A delegation of experts from Co-Water International is expected in The Gambia next month to evaluate the long-term impact of peacebuilding projects funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), amounting to $40 million.
This visit is part of a broader assessment of peacebuilding initiatives implemented over the past eight years, with a special focus on transitional justice efforts in the country.
The evaluation is being led by the Impact Hub under the UN’s Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Since The Gambia became eligible for PBF support, it has received approximately $42.9 million, funding 21 different projects.
These investments have contributed significantly to initiatives such as the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), victim empowerment programs, institutional development, social cohesion, and democratic reform.
Speaking to The Standard, PBF Programme Coordinator Golda Keng described The Gambia as a “peacebuilding success story.” She noted that the country was recently selected as a pilot for the United Kingdom’s in-country peacebuilding monitoring mission, which involved a review of past and ongoing projects by various international and local partners.
The upcoming evaluation will involve consultations with government representatives, civil society organisations, and independent institutions. The goal is to generate data that can shape future peacebuilding strategies, highlight key actors’ roles, and inform global best practices.
The team’s findings are expected to offer actionable recommendations to sustain and deepen the progress already made in The Gambia.
