Africa-Press – Gambia. The Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Alieu Njie, on Tuesday presided over the official opening of a two-day workshop on the National Policy Development Handbook 2025, aimed at strengthening standardized policy formulation across government institutions.
The workshop, organized by the Policy Analysis Unit (PAU) under the Ministry of Public Service (MoPS), is taking place at the Bakadaji Hotel in Kololi from March 24–25, 2026.
In his remarks, Mr. Njie described the initiative as a major step toward establishing a coherent, standardized and results-oriented approach to public policy development, implementation and evaluation across the public service.
He noted that with Cabinet approval of the Handbook, government now has, for the first time, a unified framework to guide Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the preparation of evidence-based and nationally aligned policies.
“This provides a structured system through which all MDAs can ensure policies are well designed, evidence-based and aligned with national priorities,” he said.
Mr. Njie urged senior officials to take full ownership of policy quality within their institutions and ensure that all submissions to Cabinet comply with the provisions of the Handbook.
He commended the Ministry of Public Service for developing the document, describing it as a key foundation for a more professional, responsive and accountable civil service.
He further stressed that sound policy remains the backbone of effective governance, warning that weak coordination and lack of clarity in policy processes could undermine national development outcomes.
According to him, civil servants must be equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge and skills to formulate policies that are inclusive, impactful and sustainable. He added that the Handbook provides comprehensive guidance across the entire policy cycle, including problem identification, stakeholder engagement, formulation, costing, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review.
Mr. Njie described the workshop as a practical and strategic engagement rather than a routine exercise, urging participants to actively contribute and apply the principles within their respective institutions.
In a keynote address, the Minister of Public Service, Baboucarr Bouy, reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, improving policy coherence and promoting a high-performing public service.
He said the approval of the Handbook by Cabinet represents a major milestone under the government’s public sector transformation agenda.
Mr. Bouy said the objective of the workshop is to familiarize policymakers, planners and administrative staff with the standards for policy formulation outlined in the Handbook.
He also commended technical experts, development partners and public institutions for their contributions to the development of the document, saying their efforts have laid a strong foundation for improved policy governance in The Gambia.
He encouraged participants to fully utilize the workshop to build a more efficient, professional and accountable public service aligned with citizens’ aspirations.
