Efforts to strengthen democratic governance and justice delivery in The Gambia gathered momentum in the first quarter of 2026 as the EU-UNDP GREAT Project advanced reforms aimed at improving accountability, institutional effectiveness and citizen participation. 

Among the key developments during the first quarter was progress on local government reform, with the project supporting a national validation process for proposed amendments to the Local Government Act of 2002 and the Local Government Finance and Audit Act of 2004. The exercise brought together stakeholders from government institutions, Local Government Authorities, civil society, academia, development partners and representatives of women, youth and persons with disabilities, in what officials described as an important step towards modernising the legal framework for decentralised governance and improving service delivery at the local level. 

In the justice sector, work continued on the expansion of the Mile 7 High Court, one of the major infrastructure interventions supported under the project. A joint site visit involving the European Union, UNDP and the Judiciary reviewed progress on the construction works, with partners expressing satisfaction over the pace and quality of implementation. Once completed, the facility is expected to help improve court operations and expand access to justice. 

Support also continued for transitional justice and rule of law reforms. Preparatory steps for the Special Prosecutor’s Office under the Special Accountability Mechanism moved forward during the quarter, as well as efforts to commence the rehabilitation works for the National Agency for Legal Aid and the ADRS building advanced. These interventions are part of wider efforts to strengthen justice institutions and improve their ability to deliver services in a more effective and credible manner. 

Capacity building remained a major focus of the project’s first-quarter activities. Monitoring and Evaluation training programme commenced for 12 justice sector institutions, 39 officials, including 17 women, are undergoing practical training in results-based management, SMART indicator design, disaggregated data collection using digital tools and evidence-based reporting. The training is expected to improve data use, planning and decision-making across the sector. 

Building on previous trainings conducted in 2024 and 2025 which resulted in the training of 100 Correctional officers, preparatory works have been concluded to train additional 60 Correctional officers in the second quarter of 2026. The initiative is aimed at promoting safer, more humane and rights-compliant detention practices. Ahead of the 2026 Presidential election, preparations are underway for civic and voter education activities particularly to address barriers faced by women and marginalised communities in accessing credible electoral information. The support will also target first time voters.  Through the EU-UNDP GREAT initiative, support was provided to the Independent Electoral Commission with visibility materials, which formed part of broader efforts to enhance its visibility, reinforce public trust, and support credible and transparent electoral processes.

Women’s political participation also featured prominently in the project’s reform agenda. New partnerships were advanced to support political parties and civil society organisations in developing gender-responsive frameworks, while mentorship and peer-learning opportunities were created for aspiring women leaders. The intervention is expected to help strengthen women’s leadership and widen their participation in political and public life. For that purpose, an agreement between UNDP and Gambia Participates have been signed. Through its implementation, the project will support eight organisations (four political parties and four CSOs) to develop and operationalize gender-responsive frameworks. In addition, a national mentorship programme will connect 60 aspiring female leaders with experienced women politicians, complemented by structured peer learning platforms engaging 100 women politicians.

With regular Technical Committee meetings helping partners review progress and align priorities, the first quarter of 2026 reflected steady movement on multiple fronts. Taken together, the initiatives point to a broader effort to strengthen institutions, advance reform and support a more inclusive and accountable governance system in The Gambia.