Gender Ministry Applauds ABC-Development for Advancing Women’s Leadership in Kambia

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has commended ABC-Development for its contribution to women’s empowerment, leadership development and community transformation in Kambia District.

The Ministry described ABC-Development as an important development partner whose programmes are contributing to efforts to advance gender equality, strengthen women’s participation in leadership and promote child protection and community development.

Umaru Kunateh Bah, District Supervisor for the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in Kambia, described the relationship between the Ministry and ABC-Development as “very cordial and collaborative.”

According to Bah, ABC-Development has consistently complemented government efforts through programmes that promote women’s rights, gender equality and child protection.

He particularly highlighted the organisation’s contribution to increasing women’s participation in leadership and decision-making across Kambia District.

Bah explained that women’s participation in leadership was previously constrained by limited confidence, skills and opportunities. Through mentorship, technical assistance and capacity-building, however, more women have gained the knowledge and confidence to seek leadership positions within their communities.

“Through the organisation’s interventions, more women have gained the confidence and capacity to take on leadership roles within their communities,” Bah said.

He pointed to the presence of female councillors in elected positions as one indication of the progress being made. He added that women at chiefdom and community levels are also becoming increasingly involved in governance and community development.

Bah cited Councillor Aminata as an example of a female leader who benefited from ABC-Development’s mentorship and technical support. He further noted that the organisation has supported women who have gone on to become Members of Parliament and other community leaders.

The District Supervisor emphasised that ABC-Development’s support extends beyond financial assistance.

He said the organisation equips women with practical knowledge, confidence and technical skills that enable them to perform more effectively in leadership positions.

As part of its collaboration with ABC-Development, the Ministry provides technical guidance and oversight to ensure that programmes remain aligned with government policies, national development priorities and the legal framework governing gender equality and child protection.

The two institutions also work together on community awareness and sensitisation activities focused on gender laws, gender policies and child protection.

The impact of ABC-Development’s interventions was further highlighted by Councillor Nbalia Bongay, who represents Constituency 060 in Matam Community.

Bongay said ABC-Development’s training, mentorship and capacity-building programmes have helped women become more confident and active in leadership and decision-making.

According to her, women who previously faced social barriers, limited opportunities and a lack of confidence are now increasingly contesting and winning leadership positions.

“Today, we see more women contesting and winning leadership positions, including local council positions and parliamentary representation,” Bongay said.

She described the progress as evidence of the importance of sustained investment in women’s empowerment.

Bongay also highlighted ABC-Development’s computer training for female leaders, saying the initiative has helped women strengthen their digital skills and become more effective in carrying out their responsibilities.

She noted that the organisation has also supported community structures that provide opportunities for women to come together, exchange ideas and collectively identify and address challenges affecting their communities.

ABC-Development’s work in Kambia extends beyond political and community leadership.

Through savings schemes, livelihood support and other empowerment initiatives, the organisation is helping communities strengthen their economic resilience.

Bongay said ABC-Development introduced a community savings scheme that enables residents to save collectively and access loans to meet household and livelihood needs.

Women have used their savings to support their children’s education, purchase learning materials and respond to other household challenges.

Before the introduction of the initiative, she explained, the community did not have an organised savings system through which residents could collectively contribute money and access loans.

The programme has since helped change attitudes towards financial management while strengthening community support mechanisms.

Another important area of ABC-Development’s work has been changing community attitudes towards women’s participation in politics and leadership.

According to Bongay, the organisation has conducted awareness-raising and sensitisation activities involving both women and men. These engagements have helped communities better understand gender equality, women’s rights and the importance of women’s participation in political and community decision-making.

“Community members now recognise that women have the ability to lead and contribute positively to development,” she said.

Women have also benefited from opportunities to strengthen their communication skills and confidence through training, community discussions and engagement activities.

Despite the progress recorded, stakeholders acknowledge that significant challenges remain.

Women seeking leadership and economic opportunities continue to face barriers, including limited access to financial resources, social constraints and inadequate opportunities for capacity development.

Bah therefore appealed to donors and development partners to continue and increase their support to ABC-Development.

He stressed that many communities in Kambia still need access to programmes that promote women’s empowerment, leadership, livelihoods and participation in decision-making.

“With additional support, ABC-Development can expand its programmes to reach more communities, promote greater gender equality, increase women’s representation in leadership, and address barriers that prevent women from fully participating in social, economic and political life,” he said.

He added that increased resources could strengthen women’s access to finance, improve livelihoods and create additional opportunities for economic empowerment.

Councillor Bongay similarly called for continued support from donors and development partners, emphasising that stronger partnerships are needed to enable ABC-Development to expand its programmes and reach more communities.

She expressed appreciation to ABC-Development’s donors and partners, noting that their support has contributed to positive changes in women’s lives and strengthened community development.

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs said it remains encouraged by progress towards achieving the 30 percent quota for women’s representation and stressed the importance of continued support for women seeking leadership positions.

Bah said collaboration among government institutions, development partners and communities remains essential to ensuring that women have greater opportunities to participate in leadership and decision-making at all levels.

He described ABC-Development as an organisation distinguished by its institutional capacity, professionalism and coordination with government institutions and other stakeholders.

According to him, the organisation’s programmes complement national development efforts while focusing on sustainable benefits for communities.

The progress witnessed in Kambia demonstrates the importance of investing in women’s leadership, livelihoods, skills and community structures.

For ABC-Development, the work continues: to support women to lead, strengthen communities to thrive, and work with partners to advance inclusive and sustainable development across Kambia District.

With continued investment and collaboration, stakeholders believe that the gains made can be sustained and extended to communities that have yet to benefit from these interventions.