Head of International IDEA's Gambia office receives national youth award for advancing democracy

The Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Award for Democratic Governance, named after The Gambia’s First President, was awarded to Jainaba Faye, Head of International IDEA's Gambia Office, in recognition of her significant achievements in advancing democracy in The Gambia. 

The Gambia's National Youth Parliament (NYP) is a non-profit, nonpartisan youth organisation that was established in 2002. It is committed to empowering youth, supporting programmes that increase youth involvement in decision-making, and offering answers to societal issues.

Jainaba, a former youth parliamentarian is the Head of Country Office of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). She is a programme specialist with years of professional experience in delivering governance, democracy, rule of law and human programmes in The Gambia. From the age of 13, she served organisations supporting causes including civic education, women’s political participation, road safety, drug abuse, and youth empowerment.  In 2014, she was recognised by the Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa as one of the 25 most outstanding emerging young women leaders in Africa. 

In late 2023, Jainaba was appointed the pioneer Head of the Gambia Office for International IDEA. At 31 years old, making her the youngest Gambian heading an intergovernmental institution in the country where she is leading the implementation of the project to support the consolidation of participatory, inclusive and human rights-based democratic transitions in The Gambia partnering with the National Assembly, NHRC, GPU and the CSO – Gender Platform.