The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the weekend convened a diaspora engagement forum at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo to strengthen diaspora role in national development.
The forum, supported by the EU through the UNDP GREAT Project, brought together government, civil society, professionals and Gambians abroad to discuss governance, transitional justice, security sector reform, human rights and electoral participation. More than 40 diaspora members joined virtually.
NHRC Chairman Emmanuel Daniel Joof said diaspora contributions go beyond remittances to include expertise, skills and international experience. He renewed call for diaspora voting, saying Gambians abroad have constitutional right to participate in elections.
Joof called for structured partnership between diaspora and national institutions and urged acceptance of divergent views.
“There is no need to see each other as us and them, but as one collective for national development,” he said.
UNDP Country Representative Mandisa Mashologu described the diaspora as a valuable national asset with expertise, networks and investment potential critical for peace, democracy and prosperity. She said engagement must move beyond goodwill to predictable, sustained mechanisms for contribution.
TANGO Chairperson Yadicon Njie Eribo said the diaspora is one of Gambia’s most significant development partners but remains under-harnessed.
“Personal remittance inflow reached approximately $872.5 million according to World Bank data. These are Gambians paying school fees, supporting healthcare, building homes and sustaining small businesses,” she said.
She said remittances are more immediate and reliable than formal social protection for thousands of households, but challenged government to shift from consumption to productive investment, employment and long-term growth.
She noted diaspora investments in real estate, tourism, agriculture, transport and retail are already creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
Participants stressed transparency, access to information and accountability, and rejected ‘us versus them’ mentality, saying dissent is part of democracy.
The forum ended with call for Gambians abroad to maintain connection and scale investment beyond remittances.
