By Haddy Touray
The European Union (EU), UNDP and UNFPA have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting youth participation, civic engagement and democratic leadership in The Gambia.
The three institutions provided support and participated in the First Ordinary Session of the 10th National Youth Parliament Sitting 2026 on Sunday, which brought young people together to deliberate on issues affecting their communities and the country’s democratic future.
The National Youth Parliament also conducted nationwide consultations to gather the views, experiences, aspirations and recommendations of young people to inform national democratic dialogue and youth policy advocacy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, EU Deputy Head of Mission Raphael Brigandi said young people should be recognised not only as voters but also as community leaders, mobilisers, peace advocates and defenders of democratic values.
“Youth represent the future which is why their voice needs to be heard and taken into account,” he said.
Brigandi said the EU’s support for youth democratic participation formed part of a sustained partnership aimed at strengthening youth leadership, civic engagement and policy dialogue.
UNDP Resident Representative in The Gambia Mandisa Mashologu said the National Youth Parliament provided a platform for young people to develop democratic leadership skills, including listening, questioning evidence, debating priorities, building consensus and holding institutions accountable.
“By ensuring that young people’s voices influence decisions, are genuinely considered, and translate into policy and action, the Youth Parliament has become instrumental in advancing meaningful youth participation in democratic spaces,” she said.
UNFPA Gender Specialist Joy Micheal urged young parliamentarians to recognise their role in shaping the country’s future.
“The future of The Gambia is not waiting somewhere ahead of us. It is already present in this room — in your ideas, your courage and your choices,” she said.
National Youth Parliament Speaker Hon. Jabou Sisawo described the institution as one of the country’s leading youth advocacy platforms.
She said the Parliament operates across all seven administrative regions, bringing together elected youth parliamentarians and nominated young women.
“This ensures that no corner of The Gambia — from Banjul to Basse — goes unheard,” Sisawo said.