New Delhi: The two-week 4th Mid-Career Training Programme for mid-level civil servants from Gambia concluded successfully today. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, the programme was attended by 30 officers representing key ministries in Gambia. This event marked the successful implementation of the India-Gambia MoU on Personnel Administration and Governance 2019-24.
The valedictory session was chaired by 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). He congratulated the participants and expressed gratitude for the successful implementation of the five-year MoU. In his address, Srinivas highlighted the role of digital transformation in driving economic growth, enhancing service delivery, and fostering inclusive development. He emphasized the importance of leveraging digital tools to streamline governance, improve transparency, and increase efficiency in public administration.
Srinivas stated, “It is important to mutually exchange knowledge to enhance governance in both countries.” He further stressed that adopting India’s good governance models in Gambia could drive significant development, benefiting both nations.
During the programme, Gambian civil servant officers prepared presentations on topics such as Digital Gambia, Women Empowerment in Gambia, and the Social Welfare Scheme in Gambia. These presentations were highly appreciated, with Group Two earning first place for their outstanding presentation on Women Empowerment.
Mushtafa Jawara, a participant, praised the NCGG training programme for its role in facilitating experience and knowledge exchange. He expressed gratitude to the NCGG for providing this valuable opportunity, highlighting the importance of such programs in strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Gambia. Jawara underscored that learning from Indian governance models could lead to substantial developmental outcomes in Gambia, fostering better governance and public service delivery.
Dr. AP Singh, Associate Professor and Course Coordinator, shared highlights from the training programme. He emphasized how the course, tailored for officers and interactions with mentors, provided NCGG with invaluable learning experiences from Gambia. He added that these programs not only help share knowledge but also foster valuable friendships. NCGG eagerly anticipates hosting more officers from Gambia in the future.
The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), an autonomous institution under the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, aligns its efforts with the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one Family). NCGG has successfully imparted training to civil servants from 17 countries, including Bangladesh, Maldives, Kenya, and Sri Lanka, with requests for collaboration from several other countries.