General Information
Technical Information
The development of the QPR for The Gambia 2019 was supported by the UNESCO Regional Office Dakar and facilitated by UNESCO 2005 Convention Expert Ojoma Ochai.
The process featured the following Steps:
1. Information workshop (8 July 2019) to engage with a wide range of stakeholders beyond the National Team. This was opened by the Gambian Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Hamat N. K Bah. About 40 people from a range of public sector departments, Civil Society including Gender focused CSOs, press and the cultural sector attended the workshop.
2. National Team Workshop (9-10 July) to Train the National Team on the Convention and QPR and begin practical work on completing the form. The National Team has 28 members with 10 women (36%). The Public participants were from NCAC, Ministries of Trade and Employment, Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Justice, Basic Education, Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, National Assembly, Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), There were Civil Society Organisations representing the sector (three) gender equality (two) and disability (one). There was also in the team, a representative from the Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCCI) and the National Commission for UNESCO. A clear action plan of what information was to be gathered was produced at the end of the workshop.
3. Civil Society and Press Information Session (11 July) with about 35 participants from civil society, press and the cultural and creative sector to raise awareness of the convention, circulate the CSO form and invite CSO input and highlight the media freedom aspects of the convention.
4. 11 Focal People were nominated from the group, to lead on each reporting area working with the action plan. Each Focal person was supported by an NCAC staff.
5. Independent Drafting took place from July to end September with collation by Baba Ceesay, a former NCAC DG and editing by Prof Owhotu, a board member of the NCAC. The UNESCO expert provided remote input to the document in preparation for the validation workshop.
6. The UNESCO Expert worked with some of the focal persons on the ground in Banjul on 30 September to finalise the inputs.
7. Validation workshop was held on 1 and 2 October with the National Team and CSOs reps numbering 30.
8. The UNESCO Expert worked for a further two days (3 and 4 October) with the Focal Person Hassoum Ceesay DG NCAC and Director in Charge of 2005 Convention Sheikh Jallow to undertake the final edits and prepare the report for submission.
9. As the UNESCO portal was not ready in November 2019 the submission was made through the UNESCO Secretariat in PDF format by email
10. Following its validation by the QPR Expert Team, Gambia, this 22nd April 2020, the Report is hereby submitted online.
Gambia ratified the 2005 convention in 2011. The first QPR was due in 2015 but was not submitted due to unfavourable political climate. The new administration of The Gambia has prioritised arts and creative industries and empowered relevant agencies like NCAC to deliver their mandate including on the 2005 convention.
This report focuses mainly on achievements in the last four years. The main implementing government agency for the 2005 Convention is the National Centre for Arts and Culture. The main objectives of the NCAC in the last four years are as follows:
Strengthening governance of culture through some of the following:
• Drafting an updated cultural policy (based on 2005 convention principles) through a participatory approach that has included civil society and private sector through Chambers of Commerce for example GCCI, GWCC and YCC.
• Developing mechanisms to support governance of civil society through associations including providing financial support and guidelines for ensuring constitutional mandates
• Strengthening and more adequate resourcing of Copyright Office of the Gambia to administer copyright matters and related issues.
Capacity Building
• Developing multiple capacity building partnerships including with UNESCO, WIPO, ECOWAS, AU, ARIPO, and others to build capacity of artists, cultural professionals and CSOs. These programmes have focused on creative / cultural entrepreneurship, copyright and Intellectual Property and artistic skills like creative writing, filmmaking, photography etc.
• Supporting the sector associations to undertake and deliver capacity building programmes for their members
Networking and Artist Mobility
• Creating platforms for exchange and showcasing among the local arts and culture sector in national, regional, and international festivals and exhibitions.
• Providing funding opportunities for international networking for artists through support for mobility including the participation of writers’ association in African writers’ conferences in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal etc., Support for filmmakers to attend international festivals including in Ivory Coast, USA, UK, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
The elaboration of the QPR has created an opportunity for the NCAC to engage with other public institutions like the Public Utilities and Regulatory Authority (PURA), Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBOS), Ministries of Trade, Youth and Sports, Justice, Lands and Regional Integration, Finance and Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad. The relationships built in this process will be taken forward in the next four years to focus on the following priorities:
• Improving data management and collection of cultural statistics through partnership with GBOS, PURA
• Improving existing infrastructure for cultural activities, constructing a multi-purpose cultural centre, and developing public spaces for capacity building, showcasing and networking
• Strengthening the operationalisation of the copyright regime so that the collective management organisation can issue licence for end users
• Developing sustainable mechanisms for funding of cultural and creative industries including increased budgetary allocation and exploring a Private Copy Levy (see details at https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_1037_2016.pdf )
• Advocating for significant investment in technology from the government to boost the strength of the industry value chains. The NCAC will continue working closely with CSOs in the next four years to raise the profile of the cultural and creative industries, building CSO knowledge and engagement with the 2005 Convention and strengthening their contribution to the implementation of the Convention. Other measures around the other goals including mobility, human rights and freedom will also be developed in collaboration with partners and CSOs.
