International IDEA, EU, and GPU Launch Capacity-Building Training for National Assembly Communications Unit

By Ramatoulie Jawo

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), in collaboration with the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and with support from the European Union (EU), has commenced a two-day capacity-building training for the Communications Unit of the National Assembly.

The training aims to strengthen communication strategies within the National Assembly and promote best practices in legislative engagement.

Officials from International IDEA highlighted that as part of the EU-funded Constitutional and Democratic Engagement (CODE) project, they have supported the development of a four-year National Assembly Strategic and Investment Plan. This initiative is designed to foster a more open, transparent, and democratic legislature, guided by principles of good governance, accountability, and probity.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jainaba Faye, Head of IDEA’s Country Office, underscored the crucial role of parliamentary communications officers in ensuring effective governance. She emphasized that their function extends beyond support services to being central pillars in strengthening legislative communication.

“This training is designed to ensure that you are equipped with not just the theoretic aspects of communications but also digital skills such as managing social media, producing content for online platforms, camera operations, and audio management among other skills you will need on a daily basis to effectively communicate internally and to the public, ” she said.

She further reaffirmed International IDEA’s commitment to supporting the National Assembly in enhancing its communication efforts.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Khalifa MM. Mbye, expressed optimism that the training would result in a more structured and targeted communication approach tailored to different audiences. He noted that the Assembly has undertaken various outreach initiatives to improve public understanding of its role and legislative processes. 

“Having well-framed communication professionals with the requisite skills and know how and well-structured communications and outreach approaches revolving around a structured communication framework will go a long way to enhance the visibility of the assembly on all media,” he said. 

Raphaël Brigandi, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to The Gambia, emphasized the critical role of clear and effective communication in governance. He noted that as the institution directly representing citizens and shaping laws on their behalf, the National Assembly must prioritize transparency and engagement.

“People need to understand and engage with this process but also grasp the issues and proposed solutions at stake so that all Gambians know how the laws might affect their daily lives,” he said 

He stressed that fostering understanding between citizens and their representatives is vital to strengthening democracy and building public trust.

All speakers encouraged participants to apply the skills and knowledge gained from the training in their professional roles, reinforcing the importance of effective legislative communication in democratic governance.