13th February, Banjul, The Gambia - The Gambian Government, the Food and Agriculture   organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the ECOWAS Commission have reiterated   their commitment to the attainment of gender equality and women’s empowerment   in the agriculture and rural sectors in The Gambia. They made the pledge   during the validation of The Gambia`s Gender Assessment Report of agriculture   and rural sectors. The assessment was jointly undertaken by FAO and the   ECOWAS Commission within the framework of their Technical Cooperation Project   entitled “Gender Responsive National and Regional Agricultural Investment   Plans for meeting the Zero Hunger Challenge in ECOWAS member countries”,   launched in New York on 16 March 2016 during a High Level Ministerial event   on the margins of the 60^th Session of the Commission on the Status   of Women.

The report highlights gender gaps in access to and   control over productive resources, services and markets. It provides policy   recommendations for expanding women's opportunities in inclusive agricultural   growth as a pathway to rural poverty reduction. It also provides a solid   baseline for monitoring the implementation of various policy frameworks such   as the sub-regional policy on food and agriculture (ECOWAP   2025), the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2^nd generation of   National Agricultural Investment Plan from a gender perspective. It will also   inform the elaboration and implementation of gender responsive agricultural,   food security, nutrition and natural resource management policies and   programmes.

In her keynote address, Aja Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang, Gambia`s Vice President and Minister for   Women`s Affairs applauded FAO and the ECOWAS Commission for their continuous   efforts to improve the status of rural women as well as their participation   in the development of the agricultural sector. She underscored the need to   step up investment in rural women for the attainment of food security and   other development targets within the context of the 2030 agenda. She   maintained that `empowerment of rural women is our best chance of achieving   the SDGs in the Gambia`.

Vice President   Tambajang restated her government`s commitment to the promotion of gender   equity, equality and empowerment of women and girls for sustained socio-economic   development. She explained that the recently launched national development   plan (2018 -2021) has “empowering the Gambian woman to realize her full   potential” as one of its seven critical enablers.

“I would like to reiterate my commitment   working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, the Women`s   Bureau and rural women`s organizations and networks to address the   shortcomings highlighted in the Country Gender Profile”, she added. She   appealed for more support from the UN and others.

Ms Vabah   Gayflor, Representative of the ECOWAS   Commission in The Gambia highlighted the significance of the Country Gender   Assessment noting that it will contribute towards the attainment of the   vision of an ECOWAS of people. She emphasised the need for renewed commitment,   resource mobilization, political will and use of the Gambian Vice President   as a role model to champion the cause of women. She also called for the full   implementation of the recommendations of the report for the attainment of the   desired objectives. Ms Gayflor reaffirmed the ECOWAS Commission`s continuous   partnership and support to the initiative.

Perpetua Katepa   Kalala, FAO Country Representative described the validation workshop as both   apt and timely.  She explained that   women constitute nearly 4 in 5 (78%) of the economically active population in   the Gambia who work in agriculture compared to just 57% of men, yet they are   not afforded the same rights as men when it comes to access to land, credit,   technology and markets. Ms Kalala expressed optimism that if the findings and   recommendations of the report are internalized and utilized by the various   actors, it would bring about marked improvements in the lives and livelihoods   of rural women and girls and, families as well as reduce rural poverty. She   restated FAO`s commitment to support the Gambian government in addressing the   gaps highlighted by the report in partnership with stakeholders.

Omar A Jallow,   Minister of Agriculture in a statement read on his behalf by his Permanent   Secretary noted that the report is very relevant to the operationalization of   the national, sub-regional and regional agricultural policies.  He assured that his ministry will   internalize the report.