THE GAMBIA NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO (NATCOM)

The World Press Freedom Day was convened at the University of The Gambia Auditorium on the 14th May 2022 in a form of symposium. The symposium was funded by UNESCO Dakar office and implemented by The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO in collaboration with the Gambia Press Union, University of the Gambia and MAJAC. Normally 3rd May every year marks the World Press Freedom Day, but since 3rd May this year collided with the Muslim feast of Koriteh (Idul Fitr), The Gambia observed a belated celebration of World Press Freedom Day in a grant style aimed to highlight the importance of journalism for our democracies.

The event was formally opened by the Director of ICT on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of MOICI. It was the first Activity of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign conducted on the 12th of October, 2021. Forty (40) personnel from the Law Enforcement Bodies participated. Three resource persons from MOICI, GCSA and gmCSIRT conducted the lectures. The lectures were centered on Cybersecurity Strategy, Policy and Governance. It also discussed on the legal and regulatory frameworks on Cybercrime as well as the way forward for The Gambia. It entailed a Cybersecurity awareness session on safe online practices as well as incident handling and reporting simulation. Interesting and challenging questions or concerns were raised by participants. These include common issues they face. Emphasis was made on the implementation of Government plans on Cybersecurity reinforced. See Annex C

The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO/NATCOM Team embark on a three day training exercise to Regions 4, 5 and 6 from the 9th to 11th March, 2021.  The training concentrated mainly on the following topics:

  • Tracing Dropouts from schools
  • Identifying out of school children and reporting it
  • Advocacy skills to drive enrollment
  • Roles and responsibilities of Local Stakeholders

The purpose was to train the REDs and local stakeholders the strategies that will encourage parents or guidance to enroll and retain their children in school. 

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World press freedom day 

The World Press Freedom Day was convened at the University of The Gambia Auditorium on the 14th May 2022 in a form of symposium. The symposium was funded by UNESCO Dakar office and implemented by The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO in collaboration with the Gambia Press Union, University of the Gambia and MAJAC. Normally 3rd May every year marks the World Press Freedom Day, but since 3rd May this year collided with the Muslim feast of Koriteh (Idul Fitr), The Gambia observed a belated celebration of World Press Freedom Day in a grant style aimed to highlight the importance of journalism for our democracies.


capacity building

The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO/NATCOM Team embark on a three day training exercise to Regions 4, 5 and 6 from the 9th to 11th March, 2021.  The training concentrated mainly on the following topics:

  • Tracing Dropouts from schools
  • Identifying out of school children and reporting it
  • Advocacy skills to drive enrollment
  • Roles and responsibilities of Local Stakeholders

The purpose was to train the REDs and local stakeholders the strategies that will encourage parents or guidance to enroll and retain their children in school. 


youth empowerment

Through the ‘Youth Empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) project, the Gambian Government is being supported by UNESCO and KOICA to change the negative perception of TVET and increase its attractiveness at national and regional level, amongst others. UNESCO and all stakeholders in this project National Technical Team members perceive the need for communications support for the Project as part of Activity 8: Guidance and Communication to Change Perceptions of TVET.


CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN 2021

The event was formally opened by the Director of ICT on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of MOICI. It was the first Activity of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign conducted on the 12th of October, 2021. Forty (40) personnel from the Law Enforcement Bodies participated. Three resource persons from MOICI, GCSA and gmCSIRT conducted the lectures. The lectures were centered on Cybersecurity Strategy, Policy and Governance. It also discussed on the legal and regulatory frameworks on Cybercrime as well as the way forward for The Gambia. It entailed a Cybersecurity awareness session on safe online practices as well as incident handling and reporting simulation. Interesting and challenging questions or concerns were raised by participants. These include common issues they face. Emphasis was made on the implementation of Government plans on Cybersecurity reinforced. See Annex C

The Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in collaboration with the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO/ICESCO engage in the support for community reforestation program in order to promote a sustainable ecosystem, strengthen food security and community resilience in The Gambia.


ICESCO together with the NATCOM plans to kick-start the Production of 500,000 (Five hundred thousand) plants from «High» Efficient Trees» to support the Gambian Government in its community reforestation efforts aimed at promoting the involvement of the population in the restoration of ecosystems and their access to land resources. The NATCOM is collaborating with the Department of Forestry as the technical implementing partners for this project. 


The project was officially launched on the 7th May 2024 at the NaNA Hall in Kanifing. The launching gathered 49 participants drawn from different stakeholder institutions, communities, forest management officials and technicians. This project’s main goal is to reforest 20 hectares of degraded community lands in The Gambia as part of the Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) Program by producing and planting 10,000 trees of efficient and adapted woody forest species with good survival and resilience in different climatic conditions.  

The speech concluded with appreciation commitment that the Government of The Gambia has on environmental preservation and a call to continue efforts for future generations. this shall through coordinate with partners such that our reforestation activities in this year’s rainy season will coincide for greater impacts.


This "Support for Community Reforestation Programme/project in The Gambia" is funded by ICESCO.

ASsociated schools network

The UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) connects more than 12,000 schools in 182 countries around a common goal to build peace in the minds of children and young people.

Associations, Centres and Clubs for UNESCO

The Clubs, Centres and Associations for UNESCO are groups of volunteers of different ages and socio-professional status who become activists in the service of UNESCO’s ideals.

UNESCO Digital Library

The UNESCO Digital Library is a key tool for enabling UNESCO’s mission of building peace in the minds of people, in particular by “advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding, and encouraging cooperation among the nations in all branches of intellectual activity.

(UNESCO Constitution).