Shape International

CRS, EU Disability-Inclusive pathways project Tackling Barriers Facing Children with Disabilities in Schools By Madi S. Njie Catholic Relief Services (CRS), in collaboration with GFD and with funding from the European Union, is implementing a 30-month disability-inclusive education project aimed at improving access, protection and participation of children with disabilities into mainstream schools in The Gambia. The project, “Disability Inclusive Pathways,” officially began on 1 March 2025 and will run until 30 September 2027. An important activity—a two-day “Parenting Without Violence” training—was held from 15–16 December 2025 at the Ocean Bay Hotel, bringing together leaders of the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) and affiliated Organisations of Persons with Disabilities. Speaking at the opening session, Ms. Safiatou Touray, CRS Senior Project Officer, said the initiative is being implemented in close partnership with GFD, whose input was critical at the design stag...

Farafenni, North Bank Region — 4 December 2025: The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) on Thursday convened its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Farafenni, bringing together leaders from 19 Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), board members and staff to review a year marked by major achievements, enduring financial constraints, and renewed calls for stronger national support. Held at Wallimann Hotel, the AGM showcased progress in employment, entrepreneurship, inclusive education and disaster preparedness, while also highlighting critical funding and capacity gaps affecting the Federation’s work. In his address, GFD Chairman His Worship Muhammed Krubally presented a comprehensive update on the Federation's work over the past year. Highlighting several significant achievements, Krubally emphasized the Federation’s efforts in promoting employment for persons with disabilities. A major accomplishment was securing a position for a person with a disability within th...

Video sources /Interviewers/ Video Editor: Fatou Bin Jatta and Sarata Barry - Members of Association of Mentally Health (AMDG), and Muhammad Touray- Association of Gambian Albinos (AGA) - The Gambia, and courtesy of the GFD, OPDs Info & News WhatsApp Group; Images on the picture below: From left: Kerewan Area Council Chairman, NBR Governor, His Worship Muhammed Krubally (GFD Chairman), Sainey Camara (GFD Executive Director) and the Master of Ceremony Farafenni, North Bank Region — The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) on Wednesday, 3rd December 2025, commemorated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with a major regional gathering in Farafenni, bringing together government officials,  leaders, ccommunity civil society actors, and persons with disabilities to promote inclusion, dignity, and human rights.  The annual observance—proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992—aims to deepen global commitment to equality and highlight the contributions and challenges...

Gambians have been urged to take a frontline role in national and local budgeting processes to strengthen transparency and accountability. The call was renewed during a two-day training held on 27–28 November 2025, organised by The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO) with support from the UNDP GREAT Project. Delivering one of his presentation on public participation in budget processes, Mr. Lamin Dibba, Executive Director of the Center for Budget and Macroeconomic Transparency (CBMT), said traditional consultation methods are “no longer enough,” urging citizens to actively influence priority-setting, monitor public expenditure and demand institutional accountability. “Budgeting must be owned by the people,” he stressed. A major highlight of the workshop was a presentation by Mr. John Charles Njie, Chairperson of the Access to Information Commission, who outlined the legal obligations of public bodies under the ATI Act. He said access to timely and accurate informati...