Advocacy & Lobbying

The CFP seeks to engage partners to support the implementation of activities on advancement of women participation in public life. The project will support actions that will enhance inclusion of women’s voice and their equal representation and participation in leadership and political processes. The call also focuses on supporting gender-sensitive reforms to ensure marginalized women are fully engaged to advocate and participate in the development of affirmative action. 

Click here to apply before the deadline on 20 April 2024.

International Women's Day 2024

International IDEA led the WPP consortium in commemorating the 2024 International Women's Day (IWD) through a panel discussion hosted by Kenya Television Network (KTN) under the theme 'Inspire Inclusion'. Watch the discussion featuring International IDEA WPP Programme manager Josephine Mwangi and FEMNET's Project Coordinator, Women's Leadership, Dorothy Otieno. The discussion begins at minute 29.

Zimbabwe's local government quota increases women's political representation during 2023 August elections

During the Zimbabwe August general elections in 2023, Women and Law Southern Africa (WLSA) led the WPP consortium partners and electoral observers in managing the Situation Room. A Situation Room is a dedicated space where key decision-makers gather to proactively address issues related to electoral related issues, as well as electoral observers on the state of women's political participation.

International IDEA's Senior Programme Officer and thematic lead on Electoral Processes in the Africa and West Asia region, Olufunto Akinduro,  led the Electoral Commissions Forum (ECF) of South African Development Cooperation (SADC) team at the Situation Room.

WPP consortium, led by Gender Links,  together with other women’s rights organizations and the Women in Local Government Forum (WLGF) advocated for the implementation of the local government quota bill through a dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The 2023 election registered a 19 per cent increase in women's political representation in the local government translating to an overall  33 per cent representation in the local government compared to the 2018 general election. The increase in women's representation at the local government is largely attributed to the 30 per cent local government quota which was enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe through the Constitutional Amendment Bill no.2 of 2019 under section 277 of Elections to Local Authorities.

The recall of elected women in November 2023 eroded some gains made in political representation of women. Female politicians in Zimbabwe further cited that nomination fees were unreasonable, exorbitant and arbitrary and therefore unfairly restricted women's political participation and representation.

International IDEA's Senior Programme Officer and thematic lead on Electoral Processes in the Africa and West Asia (AWA) region, Olufunto Akinduro, led the Electoral Commissions Forum (ECF) of South African Development Cooperation (SADC) team at the Situation Room. Photo: WLSA

The WLSA led WPP regional observer team for Zimbabwe Elections after the pre-election briefing meeting. Harare, 21 August 2023.

EU observers at the situation room. Photo credit: Gift Simau, WLSA

Botswana ratifies Maputo Protocol

To commemorate the 20 years of the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, popularly known as the Maputo Protocol, International IDEA's WPP programme collaborated with Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR), the FEMNET and CARE International to convene a high-level intergenerational dialogue in Nairobi, Kenya on the 10 and 11 July 2023.

Botswana signed the Maputo Protocol on October 23, 2023 and deposited its instrument to the African Union Commission, thereby affirming commitment to the implementation of the Protocol’s provisions.

WPP Project Officer, Sifisosami Dube making a presentation during the Maputo@20 commemoration. Photo: Patricia Muganhiri, WLSA.

Emerging leader, Bernice Dodoo (left) with WPP stalwart Emma Kaliya (right) at the WPP high level intergenerational dialogue during the Maputo@20 commemoration. Photo: Imali Ngusale, FEMNET.

WPP participants celebrating African countries that have signed and ratified the Maputo Protocol during the Maputo@20 Years Commemoration in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: Imali Ngusale.

WPP Consortium Partner Capacity Building and Steering Commitee Event 

The WPP consortium held a partner capacity-building event and the second Steering Committee meeting in October 2023.  The purpose of the meeting, which took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, was to enhance synergy among WPP stakeholders and contribute to the enhancement of women’s political participation in Africa with a view to advance the goal of gender equality in politics and governance. Councilors, who are key boundary partners, were drawn from various wards in Zimbabwe, were inducted. The training focused on gender mainstreaming. Organizational Conflict Management, Positive Masculinity among other key topics. The training across various thematic areas would enable the newly councilors to effectively carry out their mandate in their respective wards to promote women's political participation.

