Peacebuilding Partners - Gambia

The Gambia

September 2024

Since 2017, The Gambia has been a crucial partner in engaging with the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to promote and sustain peace. The primary focus of The Gambia's initial engagement with the PBC was conflict prevention. The Commission has supported the country with its peacebuilding priorities since it began its democratic transition, following the election of President Adam Barrow in December 2016.?

Building on the strong national political will towards advancing its transitional justice agenda, The Gambia has actively consulted with the PBC, seeking international and regional assistance to uphold transnational justice and human rights. This engagement began with the 2019 Ambassadorial-level meeting on the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC). In April 2023, The Gambia shared its comprehensive transitional justice process through the Ambassadorial-level meeting with Colombia and Timor-Leste. As a leading example in the transitional justice process, the Commission held the inaugural Ambassadorial-level meeting on the 2025 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture (PBAR), in June 2024, featuring The Gambia’s successful engagement with the PBC. The Gambia's engagement with the PBC exemplifies national ownership and underscores the country's leadership in peacebuilding.?

The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) was an early responder to The Gambia’s transition priorities under the “Sustaining Peace Agenda.” Since 2017, the PBF has allocated $33.9 million for peacebuilding projects in The Gambia. It initially provided critical support in areas such as transitional justice, including the establishment of the TRRC, progress with the Security Sector Reform, strengthened coordination within the President’s Office. The Fund subsequently also supported broader conflict prevention efforts, including hate speech prevention during the post-TRRC phase, support to implementation of some of the TRRC recommendations, empowerment of women and young people, and land conflict resolution. ?

The Commission has recognized The Gambia as an example of good practice, where the government, the World Bank, and the UN have partnered under the Bank’s Turn Around Allocation to advance nationally-owned transition milestones, supported by the catalytic efforts of PBSO’s Partnership Facility.?

H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of The Gambia, said, "The Commission’s timely engagement in The Gambia did not only prevent humanitarian catastrophe but also instilled hope for sustainable future through the initial visit of the PBC leadership. It kickstarted the whole transition program when the new regime was confused on what to focus, particularly during the democratic transition after 22 years of dictatorship. We appreciate the continued effort of the PBC in leveraging its convening power.”?

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