09/09/2026
The country has hosted two workshops to promote inclusive and peaceful democratic participation and to strengthen electoral integrity ahead of the December 2026 elections.
FIAP has launched two initiatives in the Gambia aimed at strengthening inclusive democratic participation, electoral integrity and the prevention of violence, as part of the European Union’s Support Project for ECOWAS on Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG). The initiatives, carried out in Banjul during August, have placed particular emphasis on the role of women and young people and on the importance of an informed and active citizenry ahead of the December 2026 electoral cycle.
From 24 to 26 August, 35 young people took part in a workshop held
in Banjul to build their capacity in the design and development of advocacy campaigns on social media focused on women’s participation.
The training covered topics such as ethical and inclusive digital communication, electoral disinformation, digital security, storytelling and the design of social media campaigns. Particular attention was also paid to misleading and discriminatory narratives relating to women that may be spread through disinformation.
The workshop provided tools to develop responsible digital campaigns, amplify women’s voices and contribute to an information environment that fosters more inclusive democratic participation.
From 25 to 27 August, a further 35 participants from different regions of The Gambia took part in a second workshop focusing on electoral literacy as a tool for strengthening the integrity of democratic processes and promoting peaceful participation.
Participants have gained practical knowledge about their
electoral rights and responsibilities, voter registration, voting procedures, and the various electoral actors and processes. The training also covered how to identify and tackle disinformation, political manipulation and other forms of interference.
Democratic participation was also explored from a broader perspective than simply voting, including community leadership, election observation, advocacy and participation in public debate. The workshop also focused on the prevention of electoral violence and on the role of dialogue, tolerance and social cohesion in fostering peaceful elections.
The two activities have addressed the same objective from different perspectives: to foster an informed citizenry capable of actively participating in democratic processes. Whilst electoral literacy provides the knowledge needed to exercise citizens’ rights and responsibilities, digital tools enable that participation to be extended into the public sphere and amplify the voices of groups facing greater barriers to participation, particularly women.
The initiatives have been carried out within the framework of the European Union’s Support Project for ECOWAS on Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG), implemented jointly by GIZ, Expertise France and FIAP. The project is co-funded by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The initiative in The Gambia builds on experiences in other West African countries, such as Nigeria and Benin, and helps to strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders to promote more informed, inclusive and peaceful electoral processes.
