Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) last Wednesday launched a five-day training workshop on Gender and Diversity for senior management and Gender Focal Points at the Senegambia Beach Hotel in Kololi.
The workshop, part of GRA’s broader institutional reform agenda, brings together directors, unit heads, and designated gender focal persons to promote inclusion, equity, and improved service delivery.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Director of Administration, Binta Sallah Kandeh, highlighted the programme’s strategic importance. She said the training aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to integrate gender and diversity perspectives into GRA’s policies, programmes, and daily operations, while equipping them to advocate for inclusion within the institution.
“This workshop is not a one-off activity; it is a key step in building a culture where inclusion is embedded in the way we plan, manage staff, and serve taxpayers,” Madam Kandeh said. She added that the training would provide practical tools and analytical skills to address gender and diversity systematically rather than as an afterthought.
The training covers gender equality and diversity concepts, organizational change management, gender-responsive planning and budgeting, and preventing workplace discrimination and harassment. Participants will also review national policies and international commitments ratified by The Gambia, and discuss translating them into internal regulations and operational guidelines.
Acting Commissioner General of GRA, Essa Jallow, in a keynote address, emphasized that gender mainstreaming and diversity management was linked to institutional performance. He says an inclusive work environment that respects differences and ensures equal opportunities contributes to staff motivation, innovation, and accountability.
“For GRA, gender and diversity are not just compliance issues; they are smart management practices,” Mr. Jallow said, noting that inclusion enhances efficiency and productivity in revenue mobilization and service delivery. He also highlighted that gender-sensitive operations help the authority better respond to the needs of diverse taxpayers, including women-owned businesses, persons with disabilities, and informal sector operators.
Director of Internal Audit, John S.L. Gomez, described the initiative as timely and in line with global best practices. He encouraged participants to actively engage and reflect on existing practices, stressing that “real change will not come from policies on paper alone, but from how each of us chooses to lead and manage teams.”
The workshop aligns with The Gambia Government’s commitment to gender equality, social inclusion, and good governance. It includes presentations, interactive sessions, group work, case studies, and practical exercises, aiming to translate learning into action.
Mustapha S. Koli, representing the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, praised GRA for prioritizing gender and diversity and described the training as a model for integrating inclusion into public sector operations. He reaffirmed the ministry’s support for institutions building gender-responsive governance systems.
The training is expected to conclude with recommendations to enhance GRA’s Gender and Diversity Framework, focusing on leadership accountability, data collection, and monitoring, and reinforcing the authority’s goal of becoming a modern, professional, and people-centered revenue administration.
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