Capacity building on National Transfer Account, Demographic Dividend Monitoring Index wraps up
A 20-day capacity building on the National Transfer Account (NTA) and Demographic Dividend Monitoring Index/Gender Demographic Dividend Index (DDMI/GDDI) has wrapped up over the weekend during a closing ceremony held at the Metzy Residence Hotel in Kololi.
The training was part of the Sub-Saharan Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD+) project, organized by the National Population Commission Secretariat (NPCS) funded by the World Bank.
The closing ceremony held was to mark the successful completion of the training program which has being initiative in enhancing the Gambia’s capacity to manage demographic data and promote evidence-based planning.
The training was focused to updating the DDMI profile, which is a crucial step in understanding demographic trends and their implications on the country’s development.
The aim of the platform was to enable Gambia to track progress more effectively toward the achievement of the Demographic Dividend, a key element in their Green Recovery Focused-National Development Plan (RF-NDP).
Speaking at the occasion, Babucarr Jatta, the deputy director at the National Population Commission Secretariat said that the achievement of the training would lay the foundation for informed policy decisions, ensuring that the nation’s resources are allocated where they are needed most.
“It empowers us to address the unique challenges and opportunities that come with demographic transitions. Thus, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have played a vital role in making this endeavor a reality,” he said.
“The demographic dividend is not merely a statistical concept; it is a promise of potential, a testament to the power of strategic planning, and a blueprint for a brighter future. It is about harnessing the strength and potential of our S population to drive sustainable economic growth and development,” he continued.
Latif Dramani, Creg president-coordinator, NTA Africa Network representative informed participants that with the reports on NTA and DDMI/GDDI, the Gambia has now enough evidence towards the Demographic Dividend harnessing. He assured of CREG availability to keep on supporting the Gambian Team in this process.
Nyakassi M.B. Sanyang, the Statistician General Gambia Bureau of Statistics underscored that the Demographic dividend, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund, is “the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population is larger than the non-working-age share of the population”.
Mr. Sanyang mentioned that in order to realize these achievements associated with the demographic dividend, the government needs to implement the right policies in areas such as education, health, governance, and the economy.
“It is also noted that the amount of demographic dividend that a country receives depends on the level of productivity of young adults which, in turn, depends on the level of schooling, employment practices in a country, timing, and frequency of childbearing, as well as economic policies that make it easier for young parents to work,” he advanced.
He added that the dividend amount is also tied to the productivity of older adults which depends on tax incentives, health programs, and pension and retirement policies. He “This product will therefore help in producing and implementing the right policies and programs that will yield the demographic dividend we all yearn for,” he explained.
