Emerging from over two decades of brutal dictatorship under Yahya Jammeh, where basic freedoms and liberties where violated, the media muzzled and research discouraged, The Gambia is now experiencing a new democratic dispensation with high expectations for good governance, accountable and transparency from the citizenry. During this period, the repressive environment made it difficult to collect, document and analyze data due to unfavorable laws and state oppression. This situation constrained policy and decision makers from instituting citizen consultation in policy development processes. Jammeh’s defeat in the 2016 polls ushered in a new government and a new dispensation that commits to restore the rule of law, respect and protect basic freedoms and initiate reforms to consolidate the countries new found democracy.
The Center for Research and Policy Development (CRPD) is a legally registered, independent, non-profit, social research, advocacy, learning, and capacity building organization committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable democracy and well-being in The Gambia.
Established in 2018, CRPD is dedicated to the promotion of freedoms, rights of expression and association, advancement of popular participation, the strengthening of advocacy and civic engagement and the conduct of policy research that impacts positively on the democratic project in the Gambia and advance national development.
What we do?
Research and Consultancy
We work to bridge the data gap within the country and to contribute to the national democratization agenda by delivering quality research and data using cutting-edge research methods that combine both qualitative and quantitative approaches to address critical socioeconomic, developmental, political, and governance-related issues.
Training and Capacity Building
The overall goal of our training and capacity building program is to help transfer knowledge and help equip state and non-state actors and citizens with tools necessary to promote growth and development. We particularly focus on enhancing the capacities of women, youth and disadvantaged groups as means to increase their participation in decision making and development.
Dialogue and Communication
At the core of what we do is trigger local dialogues to contextualize universally relevant ideals of inclusive and sustainable democratic governance, promote efficiency, transparency and accountability for a secure and an economically prosperous Gambia and beyond.
Advocacy and Campaign
We work to protect and enlarge the public space for civic engagement and accountable and transparent governance. We engage policy makers, youth, women and other stakeholders on reforms including on bills as well as working to promote socio-economic justice and well-being for marginalized communities.
Partnership and Networking
We build partnership and work with grassroots, national and international actors to address the Gambia’s development challenges and contribute to democracy promotion in West Africa and regional integration.
Ongoing Projects
- Strengthening the organization and technical capacity of defense and security institutions and civil society. This is a one-year project funded by ATJLF
- Amplification of the agency and voice of victims in the Post-TRRC process. This project is Funded by UNDP-The Gambia.
- Combating Fake News in The Gambia. This project is implemented in partnership with CDD-West Africa and Fact Check Center-The Gambia
- Local Perceptions and Media Representations on Election Observation in Africa. This project is implemented in partnership with University of Edinburg School of Social and Political Science and covering three African countries (Gambia, Zambia, Kenya).
- Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI). CRPD is hired by PRIO to support data collection for the FUMI project. For more information about FUMI
- Connecting the Ground: A platform aimed at connecting grassroots based organizations and national organizations to network and mobilize for collective actions and solidarity.
- National Assembly Watch: A CRPD Initiative that tracks and monitors the activities of the National Assembly of The Gambia and provide relevant data for public use. @KnowyourNA
Completed Projects
Nationwide Public Opinion Poll: The Gambia
Hired by the International Republican Institute to support the carrying out of a survey on People’s Opinion on New Constitution in The Gambia.
Building Lasting Peace in Senegal: Enhancing the role of women and youth in peace making in Cassamance
Hired by African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies to carry out action study on role of women and youth in peacebuilding in Cassamance, Southern Senegal.
Cost of Parliamentary Politics in The Gambia
Carried out a study on the Cost of Parliamentary Politics in The Gambia.
Environmental Activism and Political Transition in The Gambia project
Contracted by the University of Edinburg to work
Monitoring of Media during 2021 Presidential Elections
Contracted by Westminister Foundation for Democracy (WFD) to
We have been a critical source of information on governance and election related matters due to our extensive public outreach using media. We have organize series of dialogues geared towards building partnership among stakeholders. The first dialogue was geared towards mobilizing local efforts to bring back the constitution. The second was related to the electoral dialogue series that brought together members of the IEC, political parties civil society and media together to discuss preparations towards the 2021 presidential election
We are building partnerships with local civil society organizations. We have partnered with Gambia Participates to institute two public interest litigation cases. The first against the National Assembly and second against the independent electoral commission (IEC) and mayor of Banjul during the voter registration process. In both cases the Supreme Court and Banjul High Court ruled in our favor. Our success have also contributed to restraining state institution but also show opportunity in using the courts as a tool for social transformation. We will continue to work on protecting the public space and promoting access to justice in the Gambia.