SOCIAL PROGRESS AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENTa
SOCIAL PROGRESS AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Investing in our people is the cornerstone of national development. PROGRESS’s social agenda will build human capital, promote equality, and strengthen the fabric of our society. Central to this is a radical transformation of our education system. Education is the great equalizer and the engine of social progress, yet in its current state it is not equipping our youth to thrive. We will institute a comprehensive reform from basic schooling to higher education and vocational training. First and foremost, we affirm that every Gambian child has the right to quality education.
FREE AND COMPULSORY QUALITY EDICATION
To realize that, we will make education free and compulsory from Grade 1 through Grade 12, ensuring no child is left behind due to inability to pay or lack of access. But access is only the beginning; we must also revolutionize what and how we teach. Under PROGRESS, the curriculum will be redesigned to meet the needs of the 21st century and to reflect our national values. We will embed a sense of national identity and civic duty in students from an early age by teaching Gambian history, African heritage, and citizenship education alongside math and science. Critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills will be emphasized at all levels. Beyond academia, students will learn vocational skills, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship to prepare them for the modern world and job market, aligning education with the country’s development priorities in agriculture, technology, healthcare, infrastructure, and the creative industries.
TEACHERS AS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR NATION
Our teachers are the heroes who will make this transformation possible, and we will elevate the teaching profession to attract and retain the best minds. Teachers 19 should see their career as a respected calling, not a last resort. PROGRESS will improve teacher training, offer incentives for excellent performance, and raise teacher salaries so they reflect the importance of the job. An inspired, wellsupported teacher in every classroom is our goal, because motivated teachers create motivated students. To complement academic learning, after high school we will introduce a compulsory two-year national service and skills program for young adults (detailed further in the security section). This program will have dual benefits: it will instill discipline and a spirit of service, and it will provide advanced vocational training and apprenticeships. Whether a student aims to be a high-tech coder, a nurse, a farmer, or an electrician, there will be pathways for them to gain hands-on experience and certification in those two years. By the time Gambian youth complete their education, they will not only have degrees or diplomas, but also practical experience, a strong work ethic, and patriotic dedication to the nation.
ONE VILLAGE ONE DOCTOR
Just as important as education is the health of our people. A nation cannot prosper if its citizens are ill or dying from preventable causes. Therefore, PROGRESS will overhaul the healthcare system to deliver accessible, quality care for all. We will significantly increase funding for health, focusing on primary and preventive care which yield the greatest benefits. Our vision is to have at least one doctor or qualified health practitioner in every village or community — the “One Village, One Doctor” initiative. This means training and deploying more healthcare workers to rural areas, building and upgrading clinics, and ensuring essential medicines are always in stock. With healthcare providers embedded in communities, illnesses can be caught early and healthy habits encouraged, reducing the burden of disease. We will place particular emphasis on maternal and child health: it is unacceptable that women lose their lives in childbirth in modern Gambia. We will declare maternal mortality a national emergency and 20 marshal resources to protect mothers, from prenatal care and nutrition programs to emergency obstetric units. Furthermore, to support women’s health and dignity, we will eliminate import duties and taxes on female sanitary products, making them affordable to all.
A HEALTHY NATION IS A PRODUCTIVE NATION
Our plan also calls for smart management in the health sector. To eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, public hospitals and major healthcare facilities will be given more autonomy and run by professional boards rather than being micromanaged by the central ministry. This autonomous health authority will enforce high standards of care, ensure accountability for staff and resources, and respond better to the needs of each hospital’s locality. The Ministry of Health will focus on policy, funding, and oversight, while empowered local administrations handle day-to-day operations. This structure has proven effective in other countries by reducing red tape and allowing health professionals to do what they do best save lives. By ensuring strong oversight, adequate funding, and a presence of healthcare services in every community, PROGRESS will build a healthier Gambia where no one has to travel far or pay exorbitantly to get treatment.
