation on social media, which undermines informed citizen engagement.
Also speaking, Raphaël Brigandi of the European Union (EU) said the forum provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of CSOs and the media in strengthening democracy. “Both CSOs and the media play an oversight role over public institutions and contribute to building public support for accountable governance. The media acts as a watchdog, while civil society and democracy reinforce one another,” he stated.
The forum concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration between CSOs, CBOs, and the media, to strengthen advocacy and promote good governance across the country
