Roles of local and international non-governmental organization " in empowering rural women in the Gambia '' case study .. National agricultural land and water management Agency (NEMA))

With emphasis on the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (NEMA), this study critically analyses the contribution of local and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to women's empowerment in rural Gambia. The study investigates how power dynamics, participative practices, and institutional structures influence the results of development programmes meant to empower women, drawing on post-development theory and Sen's capacity approach. Rural women still confront systemic obstacles such as restricted access to land, education, decision-making spaces, and economic opportunities -obstacles stemming from deeply ingrained patriarchal norms, despite the Gambia's advancements in advancing gender equality. Through lobbying, livelihood assistance programs, capacity-building and cooperation with governmental initiatives like the Women's Act 2010, NGOs have been important players in resolving these discrepancies. Through document analysis and questionnaires, the study interacts with NEMA project recipients, employees, and community leaders using a qualitative case study methodology to chronicle women’s life experiences. The results show that although NGOs like NEMA have made major contributions to increasing access to agricultural tools, food security, and rural infrastructure, their work is frequently limited by donor-driven agendas and neoliberal frameworks that place more emphasis on technical efficiency than structural change. The study concludes by advocating for development that is more participative, inclusive, and culturally sensitive. It highlights how crucial it is to empower women as active contributors to their communities and futures, not only as economic agents. For NGOs, governmental organizations, and development professionals dedicated to attaining gender parity and sustainable development in The Gambia and comparable settings, the study provides policy recommendations