REVIEW OF ALL LAND ALLOCATIONS
A just society must guarantee that its resources , including land , are shared fairly among its people. For too long, land allocation in The Gambia has been marred by favoritism, speculation, and injustice. We have seen well-connected individuals receive public lands for free or at nominal cost, only to sell them for private profit without any development, while ordinary citizens struggle to find a plot to build a home or farm. PROGRESS will bring an end to these corrupt practices and ensure equitable access to land. Our government will launch a comprehensive review of all recent land deals, especially those involving state or reserved lands, to identify cases of abuse or illegal acquisition. Any land that was 21 acquired through misrepresentation or abuse of power will be repossessed by the state and, where appropriate, returned or redistributed to rightful beneficiaries.
TRANSPARENT AND EQUITABLE LAND ALLOCATION
Moving forward, we will implement a transparent and merit-based system for public land allocation. Clear criteria will be established for who qualifies for land grants or leases, for instance, genuine investors with viable development plans, or community organizations needing land for public benefit projects. All allocations will be made public within 7 days of their allocation to allow scrutiny. We will enact anti-speculation rules to ensure that land given for development is actually developed: no recipient of government land will be allowed to sell or transfer it before fulfilling the development purpose. If they attempt to do so, the land will automatically revert to the state. In strategic areas such as the Tourism Development Area (TDA), any plot that remains unused beyond the legally stipulated period will likewise be taken back and offered to someone ready to develop it. Our land policy will also prioritize those who have historically been disadvantaged. Special provisions will make it easier for women, youth, and low- income families to acquire land for homes or farms, because land ownership should not be limited to the rich. We will protect community lands by legally recognizing traditional communal land rights, ensuring that local communities cannot be displaced without consent and fair compensation. Additionally, to curb fraud and conflicts over titles, we will modernize the land registry by digitizing records, mapping all public lands, and requiring that all land transactions involve a licensed legal professional. Under PROGRESS, land will become a source of opportunity for the many, not a tool of enrichment for the few.
22 EQUITY AND INCLUSIVITY True progress must include everyone. Our vision of an inclusive society means bringing all marginalized groups into the fold and giving them a voice in national affairs. Women and youth make up the majority of our population, yet they remain underrepresented in leadership and often underserved by policy. PROGRESS will correct this imbalance by actively promoting women and young people into positions of responsibility. We will ensure that our Cabinet, Parliament, and Judiciary include a fair share of women and youthful leaders, not as a token gesture but as a reflection of the talent and perspectives they offer. We will introduce measures (including, if necessary, constitutional or legislative quotas) to guarantee that women and youth have seats at the decision-making table in local and national governance. Beyond just representation, our policies will focus on the specific needs of these groups: for women, that includes stronger laws and support systems against gender-based violence and discrimination; for youth, it includes mentorship programs, education aligned with job markets, and access to capital for entrepreneurial ventures. We also recognize the contributions and rights of people with disabilities, and will make sure public facilities, schools, and workplaces become more accessible so that a disability is not a barrier to participation in any aspect of public life. In a PROGRESS-led Gambia, diversity will be seen as a strength; we want every citizen to know they have an equal stake in the nation’s future and an equal opportunity to contribute.
NATIONAL IDENTITY AND CULTURAL VALUES
Our cultural values and national identity are the soul of our nation. PROGRESS believes that development is not purely an economic or infrastructural matter; it must also be cultural and moral. We will nurture a strong sense of Gambian identity that binds us together despite our diverse ethnic and religious makeup. This means promoting our cultural heritage, languages, and arts as part of our development strategy. In schools, children will learn not just math and science, 23 but also the history of The Gambia and the stories of our heroes and heroines, fostering pride in our identity. We will support cultural initiatives at the community level from traditional music and dance troupes to art exhibitions and literary festivals — through grants and partnerships. By reviving and modernizing cultural institutions like museums and community centers, we will make Gambian culture more visible and accessible to the younger generation.
