GPU Upskills Staff in Admin and Finance to Bolster Capacity and Service.

By Raymond Enoch

The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has wrapped up an intensive four-day in-house training on administration and finance for its staff, board members, and personnel from the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC).

The training, which took place from 22 to 25 September 2025, is a key component of the European Union-funded project “Consolidation of Democratic Dispensation in The Gambia (CODE),” implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). The initiative aims to reinforce the role of media institutions in supporting The Gambia’s democratic transition through participatory, inclusive, and human rights-based approaches.

Led by expert facilitators from International IDEA, the sessions focused on enhancing institutional efficiency and accountability. Topics covered included project financial management, internal control systems, implementation and reporting guidelines, the use and features of the QuickBooks accounting system, as well as results-based monitoring and evaluation.

The training is part of a broader intervention titled “Capacity Building of GPU Operations and Systems,” which also included logistical and technical support. As part of this component, GPU received two laptops, filing cabinets, files, external hard drives, a printer, and a two-year subscription to QuickBooks software to strengthen its administrative infrastructure.

With this training, GPU reaffirms its commitment to operational excellence and institutional resilience, further empowering staff and stakeholders in the media sector to contribute meaningfully to democratic governance in The Gambia.