The African Development Bank Group has approved close to $3.7 million to roll out a new programme aimed at strengthening governance and advancing gender equality in South Sudan, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
The initiative, known as the Building Resilience and Inclusive Development through Governance and Equality (BRIDGE) project, will support the three countries in addressing governance shortfalls that allow gender-based violence and discrimination to continue. Key priorities include improving justice institutions, increasing women’s participation in public life, and supporting civil society groups to push for accountability. The project will be carried out in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A grant agreement for BRIDGE was signed in November by the Bank’s Director General for East Africa, Alex Mubiru, and UNDP’s Matthias Naab. The signing marks a significant step towards operational delivery.
BRIDGE is designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and inclusiveness across public-sector institutions, while also widening opportunities for women to take on leadership roles, build skills and contribute meaningfully to national decision-making.
The launch coincides with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign aimed at ending violence against women and girls. The project is presented as a concrete institutional response to structural weaknesses that reinforce inequality and fuel gender-based violence.
Through collaboration between the African Development Bank, UNDP and the African Union Commission, BRIDGE will provide justice-sector bodies, women leaders and civil society organisations with specialised tools to support gender-responsive governance.
“Real progress happens when everyone has a voice in shaping their future,” said Dr Jemimah Njuki, Director of the Gender, Women and Civil Society Department at the African Development Bank Group. “Through this project, we’re supporting gender-responsive budgeting, stronger leadership opportunities for women, and practical skills development to ensure that governance is inclusive of and reflects the needs of all citizens.”
South Sudan, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau continue to deal with pressures linked to fragility, limited resources and economic strain, disproportionately affecting women and young people. By strengthening state institutions, accountability mechanisms and public-sector capacity, BRIDGE seeks to help build more stable and inclusive development pathways.
Funding for the initiative is drawn from the Bank’s Transition Support Facility, which was established in 2008 to provide concessional financing to countries experiencing fragility and conflict.
UNDP will take the lead on implementation in the field, working through its existing networks and coordinating with governments, civil society and both formal and informal justice systems. The approach aims to reinforce reforms at institutional and community levels, with a focus on improving access to justice and strengthening the rule of law.
The African Development Bank’s Gender, Women and Civil Society team will offer technical support and policy guidance to reinforce governance systems, promote inclusion, and monitor progress, particularly in relation to enhancing women’s participation in national decision-making.
