Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- Two members of the National Assembly’s Health Committee, Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah and Hon. Gibbi Mballow, have joined regional lawmakers in calling for stronger parliamentary involvement in shaping policies that harness Africa’s demographic dividend.

The duo represented The Gambia at a regional forum organized by the National Population Secretariat Commission, where discussions focused on findings from demographic dividend observatories and how they can guide advocacy and policy development.

During a panel session on the SWEDD project, the Gambian lawmakers stressed that data should be at the heart of decision-making. They argued that governments must invest more in collecting and analyzing demographic data to design policies that truly respond to people’s needs.

They also emphasized the importance of strong monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure SWEDD projects remain sustainable in the long term. In addition, they called for legislation that would reinforce the work of demographic dividend observatories, making implementation and oversight more effective.

Their interventions were welcomed as part of wider efforts to position parliaments not only as lawmakers but also as champions of sustainable development and youth-focused policies in the region.