The European Union, UNDP and UNFPA provided support and participated in the First Ordinary session of the 10th National Youth Parliament Sitting 2026, reaffirming its longstanding partnership and support to the Gambian youth and its civic engagement.
The Sittings provide an important platform for dialogue, parliamentary deliberation and collective action on key issues affecting young people and The Gambia’s democratic future. The National Youth Parliament also led a nationwide youth consultation process aimed at ensuring that the voices, experiences, aspirations and recommendations of young people help shape national democratic dialogue and youth policy advocacy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony for the Sittings, the EU Deputy Head of Mission, Raphaël Brigandi, underlined: “Youth are not only voters but also mobilisers, community leaders, observers, advocates for peace, and defenders of democratic values. Youth represent the future which is why their voice needs to be heard and taken into account.”
He further reiterated the EU’s commitment: “The EU has been a reliable partner in advancing youth democratic participation initiatives in The Gambia. Our partnership has helped to strengthen youth leadership, civic engagement and policy dialogue. We see this support not as a one-off contribution, but as part of a sustained commitment to investing in young people as leaders, citizens and partners in democratic life.”
Mandisa Mashologu, UNDP Resident Representative in The Gambia, outlined: “The National Youth Parliament has a unique role as a space where young people can develop democratic leadership skills that include listening, questioning evidence, debating priorities, building consensus and holding institutions accountable. By ensuring that young people’s voices influence decisions, are genuinely considered, and translate into policy and action, the Youth Parliament has become instrumental in advancing meaningful youth participation in democratic spaces.”
Joy Micheal, Gender Specialist at UNFPA, said: “The future of The Gambia is not waiting somewhere ahead of us. It is already present in this room- in your ideas, your courage and your choices. Let us listen to it. Let us invest in it. And let us build it together.”
Hon. Jabou Sisawo, Speaker of the National Youth Parliament stated: “Today, this Parliament stands as one of the most respected youth advocacy platforms in The Gambia. We are structured across all seven administrative regions of this country, with elected parliamentarians and nominated young women sitting side by side, ensuring that no corner of The Gambia — from Banjul to Basse — goes unheard.”
