PRESS BRIEFING
Promoting Electoral Integrity and Peaceful Participation through Electoral Literacy.
Banjul, the Gambia. August 2026
The ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project seeks to strengthen peace, security and good governance across the ECOWAS region. As part of this regional initiative, the Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP), a Spanish Cooperation entity, is implementing a three-day workshop in Banjul, The Gambia, from 25–27 August 2026,
The EPSG project is a multi-donor initiative co-financed by the European Union (EU), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Denmark, and implement by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Expertise France and FIAP.Promoting Electoral Integrity and Peaceful Participation
Titled “Promoting Electoral Integrity and Peaceful Participation through Electoral Literacy,” the workshop brings together 35 participants representing all eight administrative areas of The Gambia: Banjul, Kanifing Municipality, West Coast Region, Lower River Region, North Bank Region, Central River Region (North and South), and Upper River Region. The initiative comes at a particularly important time ahead of the country’s December 2026 electoral cycle, with a focus on strengthening electoral integrity, inclusive democratic participation and peaceful elections, particularly among women and young people from vulnerable and marginalised communities.
The workshop promotes electoral literacy as a foundation for informed and active citizenship. Participants are gaining practical knowledge of electoral rights and responsibilities, voter registration, voting procedures, candidates and electoral processes, while developing skills to identify and resist misinformation, political manipulation and other forms of interference. The programme also emphasises that meaningful democratic participation extends beyond voting to include civic leadership, community decision-making, political engagement, election observation, advocacy and participation in public debate.
Remarks from the European Union
Speaking during the special remarks at the workshop, Mr. Raphael Brigandi, Deputy Head of Mission of the EU Delegation to The Gambia, expressed appreciation to FIAP and WANEP The Gambia for organising the initiative. He underscored the timeliness and strategic importance of the workshop ahead of the upcoming elections, particularly in promoting informed, inclusive and peaceful participation.
Key Areas of Focus
The workshop is centred on three interconnected areas:
- Women and Youth in Democratic Governance: Addressing social, cultural, economic, informational and security-related barriers that limit the meaningful participation of women and young people in democratic processes.
- Prevention of Electoral Violence: Promoting peaceful political participation and strengthening understanding of the causes, risks and prevention of election-related violence.
- Community-Based Conflict Prevention: Strengthening the role of communities in promoting dialogue, tolerance, social cohesion and peaceful elections.
Women and young women are recognised not merely as beneficiaries of democracy, but as essential actors, peacebuilders and advocates for stronger, more accountable and inclusive institutions.
Electoral integrity is addressed through principles of transparency, accountability and constructive engagement, enabling participants to better understand their rights, recognise electoral violations and identify the responsibilities of relevant institutions. Peaceful participation is equally emphasised, with a focus on tolerance, dialogue, non-violence and respect for diverse political views before, during and after elections.
Inclusive and Participatory Approach
The workshop adopts an interactive approach that combines expert presentations, group discussions, experience-sharing, practical exercises and group presentations. It also highlights the shared responsibility of civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, electoral institutions, security agencies, the media and local communities in creating an environment where women and all citizens can participate fully, safely and meaningfully.
Expected Outcomes and Regional Impact
The initiative is expected to enhance participants’ understanding of electoral integrity and democratic participation, strengthen practical electoral knowledge, reduce vulnerability to misinformation and exclusion, and promote community-level advocacy for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections. The Gambian intervention also builds on experiences from similar initiatives in Nigeria and Benin Republic, providing opportunities for cross-country learning, networking and collaboration among women leaders and civic actors. These exchanges seek to strengthen women-led networks and demonstrate how electoral literacy can be translated into practical community-level action.
Ultimately, the workshop positions electoral literacy not merely as an awareness-raising tool, but as a catalyst for informed civic engagement, peaceful participation, community action and stronger democratic governance. By empowering women and young women with knowledge, confidence and practical skills, the initiative aims to contribute to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in The Gambia while supporting broader peace, security and democratic governance across the ECOWAS region.
