Africa-Press – Gambia. The Secretary General of ActionAid International, Mr. Arthur Larok, on Thursday, led a high-level delegation to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency Momodou M S Jallow, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia.
He was accompanied by Mrs. Ndella Faye Colley, Executive Director of ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG), and other senior officials. The visit formed part of ActionAid’s ongoing programme review in The Gambia and was described by both parties as warm, cordial, and productive.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Larok expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to his team, noting that the engagement reaffirmed ActionAid’s respect for government partnership.
“It was very welcoming, a wonderful courtesy call,” he said. “As is the practice with ActionAid, we have great respect for our governments. Before undertaking any major activities in the country, we always ensure to first pay a courtesy visit to the leadership.”
Mr. Larok commended the Vice President for her knowledge of ActionAid’s long-standing presence in The Gambia, recalling the organization’s impactful work since the 1980s and 1990s. Discussions during the meeting centered on ActionAid’s key areas of focus, including empowering women and youth through interventions in education, health, and HIV/AIDS.
The dialogue also touched on sensitive but important topics such as harmful traditional practices, particularly Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Both sides appreciated the open and constructive nature of the discussions.
For her part, Mrs. Ndella Faye Colley reiterated ActionAid’s commitment to complementing government efforts in national development.
“ActionAid in The Gambia works to support the government as the primary duty bearer,” she stated. “As civil society, we contribute our quota and collaborate with partners from the national to grassroots levels.”
She emphasized that ActionAid’s work remains rooted in rural and marginalized communities, in line with the organization’s global mission of ensuring that no one is left behind.
“We take sides with the poor and excluded because they are often those not included in decision-making processes,” she added.
Mrs. Colley highlighted that ActionAid operates across several critical sectors, including health, education, agriculture, climate change, gender, youth empowerment, land rights, and governance, all of which align with government priorities.
She expressed optimism about the continued collaboration following the positive reception from the Vice President, His Excellency Momodou MS Jallow, while describing the meeting as “a reaffirmation of shared commitment to improving the lives of Gambians.”
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