The WPP consortium partners, stakeholders during the induction workshop and partner capacity building meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe. Photos: WLSA

AWA Regional Finance and Operations Manager, Tonderai Mazingaizo, during the WPP consortium finance training that took place on the sidelines of the steering committee.

AWA Regional Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Elizabeth Asiimwe, leads the WPP consortium personnel during an experiential learning session on Monitoring and Evaluation. Photos: International IDEA.

WPP Steering committee members comprising of the Directors of the respective consortium partners / their delegates.

Regional Director for Gender Links, Priscilla Maposa, takes male councilors from Zimbabwe through a session on gender mainstreaming to enforce male allyship in politics

Partner spotlight are key highlights based on implemented activities of all the WPP consortium partners 

Gender Links

Gender Links Regional Director, Priscilla Maposa, engages Gender Links boundary partners during the field visit in Murehwa RDC. Photo: International IDEA

Murehwa Rural District Council Field Visit

Gender Links hosted the WPP consortium personnel and councillors to a field visit at Murehwa RDC in Harare, Zimbabwe. Gender Links trains women in gender-responsive approaches while ensuring they are economically empowered. Gender Links Director of Programmes, Priscilla Maposa said '' Women are placed at a vantage point in politics when they are included in the local economic development.'' See more information about Gender Links.

Defying odds to curve a niche in politics in Zimbabwe: the story of Dzivanyangoma

Alderman Resta Dzivinyangoma during a presentation in Murehwa District, Zimbabwe. Photo: Olive Aseno

Alderman Resta Dzvinyamgoma has been elected multiple times as a councillor in Zimbabwe and she doubles up as a Gender Champion. Her unlikely journey into politics and how Gender Links is instrumental in her journey. Read her story here.

Padare Enkudleni

(Men's Forum on Gender)

Male councilors drawn from various political wards in Zimbabwe participate during a gender mainstreaming training by PADARE in Harare. Photo: International IDEA.

PADARE has played an instrumental role in ensuring that men make substantial contributions in enhancing women's political participation.

While instruments such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender, the Maputo declaration, the Beijing Platform of Action, CEDAW, SDG 5 and country constitutions exist, in Africa, the majority of leaders in positions of power, influence and decision-making are men. Having men meaningfully support women in political participation processes requires that they are informed, engaged and that their support to women in politics is intentional and not tokenistic. In light of this, PADARE hosted newly elected Zimbabwe male councilors to a gender mainstreaming training. 

Chek more information on WPP X posts.

L'Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (IFAN)

The president of the National Assembly of Senegal, His Excellency Mr. Mamadou Mame Diop, hosted International IDEA's WPP team from Kenya, IFAN and the Parity Caucus representatives at the assembly chamber.

He noted that the National Assembly of Senegal is ready to share its experience with sister assemblies in the implementation of gender parity. “ We are ready to support all actions and initiatives encouraging the participation of women in the sub-region in political activities. The progress made by Senegal in the promotion of women in politics in Africa, particularly with regard to the law on gender parity, which was adopted in May 2010 and which became a reality in 2012, is to be emulated.” He further lauded the WPP program for enhancing women's political participation. Read the press release (in French) here. 

Programme Manager for WPP, Josephine Mwangi, President of the National Assembly His Excellency Mr. Mamadou Mame Diop, the first Vice President of the National Assembly, Ibrahima Baba Sall and second Vice President of the National Assembly, Hon. Deputy Aïssatou Sow Diawara pose for a photo after the press briefing.

Training for women mayors in Dakar on Local Governance, Leadership and Communication

Women mayors from Dakar and wpmen politciaons from the Parity Caucus pose for a group photo during the Leadership, Governance and Communication training event in Dakar, Senegal. Photo credit: International IDEA.

IFAN organized a training on Local Governance, Leadership and Communication for elected mayors within Dakar. The Minister of High Council of Local Authorities (HCCT) in Senegal, Mr Boubacar Diallo, officially launched the Leadership, Communication & Governance training. See more about what he said here. 

