Officials from 13 institutions in The Gambia have received certification in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) under a programme implemented by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the EU–UNDP GREAT Project.
The graduation and closing ceremony was held on Saturday in Banjul and brought together participants from institutions in the justice, governance and security sectors.
The participating institutions included the Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, National Human Rights Commission, Gambia Police Force, Immigration Department, Prison Service, National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), National Legal Aid Agency (NALA), Alternative Dispute Resolution Secretariat (ADRS), and local government institutions.
According to organisers, the programme recorded 43 per cent female participation.
Speaking at the ceremony, EU Deputy Head of Mission Raphaël Brigandi said effective governance depended on evidence-based decision-making and strong institutional systems.
“Monitoring and evaluation functions are often fragmented or informal. The challenge is first to collect relevant data and secondly to use it to take measures that lead to better results,” he said.
He added that the training programme had strengthened participants’ practical skills in monitoring, reporting, data collection and analysis.
“Monitoring and evaluation is not merely a technical exercise; it is the foundation of transparency, accountability and better service delivery for citizens,” Brigandi stated.
UNDP Resident Representative Sainey Ceesay highlighted the importance of results-based governance and institutional strengthening.
“Strong monitoring and evaluation systems are at the heart of evidence-based governance and are essential for delivering public services that respond to citizens’ needs,” he said.
According to Ceesay, participants had moved “from fragmented understanding to a shared results-based approach that strengthens planning, accountability and performance across institutions”.
Delivering remarks on behalf of participants, Fatoumata Jallow from the Judiciary described the programme as transformative.
“We have moved from a culture of reporting to a culture of learning. We are departing not just with certificates, but with a mandate to create measurable value for citizens,” she said.
Participants said the training enhanced their ability to apply results-based management and institutional M&E frameworks in practical settings.
The programme, implemented under the EU–UNDP GREAT Project, is expected to strengthen data-driven decision-making, institutional performance and accountability across the public sector.
The EU and UNDP reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Gambia’s efforts to strengthen democratic governance, institutional capacity and results-based public service delivery.