Across The Gambia, from busy markets to quiet village compounds, a quiet transformation is taking place, led not by institutions alone, but by everyday people trained to keep the peace.

Through the EU-funded, UNDP-implemented Insider Mediation Project, community members—women, youth, and persons with disabilities are stepping into roles as mediators, resolving disputes and strengthening social cohesion where it matters most.

Between February and March 2026, regional trainings brought together Insider Mediators and Kanyalengs—traditional women communicators, equipping them with practical skills in dialogue facilitation, trauma-informed mediation, and psychosocial support. But beyond the training rooms, something deeper emerged: confidence, leadership, and a renewed sense of purpose.

For Fatou Saidy from Farafenni, peacebuilding is now part of her everyday life.
“I work at the Area Council, but I also mediate conflicts in my community,” she shares. “I’ve learned that anyone can help resolve disputes, conflict can happen anywhere.”

Stories like Fatou’s are echoed across the country. Women like Ngui Secka, a former teacher and community leader, are using their experience to bridge divides and guide communities toward dialogue. Working alongside Kanyalengs, whose cultural performances bring messages of peace to life, mediators are finding new ways to connect with people and inspire change.

As the project approaches its conclusion, attention is turning to sustainability, ensuring that these efforts continue beyond external support. Stakeholders are now working toward embedding insider mediation within national systems, strengthening coordination, and maintaining inclusive participation at all levels.

What is emerging is clear: peacebuilding in The Gambia is no longer confined to formal spaces. It lives within communities, carried forward by individuals who are choosing dialogue over division.

This is more than capacity building, it is a shift in how peace is built, owned, and sustained.