On the training participated the Minister of High Council of Local Authorities (HCCT) in Senegal, Mr Boubacar Diallo and Commissioner for Human Development in ECOWAS, Hon Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, elected mayors from Dakar, IFAN team and WPP secretariat.

Building up on training of women mayors in Dakar, Hon. Elene Tine, the technical advisor for IFAN, WPP team said. ''Women need to be equipped on how to present their agenda to the media to inform the masses and gain political mileage, especially as the election season intensifies as in the case of Senegal 2024 presidential election.'' IFAN through the parity caucus secured great media coverage for women politicians by having a one-hour television show dedicated to women in politics on 2STV television station--the second most popular TV station in Dakar.

Watch the 'Programme WPP' broadcast sessions in Wolof and French.

Left to Right: Hon Aissatou Sow Diawara, Hon Elene Tine of IFAN, Moussa Sene ( 2STV presenter, centre), Right Ndeye Aram Nyang of IFAN and Hon Oulimata Guiro during the weekly 1-hour tv session on Women Political Participation dialogue that takes place every Tuesday on 2STV in Senegal. Photo: International IDEA.

The Forum for the African Women Educationalist (FAWE)

FAWE's 3rd Triennial Conference and 30th Anniversary

International IDEA's WPP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Onguss Michael, moderates the discussion on 'Education, A catalyst to girls and Young Women taking up leadership positions' during FAWE's 3rd Triennial Conference.

In the sidelines of celebrating FAWE's 30th anniversary, which took place during their 3rd Triennial International Girls Conference, International IDEA was given the opportunity to moderate the discussion on 'Education: A catalyst to girls and Young Women taking up Leadership positions'.

The WPP consortium through FAWE has managed to mentor young girls below the age of 18 under the model school module.

The theme of the conference which took place from 21st - 22nd November 2023 was 'Transforming Education Systems in Africa, What Works! 'Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu lauded FAWE for the TUSEME clubs, through which the model school module is implemented. 'African nations must continue to uphold frameworks that support girl child education,'' added Hon. Machogu. 

FAWE under the (WPP) programme developed a Regional Model School Module dubbed the Transformational Leadership for Young Girls in Africa to empower girls and young women to effectively participate in the socio-economic and political space in their societies at a young age. Click here to learn more about the model school module.

Kenyan Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu with FAWE Executive Director Martha Muhwezi and various key stakeholders during FAWE's 3rd Triennial Conference.

Cabinet Secretary, Machogu, receives a token of appreciation from a student during the conference. Bottom: Stakeholders during the 3rd Triennial conference.

Stakeholders during the 3rd Triennial conference.

Gender-Responsive training for Kenyan journalists, media influencers and editors

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba from Kenya addresses journalists, editors and social media influencers on how the fourth estate can better collaborate with women in politics and ensure objective reporting. Photo: Olive Aseno.

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) convened a strategic two-day gender responsive training with select Kenyan journalists, editors and social media influencers. The media representatives were drawn from various Kenya television and radio stations.

Women in politics have been on the receiving end when it comes to media framing and agenda setting in the political arena.

Media framing entails constructing a message to achieve a deliberate effect on the receiver, and it has a great impact on the perception of the subjects covered, especially for women in politics.

Certain angles of their stories of triumph and losses at the political arena have been misconstrued to reveal a biased and very sensational agenda by the media.

In a bid to advocate for proper reporting, it is important that coverage of women in politics be done from an informed point of view, steering clear of sensationalism. Read this article for details on the gender mainstreaming training.

FEMNET

WPP Scorecard 2023 and reflection meeting with Kenyan women parliamentarians

FEMNET a consortium partner in WPP has been working with #women politicians & Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to enhance their capacity to engage better in the political participation arena. FEMNET has been running the #WomenMustLead campaign with the aim of increasing the quantity and quality of women’s political participation and representation in DRC, Kenya and Tanzania.

In partnership with Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), and Mzalendo, FEMENT convened women parliamentarians in Kenya for a heart-to-heart thematic dialogue on their experience in the 13th Parliament and the one-year scorecard.

FEMNET has trained #WomenInpolitics in:

1. Electoral processes

2. How to run effective political campaigns

3. How to foster implementation of Two-Thirds gender rule stipulated by Constitution of Kenya 2010 among other thematic areas.