Organization type | Organization | Website | |
---|---|---|---|
Public Sector
| National Centre for Arts and Culture
| info@ncac.gm
| http://www.ncac.gm
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Tourism and Culture
| yaawanyassi@yahoo.com
| http://www.motc.gov.gm
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad
| jallowsalimatou@yahoo.com,
| http://www.mofa.gov.gm
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Trade. Industry, Regional Integration and Employment
| bakemojanka2018@gmail.com
| http://www.motie.gov.gm
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Justice
| yusuf@gmail.com
| http://www.moj.gm
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education
| bjammeh47@gmail.com
| http://www.edugambia.gm
|
Public Sector
| Public Utility Regulatory Authority
| info@pura.gm
| http://www.pura.gm
|
Public Sector
| National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM)
| jaja9700@yahoo.com
| http://www.unesco.gm
|
Public Sector
| Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA)
| mdrammeh@giepa.gm
| http://www.giepa.gm
|
Public Sector
| National Assembly
| magassyaftgm@gmail.com
| http://www.nationalassemblyofthegambia.gm
|
Private Sector
| Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
| ceo@gcci.gm
| http://www.gcci.gm
|
Public Sector
| Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCC)
| prombeatrice@gmail.com
| http://www.gwcc.gm
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Writers' Association of the Gambia
| wagexec@gamwriters.com
| http://www.gamwriters.com
|
Private Sector
| Women’s Rights Advocate
| jfjabang@gmail.com
| |
Private Sector
| Physically Challenged
| edijamanka@gmail.com
| |
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Gambia Press Union
| pressuniongambia@gmail.com
| http://www.gambiapressunion.com
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Culture Journalist Network
| yunus2kay@yahoo.com
| |
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Broadcasters Association of The Gambia
| ndeybb@gmail.com
| http://www.broadcastersgambia.com
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Girls Agenda
| girlsagenda@gmail.com
| |
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Bridging Gap Advisory
| rbgaye1@gmail.com
|
Goal 1 - Support Sustainable Systems of Governance for Culture
Cultural and Creative Sectors
The Cultural Policy of the Gambia,1988 (currently in use)
About USD388, 000 annual budget for NCAC but not possible to disaggregate by policy
* Need to create a stand-alone Ministry of Culture
* Need to mainstream Culture in national development
* Conduct a study on the contributions of culture to GDP
* Need for both Central government and local governments to provide good funding for cultural projects and programmes
* Lay a foundation for greater private sector participation in cultural preservation and development * Improve legislation on cultural policy management and implementation
* There is need to strengthen the Copyright Bureau and for it to actualize the payment of royalties to rights holders
* Evolve a strategic plan in the context of globalisation and the digital environment
* Government should construct a National Theatre or Multi-purpose cultural centre
* A National Art Gallery is also overdue
* A National School of Fine and Performing Arts is a dire necessity
* Lay a solid foundation for greater private sector participation in cultural development
NCAC Act of 2003, Revised in 2007 and still in use (in the last four years)
About USD 388, 000 annual budget for NCAC but not possible to disaggregate by policy
* Remit was widened to include administration of copyright
* The organogram was restructured from a Division to a Directorate system
* A special Directorate was created to manage the 2005 Convention domain
The Arts and Culture Policy of The Gambia - 2018 to 2028 (Draft)
Development of an Intellectual Property Framework (Copyright Act 2004, Copyright Regulations 2018 and National IP Strategy 2019)
Media Diversity
The Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001 (PURA)
Funded by license fees from media houses and GSM companies. Value Not known.
Information and Communication Act 2009
To Review and to amend the Information and Communication Act 2009, FOI bill in progress
Entorno digital
Digital Switch Over Policy 2018 (www.pura.gm/wp-content )
1 million US Dollars (covering all sectors, not only cultural and creative)
Partnering with Civil Society
Goal 2 - Achieve a Balanced Flow of Cultural Goods and Services and Increase the Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
NCAC activities to support outward mobility
USD 10,000 artistes travel support expenses in 2019
Flow of Cultural Goods and Services
Policies supporting export of Gambian Goods and Services including in cultural and creative sectors
a. Donor funding is essential for the successful implementation of the National Export Strategy and the achievement of its goals and objectives.
b. Such funding is imperative because it is a bridge finance that is intended to address the short-fall between the cost of the National Export Strategy and Government funding.
a. The Strategy should be revised and updated to take into consideration trade in the creative and cultural sectors, especially in music and other performing arts where there is a lot of exportable youth talent.
Tratados y acuerdos
Ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by The Gambia
Ratification of the Protocol relating to the Madrid agreement concerning international registration of marks
Goal 3 - Integrate Culture in Sustainable Development Frameworks
National Sustainable Development Policies & Plans
National Development Plan 2018 - 2021
USD 250, 000 for priority 6 in 2019 budget
* Need for more commitment from Government towards the development of culture and arts.
* Consistency in budget allocation to enable timely implementation.
The Gambia Cultural Products Branding – Textile and Leather Works
International Cooperation for Sustainable Development
Gambia Cultural Cooperation Agreements with Mali, 2016; Gambia Cultural Cooperation Agreement with China, 2018; Gambia Cultural Cooperation Agreement with Senegal, 2017 South Africa, Cuba and Ghana
A. Capacity building can play an important role in cultural and artistic development. For China, Gambians should be trained in arts management and animation, puppetry and in cinema.
B. The issue of training artists and their managers in Creative Business and Entrepreneurship was also seen as imperative and very useful.
C. A major recommendation was for Senegal to mentor the Board and staff of the Gambia Collecting Society, the copyright CMO, to enable them build capacity and skills in operationalizing the royalties' collection mechanism in The Gambia.
Goal 4 - Promote Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Gender Equality
Policies to support Gender Equality
Libertad artística
Passage of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act 2019
One Million Two Hundred US Dollars 1, 200,000 USD
Measures and Initiatives reported by Civil Society Organizations
Training Project for Theater Practitioners
World Book and Copyright Day, World Theatre Day, World Dance Day and World Music Day
Advocacy for media diversity
Implementation of Code of Conduct for media practitioners
Capacity building programme for media practitioners
Arts for youth sensitisation on civic participation and engagement (The Cypher)
Formation of network for gender journalists for women and cultural advancement
Emerging Transversal Issues
Challenges and Achievements
Annexes
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Submission
