By: Alieu Jallow
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, has commended ActionAid International The Gambia for supporting the Department of Youth and Sports (DoYS) in developing a new Youth and Sports Database, describing it as a key step towards evidence-based planning and effective coordination of youth programmes across the country.
The initiative, implemented under the Youth Promotion Initiative (YPI) Project and funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF), was officially launched at the President’s Award Scheme in Bakau through a partnership between ActionAid International The Gambia and the Department of Youth and Sports.
The database aims to harmonise information on youth and sports nationwide, serving as a one-stop platform for data collection, management, and analysis. It will also strengthen policy formulation and programme design, allowing government institutions and development partners to access accurate and up-to-date information on the sector.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Badjie hailed ActionAid International The Gambia for its continued collaboration with his ministry and emphasised the importance of reliable data in shaping development decisions.
“A lot of the time, people are not keen about reading and getting the correct data. But we have gone past that stage where decisions are made based on assumptions. We are now in an era where decisions must be evidence-based, and this digital platform will provide the kind of information needed to guide policy and planning,” the minister said.
He assured that the ministry will make full use of the platform and share its resources with development partners to enhance coordination and efficiency in youth programming.
On her part, Ndella Faye Colley, Executive Director of ActionAid International The Gambia, said the launch reflects her organisation’s commitment to promoting youth inclusion and empowerment under its Country Strategy Paper VI (2024–2028).
“This database will not only store data, it will illuminate possibilities. It will allow policymakers and partners to access credible information that can guide resource allocation, shape youth policies, and design targeted interventions that respond directly to the realities of young people,” she said.
Mrs Faye Colley added that data is power — power to plan, act, and make informed decisions — and that without reliable data, young people risk being invisible in national development processes.
“This database is not just about numbers; it is about visibility, accountability, and empowerment. It gives youth a stronger voice in shaping the policies that concern them,” she noted.
The Youth and Sports Database is expected to become a central resource hub for all youth-related data in The Gambia, promoting transparency, coordination, and inclusion in national youth development efforts.
By: Alieu Jallow The Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, has commended ActionAid International The Gambia for supporting the Department of Youth and Sports (DoYS) in developing a new Youth and Sports Database, describing it as a key step towards evidence-based planning and effective coordination of youth programmes across the country. The initiative, The Fatu Network
