The vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs Tuesday told deputies at the National Assembly that NGOs are closely monitored at both office and community level.

Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy was responding to a question by Hon. Abdoulie Saine, National Assembly member (NAM) for Banjul Central who wanted to know the mechanism in place as some NGOs may not be genuine. She assured that the government of The Gambia is aware of the need for NGO activities to be monitored, and thus the establishment of the NGO Affairs Agency under the then Department of State for Local Government and Lands (now under the Office of the President) through the Promulgation of Decree 81. She explained that the Agency is responsible for registration, coordination, monitoring and facilitating the activities of NGOs in the country.

VP Njie-Saidy further explained that Article 13 of the Protocol of Accord signed between the government and NGOs requires the latter to submit annual progress reports, budget, work plan and audited financial reports to the NGO Affairs Agency, and that these reports are verified through quarterly treks. This way, she said, NGOs are closely monitored not only at office level but also at the community to avoid duplication and make them accountable to both government and communities by enhancing community participation in their programme design and implementation.