I am delighted to join you as we officially launch The Gambia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security. This is an important achievement which demonstrates The Gambia’s commitment to unlock the transformative power of younger people in building sustainable peace and development together.  

The National Action Plan is anchored on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, which urges member states to give young people a greater voice in decision-making at all levels, especially where matters of peace and security are concerned. UNSCR 2250 promotes positions youth as partners for peace, rather than agents or victims of violence.  

For The Gambia where 77% of the population is between 15 and 35 years, we must increase efforts to harness the energy, creativity, and resilience of our young people to build a more inclusive and peaceful society. This National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security is therefore a key step in the right direction.  

This Action Plan is a formal recognition of the important role that young Gambians continue to play towards sustainable peace. It also aligns with the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan, “Yiriwaa,” which emphasizes youth empowerment and inclusive development in The Gambia.  

Through funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund Infrastructure for Peace Project, UNDP has supported the development of the National Action Plan, working in close collaboration with UNFPA, GIZ-AU and the National Youth Council. Between 2023 and 2024, over 2000 young people have been consulted as part of the process. We have also supported training sessions on youth, peace and security for government officials including 171 Local Government Authorities and 15 National Assembly Members. I am pleased to note that  the National Action Plan was validated by 73 representatives from government, civil society and youth groups on 21 November 2024. 

UNDP has been instrumental in this process. Today, we proudly support the Ministry of Youth and Sports in launching this crucial document. This milestone for The Gambia coincides with the 10th anniversary of UNSCR 2250 in 2025 and offers an opportunity to celebrate our achievements while reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned from our partnerships with young people.  

One of the key lessons is that youth are not a homogeneous group. Therefore, our interactions with young people require tailored approaches that address their diverse needs and perspectives.  

Reflecting this need, UNDP is producing a youth-focused Human Development Report titled, “A Call to Action: Expanding Opportunities for the Dynamic Youth of The Gambia”. This report will examine the needs of different youth sub-groups and explore opportunities to effectively address their needs. The report will propose recommendations for targeted interventions in the areas of education; economic inclusion and job creation; health and well-being; and civic engagement and social inclusion. It will serve as a tool for tailoring our interventions to enhance the capabilities and opportunities of young people, ensuring that they can fully participate as active citizens in a peaceful, economically viable, and supportive environment. 

We have also learned that youth empowerment requires multi-layered and multi-faceted approaches. To deliver on our commitment to empowering youth, creating employment, ensuring decent work, and implementing redistributive programmes to address poverty, inequality, and exclusion, UNDP has partnered with the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the past eight years. Through various flagship projects, such as the Songhai Initiative and the National Youth Service Scheme, we have made significant strides. The Songhai Initiative has created numerous jobs for young Gambians, with the latest group of graduates recently completing their training. Additionally, thousands of youth have received financial literacy and business skills training, expanding their market opportunities. The National Youth Service Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Youth with UNDP support, has seen a substantial portion of its graduates secure direct employment. These efforts underscore our dedication to fostering a brighter future for the youth of The Gambia. 

In 2024, UNDP contributed to the updated Conflict and Development Analysis Report, which revealed a clear link between youth economic vulnerability, social exclusion, and rising tensions and insecurity. The report emphasizes the need to understand and address the intersecting factors that shape young people’s roles in conflict, peace, and security.  

In response, the National Action Plan is built on four interrelated pillars—human capital development, institutional commitment, an enabling environment, and coordination and partnerships. Together, these themes work in synergy to enhance youth leadership for sustainable peace. UNDP’s broad development mandate places us in a strategic position to support this multi-faceted approach to youth empowerment.  

On a global level, the United Nations acknowledges that the full, effective and meaningful participation of youth is critical to maintain and promote international peace and security. 

At the Summit of the Future, held in September last year, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, recommitting to protect the needs and interests of current and future generations. Action 20 of the Pact for the Future expresses the renewed commitment of member states to accelerate the implementation of commitments to youth, peace and security by taking measures to increase the inclusive representation of youth in decision-making at all levels and by strengthening and implementing existing youth, peace and security national road maps or developing them where they do not exist.  

 These global commitments provide essential frameworks that guide our interventions. However, on this important occasion, we must emphasize that the success and sustainability of the Action Plan depends largely on national ownership. Every stakeholder—including government, civil society, youth groups, and development agencies—plays a critical role. Linking global commitments with national actions reinforces our shared responsibility towards youth empowerment.   

As we mark this occasion, I urge all to reflect on our individual and collective responsibility to enhance our partnerships with young people, working together based on our comparative advantages to create lasting impact for future generations.  

I would also like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister; the National Youth Council; GIZ-AU; ActionAid The Gambia; our sister agency UNFPA; and the Peacebuilding Fund, whose support and efforts facilitated this joint effort in unlocking the full potential of young Gambians. 

In conclusion, let us remember that sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. We cannot achieve one without the other. Moreover, we cannot achieve any of these without inclusive policies that leverage the unique skills and talents of our young people. Thank you.  Abarakah. Jerejeff. Jaramah.