Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice-president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, has strongly encouraged the formation of the National Women’s Federation, purposely to augment the capacity of women organisations and groups, as well as to enable government to provide more meaningful support to women’s groups through an umbrella body.

The Vice-President made this statement during the launching ceremony of the Spanish-African Women’s Empowerment Project held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

The project, placed under the banner of President Jammeh’s Women Empowerment Initiative, jointly funded by The Gambia Government and Spanish Government "The magnificent project that we are here to launch today is another meaningful step towards providing the necessary environment, infrastructure and facilities for our women to learn and acquire skills, access resources and finance, network at the local and international level and harness their collective potential to create and develop a vibrant platform for business and production.

The project was born about two years ago, out of the genuine aspirations and needs of Gambia Women and out of an extensive consultative process, which I was privileged, to join during the National Women’s Council and Women’s Bureau silver jubilee," VP Njie-Saidy said.

"At that historic meeting with all major stakeholders in my office in 2006, I strongly encouraged the formation of the National Women’s Federation purposely to augment the capacity of women organisations and groups, as well as to enable government provide more meaningful support to women groups through the Federation," she recalled.

"Those of us who would recall discussions at that five-hour meeting, would also remember my pledge to have more women serving in our diplomatic missions and promotion of female officers of the security force.

We have since been eager to fulfil that pledge, and today, The Gambia has an increased number of women in our diplomatic service, with even more heading their missions. Several female security personnel have also been promoted to the ranks of Commander since the Silver Jubilee.

 At the local level for the first time we have started seeing women fill key positions as Vice Chairperson of Area Councils, Deputy Governor and in fact more interestingly women are more than ever contesting elections and are winning, evident in last Local Government Elections.

I am particularly encouraged by the fact that the all-inclusive project has a specific component targeting rural women and girls who form the majority, vis-à-vis how they can overcome some of the domestic factors constraining their socio-economic development and ensure food security all Gambians," the vice president told the women gathering.

Commenting on the world commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women, coupled with the current world food crisis and global financial turmoil, VP Njie-Saidy highlighted that governments have a duty to protect and assist rural women with educational opportunities, political access and market environment that favours a return on their investment of equipment, seeds, and labour.
On that very special day, she went on to say that the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in his message said: "when we empower rural women, we enhance the well-being of their children, their families, their communities and ultimately, their countries."

"The Spanish African Women Empowerment Project will indeed do just that. It will support amongst others the building of a processing and storage plant as well as the National Women’s Multi-Purpose Complex.

It is also worth mentioning that recently a feasibility study was conducted and twenty-five women’s gardens were rehabilitated with the objective of ensuring an increased and improved quality and quantity of horticultural produce to avoid loss.

Additional resources have also been mobilised to build the market complex which will house two hundred outlets, a supermarket, restaurant, a cinema hall as well as other out-door facilities as highlighted in the presentation," Vice President Njie-Saidy assured the gathering.

 "I am indeed proud to inform you that the Government has provided the land which is an investment on its own for the women and as well as financial contribution towards supporting the gardens and provision of labour saving devices and this is just the beginning," she indicated.

Regarding the operational modalities, VP Njie-Saidy encouraged the leadership to continue to solicit technical advice from the relevant departments of state, particularly the departments of state for Finance and Economic Affairs, Justice, Local Government and Lands, Trade Industry and Employment as well as Tourism, adding that the project is a multi-sectoral project and that, it will not only advance the cause of women but it will also uplift the status and image of the country.

The Complex, she said, will no doubt bring about the much-needed increase, and improve investment particularly for women. Other related benefits include timely repayment and management of micro-loans, for if you provide credit to women who are challenged with marketing of their products, it is obvious that they will have problems of timely repayments. Therefore the active participation of the financial service providers is a step in the right direction.

However, I would like to mention that once the facility is built, it should be properly managed and not allowed to fall in the wrong hands and be derailed from achieving the expected outcomes.

Indeed, we have witnessed a few unfortunate cases where Gambians were provided with such facilities and they failed to deliver the goods. That must not happen. Let me single out the invaluable contributions of the outgoing members of the National Women’s Council, who must be commended for their rewarding and productive service to the women of this country.

I have no doubt in my mind that they will continue to offer their support and advice to the council, and share their vast experience with new members. I congratulate the new members of the council and I have no doubt on my mind that they will continue the good work.

As we launch the Spanish African Women Empowerment Project under the banner of my Government’s Women Empowerment initiative, it is important to recount the invaluable role and position of Gambian women in fostering national development, and identify some of the challenges that continue to impact negatively on our efforts to advance the cause of women in ensuring that the objectives of the project effectively addresses their problems.

As previous speakers have attested, the story of our country’s women is one deeply embedded in the unique virtues of labour, perseverance, and excellence in the various sectors.

From agriculture and education to business, politics, decision-making and the arts. In government, the record number of qualified and competent women in positions of responsibility is glaring.

Women own a substantial percentage of business especially in the tourism industry. Constituting about 50% of our Labour force, Gambia women continue to lead in the production of the country’s major staple rice.

Furthermore, women dominate the horticultural sector and are actively involved in livestock farming and petty trading in the informal sector.

To crown these and many other laurels, she said, women have the fundamental duty to serve not only as mothers and household keepers, but also as bona fide breadwinners for many families. Indeed, we are particularly encouraged by this proud and solid track record that is dotted with daunting challenges.

In all these sectors, women are confronted by an acute lack of access to the basic agents of production and productivity such as land, credit, capital, information and the necessary market infrastructure to reap the fruits of their labour as indicated by the out-going chairperson of the National Women’s Council.

The use of low level technologies in production and the absence of adequate business knowledge and skills continue to hamper the efforts of women to excel in their noble undertakings, which the Spanish African Empowerment project therefore seeks to address.

As a government, she noted, we will continue to take the necessary steps, even take an extra mile, to lend our support to the women of The Gambia. ‘‘Personally, I am on record recognising at any giving opportunity, the life inspiration I have drawn from the hard work and exceptional enterprise of our women folk.

I shall not relent in committing my attention and the special attention of government, to championing the cause of women and working towards increasing our success in the following key areas;

the inclusion of women in the functional structures of government especially in decision making level; girls education, with particular focus on parity at all levels, the drastic reduction of maternal and child mortality and morbidity;

the protection and promotion of women’s rights with legislative instruments that do not only guarantee protection, but stipulate stringent penalties for those who perpetrate violence against women. And, let me use this opportunity to state once again, that my government will not, and shall never tolerate Rape and other forms of abuse directed against women.

Perpetrators will be tracked down to face the full and uncompromising force of the law. This is one way we can eradicate centuries-old afflictions marring the psychological, spiritual, physical and socio-economic advancement of more than half of our productive population,’’ she reiterated.

She concluded by thanking the Government of the Kingdom of Spain for providing the funding for this ambitious project.

‘‘I also wish to thank the office of the Vice President and Department of State for Women’s Affairs, the out-going Women’s Council, the Women’s Bureau, the Silver Jubilee Organising committee, and indeed all Gambian women for their immeasurable contributions to the initiation and launching of this project.

Let me also pledge once more, that my government will continue to render the needed support to make the project succeed in all its objectives. I urge the project beneficiaries coming along with the project, and to work together collectively towards meaningfully transforming the lives of the women folk.

This way, we are all assured of the brightest future for Gambian women.’’