The European Union Delegation to the Gambia and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), on July, 6, 2023, held an event to officially launch a new project in the Gambia under the title “Supporting Consolidation to Democratic Dispensation in the Gambia (CODE)”.

With funding from the European Union and to be implemented by International IDEA, this  project aims to provide technical assistance to key democratic institutions namely: the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Gambia Press Union; to lay the foundation of an inclusive, participatory, gender sensitive and peaceful transition to democratic governance in the Gambia.

The project will have a duration of three years started on 7 February 2023 to end on 6 February 2026. The overall objective of the Consolidation of Democratic Dispensation in The Gambia” (CODE) is to contribute to the consolidation of a participatory, inclusive and human rights based transition in The Gambia, with an aim to increase the legitimacy of the transitional justice process and the overall success of the peaceful consolidation to a democratic dispensation in the Gambia and reduce the grounds for instability in the country. The project will be implemented through various interventions such as capacity development of institutions and individuals, advisory services to institutions, comparative knowledge generation and dissemination. The CODE project will also complement the various ongoing initiatives that support  the consolidation of democratic dispensation in the Gambia conducted or supported by other international partners.  

The official launch was attended by several guests including Hon. Fabakary Jatta, Speaker of the Gambia National Assembly; Emmanuel Daniel Joof, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission; Muhammed Bah, President of Gambia Press Union; the EU Ambassador to the Gambia H.E. Pampaloni; Roba Sharamo, Africa and West Asia Regional Director of International IDEA; representatives from the Attorney General Office and the ministry of Justice; the United Nations Development Programme UNDP; the United Nations in the Gambia, as well as members of diplomatic corps, Gambian Civil Society Organizations and media.

During the launch, the three project partners made a strong commitment towards implementing the project and contribute to the consolidation of democratic dispensation in The Gambia.