THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA’S COMBINED REPORT ON THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN & PEOPLES’ RIGHTS & INITIAL REPORT ON THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA these materials and it is expected that the service providers will use them in their functional literacy classes. The World Bank is also supporting The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to implement the Non-Formal Education (NFE) Component in the 3rd Education sector. The program is strengthening the capacity of literacy providers (CSOs, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and NGOs) in order to develop effective and sustainable literacy, numeracy, life skills and income generating programs. The majority of the beneficiaries of this program are women. The Ministry had started work to integrate NFE statistics into the Education Management Information System (EMIS). Civil Society Organisations involvement in Education: The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, has expanded the space for CSO participation in education at all levels ranging from policy formulation, implementation, service delivery, infrastructure development and monitoring and evaluation. For example, as part of its wider stakeholder involvement and participation there is a Local Education Group (LEG) 8 that brings together representatives from ministry’s Senior Management Team9 with those from development partners, civil society organizations, the Gambia Teachers Union (GTU). Main development partners supporting the education sector who are also represented on the LEG are the World Bank, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP). This has increased public interest and involvement in education leading to a broadening and deepening of participation at all levels by key players such as the Education for All Campaign Network (EFA Net), Action Aid International The Gambia (AAITG), the United Nations Girls Education Initiative - Gambia (UNGEI Gambia), Child Fund, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), Peace Corps, Future in Our Hands (FIOH), GAMCOTRAP, SIMMA, Association for the Promotion of Women’s and Girls’ Advancement (APWGA), Foundation for Research on Women’s Health, Productivity and the Environment (BAFROW), Forum for African Women Educationalist-Gambia (FAWEGAM), National Women’s Farmers Association (NAWFA), Pro-poor Advocacy Group (Pro-PAG), Gambia Teacher’s Union (GTU), Girls Guide Association, Gambia Home Economics Association and Faith Based 8 9 LEG meetings are chaired by one of the stakeholders The PS education is a member of the LEG 79