A two-week 4th Mid-Career Training Programme for mid-level civil servants from Gambia concluded successfully on 7th June 2024 in New Delhi. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, the program saw the participation of 30 officers from key ministries in Gambia. This event marked the successful implementation of the India-Gambia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Personnel Administration and Governance for the period 2019-24.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Shri V. Srinivas, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), chaired the valedictory session. He congratulated the participants and highlighted the importance of the five-year India-Gambia MoU. Shri Srinivas emphasized the transformative potential of digital tools in governance, which can drive economic growth, enhance service delivery, and foster inclusive development. He stressed the need for leveraging digital technologies to streamline processes, improve transparency, and increase efficiency in public administration, especially for underserved communities.

Mutual Knowledge Exchange

Shri Srinivas stated, “It is important to mutually exchange knowledge to enhance governance in both countries.” He pointed out how adopting India’s good governance models could drive mass development in Gambia, benefiting both nations.

Celebrating Achievements

During the program, Gambian civil servants presented on various topics, including Digital Gambia, Women Empowerment, and Social Welfare Schemes. Group Two received accolades for their outstanding presentation on Women Empowerment.

Commendations from Gambia

His Excellency, Mr. Mushtafa Jawara, praised the NCGG training programme for facilitating valuable experience and knowledge exchange. He expressed gratitude to NCGG and highlighted the significance of such programs in strengthening bilateral relationships. Mr. Jawara noted that learning from Indian governance models could lead to substantial developmental outcomes in Gambia.

Program Highlights

Dr. AP Singh, Associate Professor and Course Coordinator, shared highlights from the training program. He emphasized that the course, tailored for officers, provided NCGG with invaluable insights into Gambian governance. Dr. Singh noted that these programs help foster friendships and create opportunities for future collaboration.

NCGG’s Global Impact

The NCGG, an autonomous institution under the DARPG, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, aligns its efforts with the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one Family). NCGG has partnered with MEA to train civil servants from 17 countries, including Bangladesh, Maldives, Kenya, Tanzania, and more. Requests for collaboration in capacity building continue to come from various countries.

Future Prospects

Dr. AP Singh, Course Coordinator, Dr. Mukesh Bhandari, Co-course Coordinator, and Shri Sanjay Dutt Pant, Programme Assistant, supervised the entire capacity-building program. Other notable attendees included Smt. Prisca Poly Mathew, Consultant and Chief Administration Officer, Dr. Himashi Rastogi, Associate Professor, and Dr. Gazala Hasan, Assistant Professor.

The NCGG looks forward to hosting more officers from Gambia and other countries, continuing to strengthen international ties through mutual learning and cooperation.