Gambian CSOs plan engagement ahead of key 2021 election

The Gambia is heading towards Presidential elections in December 2021. ECOWAS, GIZ and IRI are currently providing technical support to the civil society organizations in the areas of election observation, voter information and civic education. A 5-day BRIDGE modular training was organized at Metzy Hotel (Banjul) for 38 Gambian CSO leaders from August 30 to September 3^rd, 2021. The sessions were conducted by two accredited BRIDDGE facilitators: Mathias HOUNKPE (Benin) and Ibrahima Amadou NIANG (Senegal).

The main objectives of the training were to:

• Critically examine the concept of education, information and observation election of voters.
• Facilitate exchanges and sharing of experiences on existing practices / strategies to conduct results-based voter education and election observation of in the digital era.
• Explore a wide range of models adopted by CSOs from other parts of Africa and elsewhere in the world to carry out voter education, information and election observation.
• Expose actors to international and regional standards and best practices in terms of citizen mobilization on issues related to elections through voter education, election information and observation.

Participants agreed to take back the training tools to their organizations and train relevant colleagues. They stressed that the training was useful as it exposed them to how to build partnerships with international observers and domestic groups, enhance their interpersonal skills and revive passion for citizen participation in election observation. The training provided space to develop key messages for the civic education and voter information initiatives.

The training resulted in CSOs agreeing to: enhance coordination around election observation; implement election situation rooms and develop inclusive and impactful voter information programmes.