RELIGION AND VALUES
Hand in hand with culture is the role of religion and values in our society. The Gambia is a predominantly Muslim nation with significant Christian and other religious communities, and a longstanding tradition of mutual respect and coexistence. We will maintain and strengthen this tolerance. At the same time, we recognize that our colonial history privileged Western education and the English language to the exclusion of other forms of knowledge. Many Gambians educated in Arabic or in Islamic seminaries have found their skills and knowledge underutilized. PROGRESS will integrate Islamic scholars and Arabic-educated citizens into our national development efforts. We will ensure that being educated in Arabic or having religious expertise is not a barrier to public sector employment or advancement. Their knowledge can be valuable in areas like education, diplomacy, community development, and more. By embracing all educational backgrounds, we tap into a wider pool of talent and uphold the principle of fairness. Diversity is strength not weakness.
CULTURAL REVIVAL
Cultural promotion also has an economic angle through tourism and the arts (as discussed in the economic section). A vibrant cultural scene with music, film, visual arts, and crafts not only enriches the lives of citizens but can also create jobs and spur tourism. PROGRESS will provide support for artists and creative entrepreneurs, including establishing arts centers and recording studios that are 24 accessible to young talent. We will celebrate and export Gambian culture: our musicians, artists, and athletes will be championed as ambassadors of our nation. Consider our international sporting champions, like sprinter Gina Bass — their achievements bring pride to all of us. Under a PROGRESS government, exceptional athletes and artists will receive the recognition and support they deserve (such as national awards or ambassadorial roles) to both honor them and inspire our youth. We will invest in sports infrastructure and grassroots sports programs, ensuring that talent in every region is spotted and nurtured. Sports unite people and engage youth in positive pursuits, so we will organize more school competitions, community leagues, and training camps for various sports.
THE DIASPORA AS THE ANCHOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Finally, an inclusive society also reaches out to Gambians beyond our borders. The Gambian diaspora is an integral part of our nation. Their remittances, knowledge, and love for their country are invaluable resources. We will strengthen ties with Gambians abroad by making it easier for them to contribute to national development. This includes legislative reforms to guarantee diaspora voting rights in our elections and the development of secure online voting systems so that Gambians can vote from wherever they live. We will also create a dedicated Diaspora Affairs office to engage our overseas nationals, provide them with streamlined services (such as faster processing of documents and a special Diaspora ID card for easy access to national services), and channel their investments into productive ventures back home.
EMBRACING THE DIASPORA
A crucial aspect of our global engagement strategy involves the Gambian diaspora, as discussed in the economic and social sections. Our citizens abroad are unofficial ambassadors and a source of strength for the nation. PROGRESS will integrate the diaspora into our foreign policy like never before. We envision 25 the Gambian diaspora not just sending remittances, but also sharing skills, advocating for The Gambia’s interests internationally. We will tap into their patriotism and know-how to accelerate development, truly making them partners in our progress.
PAN-AFRICAN UNITY
In addition, PROGRESS embraces the pan-African vision of unity. We will encourage people of African descent around the world to reconnect with the continent, specifically inviting them to visit, invest, or even settle in The Gambia if they wish. Our “Coming Back to the Roots” initiative will offer incentives such as eased residency or citizenship processes for those who can contribute to our society. We recognize that Africans in the diaspora, including descendants of those taken from these shores during the slave trade, have a longing to rebuild connections with their ancestral land. The Gambia, as a gateway to West Africa, will stand as a beacon for this reconnection. By welcoming our wider African diaspora and friends of The Gambia, we not only address historical injustices in our own small way but also gain partners in our development journey. In sum, PROGRESS’s social vision is one of a united, empowered people, educated, healthy, culturally grounded, and inclusive of all, working together to build a nation we can all be proud of. Diversity is strength not weakness.
It is time for real PROGRESS.
Join the call to action and the promise to secure our nation’s future. It is time to move forward as one nation with one goal.