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Since the post-transition period in 2017, UNDP has leveraged its mandate, convening power, and thought leadership to support The Gambia's Security Sector Reform (SSR) agenda, a key pillar of the Recovery Focused-National Development Plan (RF-NDP). The reform aims to address the legacy of dysfunctional security institutions, which prioritized regime protection over citizens’ rights and safety. By promoting human rights, accountability, and citizen-focused security, SSR is vital to fostering sustainable peace and rebuilding trust between citizens and security institutions. The first UNDP SSR project (2017 – 2020), supported by Peace Building Fund (PBF) laid the groundwork for critical reforms by facilitating the development of key normative frameworks. The National Security Policy, a landmark achievement of the project, informed the formulation of both the National Security Strategy (NSS) and the Security Sector Reform Strategy (SSRS), providing a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the sector and enhanced government’s ability to provide strategic direction for the reforms. These frameworks established the vision for a security architecture rooted in democratic governance, accountability, and respect for human rights. Following the conclusion of the initial project, UNDP continued its commitment to SSR through its core resources, focusing on strengthening institutional capacity of the Office of National Security (ONS) to enhance its oversight role and outreach programmes to improve transparency, citizen engagement and public awareness of the reform processes.
UNDP’s leadership in Security Sector Reform (SSR) is further exemplified by the new PBF) supported project, jointly implemented with UNODC and OHCHR. The Sustaining Gambia’s Peaceful Transition by Supporting Implementation of the Security Sector Reform Strategy Project (2025–2028) highlights UNDP’s partnership with the government and commitment to fostering strong, accountable security institutions that uphold human rights and align with the Gambian people’s aspirations for sustainable peace. The new project will address several critical challenges facing security sector, including weak institutional policies and legislation, lack of accountability due to fragile internal and external oversight mechanisms, gender gaps in decision-making processes, limited institutional capacity, and low public trust and confidence in the sector. By tackling these issues, the project seeks to create a security sector that embodies democratic principles and serves as a pillar of stability in the country’s ongoing transition.Through these targeted efforts, UNDP remains steadfast in supporting The Gambia’s journey toward a reformed security sector that protects citizens, promotes gender equality, and ensures lasting peace and development.