The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, has launched a four-day Capacity Development Training on Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting to strengthen the effective implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The training is being conducted with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU).
The programme brings together government officials, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and key migration stakeholders from the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) and its eight Thematic Working Groups (TWGs). It aims to strengthen institutional capacity for evidence-based, results-oriented, and gender-responsive migration governance.
Opening the training on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Diaspora and Migration, Ms. Ndumbeh Saho, reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to strengthening migration governance through evidence-based policymaking, robust monitoring systems, and strong partnerships. She emphasized that the next phase of GCM implementation should focus on demonstrating measurable outcomes and ensuring that migration continues to contribute to sustainable development and human dignity.
The Director stated that The Gambia’s engagement in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is underpinned by the firm conviction that migration, when well governed, is a catalyst for sustainable development, human dignity, and shared prosperity. She emphasized that the capacity development training represents an important milestone in strengthening national systems for monitoring, evaluation and reporting, enabling institutions to move beyond activity-based reporting towards a more results-oriented and accountable approach to migration governance.
She further noted that strengthening national capacities in these areas will enhance the country’s ability to generate reliable data and evidence, inform policy and decision-making, and assess the impact of migration policies and programmes. This, she said, will support The Gambia’s efforts to maximize the developmental contributions of migrants and the Gambian diaspora to both host and home communities, while effectively addressing migration challenges, protecting the rights and well-being of migrants.
In her opening remarks, The Ambassador of the European Union to The Gambia, H.E. Immaculada Roca i Cortés, underscored the critical role of data and evidence in informing migration policy. She noted that effective migration governance is built on strong institutions, reliable data, sound evidence, and transparent accountability, and reaffirmed the European Union’s continued partnership in supporting The Gambia’s efforts to strengthen migration governance.
Representing the International Organization for Migration, Ms. Sibgha Ajaz, Officer-in-Charge in The Gambia, highlighted that effective migration governance depends on reliable data, strong coordination, and the ability to translate evidence into practical action. She reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to providing continued technical support to strengthen national migration systems and advance the implementation of the GCM.
As a Champion Country for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, The Gambia remains committed to promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration through strengthened institutions, inclusive partnerships, and evidence-based implementation that benefits migrants, communities, and national development.
