28 July 2026 marked a watershed moment for girls’ education in The Gambia as FAWE Gambia successfully convened its 11th General Assembly in Banjul. The assembly was preceded by a series of high-level engagements that underscored the organization’s growing influence and its strategic positioning within the country’s education landscape.
The General Assembly was officially inaugurated by Hon. Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, whose presence signaled the Government’s unwavering commitment to placing girls’ education at the heart of national development. In her keynote address, the Minister lauded FAWE Gambia as an indispensable ally in the quest for inclusive, equitable, and transformative education. “The Government of The Gambia stands firmly with FAWE in ensuring that no girl is left behind,” she affirmed, pledging to deepen collaboration on Gender-Responsive Pedagogy (GRP), the prevention of gender-based violence in schools, and targeted interventions to enhance girls’ access, retention, and learning outcomes.
A highlight of the Assembly was the official launch of FAWE Gambia’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, led by Ms. Oley Dibba Wadda, FAWE Africa Board Member, and Dr. Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director of FAWE Africa. The new strategic framework outlines an ambitious roadmap for advancing girls’ and women’s education over the next five years, focusing on strengthening institutional capacity, expanding partnerships, and deepening advocacy for gender-transformative education.
The Assembly also elected a new Board of Directors, chaired by Ms. Isatou Ndow, a Lecturer in Gender Studies and Coordinator of Initial Teacher Education at the University of Education, The Gambia, who holds a Master’s degree in Education and is currently pursuing a PhD in Instructional Design. In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Ndow reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening FAWE Gambia’s leadership and expanding strategic partnerships. “Girls’ education is not only a matter of equity; it is a powerful driver of sustainable development,” she emphasized, calling on all stakeholders to work together to ensure that every Gambian girl has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and reach her full potential.
On the sidelines of the Assembly, FAWE leadership engaged in strategic meetings that further cemented the organization’s role as a key player in The Gambia’s education sector. A delegation comprising Ms. Oley Dibba Wadda, Dr. Martha Muhwezi, Dr. Koly Fall, and FAWE Gambia National Coordinator Ms. Yadi Njie Eribo met with H.E. Amb. Jainaba Jagne, African Union Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict, to explore collaboration in supporting girls in conflict-affected settings. Discussions focused on FAWE’s ongoing efforts to sustain education for girls in refugee and displacement contexts through psychosocial support using the TUSEME model, building on lessons learned from the GPE KIX TUSEME project. The meeting concluded with a principle agreement to sign an MoU between FAWE Africa and the Office of the AU Special Envoy, focusing on joint advocacy, knowledge sharing, and the implementation of joint visibility initiatives.
Additionally, a separate meeting with Dr. Jorjoh Ndure-Tambedou, Executive Director of the Tertiary and Higher Education Trust Fund (THET Fund), explored collaboration to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and facilitate young people’s transition to employment and entrepreneurship. The meeting resulted in an agreement in principle to sign an MoU focused on Gender-Responsive Pedagogy for TVET (GRP4TVET), the TUSEME model, and the exchange of experiences and good practices.