FEMENT promotes Cross-political party caucus and intergenerational dialogue between seasoned women politicians & upcoming female political leaders to enhance political participation for all women. 

Transformative Women's Political leadership event for women parliamentarians in Kenya to pause, reflect and restrategize as hosted by FEMNET.

Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege at the event  and Hon. Naisuda Leisuda , a women's rights activitst and Member of Parliament of Samburu West. More about Naisuda is available here. Photo: FEMNET.

Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) conmemorates 36 years

Stakeholders pose for at TAMWA's photo booth during the 36th anniversary. Photos: TAMWA/ FEMNET

Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA), a member of FEMNET, commemorated 36 years of existence in November 2023. TAMWA leverages on media to advocate for women’s rights by promoting policy, legal and cultural transformation in Tanzania. They believe that gender equality and genuine democracy is pegged on women leadership. 

Watch the summary of TAMWA at 36 event on Youtube  to see how #WomenLeadAfrica by leveraging on media to gain political mileage.

Women and Law Southern Africa (WLSA)

Zimbabwe Civil Society Organization (CSO) meet & greet session with Minister of Women Affairs

Zimbabwe Civil Society Organization (CSO) meet & greet session with Minister of Women Affairs Hon. Monica Monica Mutsvangwa in Belgravia, Harare. Photo: WLSA 

In September 2023, Civil Society Platform's in Zimbabwe had a Meet & Greet event with the newly appointed Minister of Women Affairs, Community Development, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa.

The meeting sought to promote solidarity and discuss issues affecting gender equality, including low female participation in politics.

The event brought together various organizations including WLSA,  Action AID Zimbabwe, Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe among other key stakeholders to have progressive dialogue on issues affecting women in Zimbabwe.

Minister of Women Affairs, Community Development, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa engages WLSA and other Zimbabwe's Civil Society stakeholders championing for women's agenda. 

Inspiring inclusion: Afro-feminist approaches for women's political participation

How FAWE´s Women Political Participation Academy is influencing Africa's politics

FEMNET MEDIA MENTIONS 

• Africa Rising: When Women Lead, the Continent Soars
• Celebrating 36 years of Advancing the Feminism through Media
• The Unstoppable Momentum of Women in East African Politics #WomenMustLead (YouTube)

FAWE MEDIA MENTIONS

• Tuseme Model (Youtube)
• Gender-responsive training by FAWE for Kenyan media

INTERNATIONAL IDEA MEDIA MENTIONS

• Maputo Protocol – SOAWR

IFAN MEDIA MENTIONS

• WPP Programme on 2stv channel 

1. The Presentation of Topline Findings of the upcoming second edition of the WPP Africa Barometer by Gender Links on 8 March 2024. Press video icon to watch the webinar.

2. The fifth Women Political Participation (WPP) Academy convened by Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in Nairobi, Kenya on 26, February to 1, March 2024. Read the article here.

3. Pre-Pan African Leadership Sawubona High-Level Engagement on Re-centering Women’s Political Agency and Leadership in Africa Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 11 February 2024.

4. The 40th Gender Is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network Pre-Summit Civil Society Organization (CSO) Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union and Member States in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 11, February to 16, February 2024.

5. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) Forum in New York from 10, March to 22, March 2024

6. Thematic dialogue with SADC on youth participation, South Africa, 26 to 27 March 2024

1. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women Peace Security high level dialogue event in Johannessburg, South Africa, 9 to 10 April 2024.

The Enhancing Women's Political Participation Programme is generously funded by the Swedish Embassy in Addis Ababa. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook to see how they are transforming lives globally.

Happy to help.

For any clarification or comments, please reach out to o.aseno@idea.int

Can women voters decide the upcoming 2024 General elections? Their growing number of voters and favourable legislation, such as the one-third reservation for women in Parliament and legislatures, make them an important segment. Political parties are trying to attract women voters, a critical segment. To do this, they are offering various benefits.

According to a recent report, the high turnout of women voters could significantly impact the 2024 elections. The report predicts that by 2047, women’s voter turnout may reach 55%, while men’s turnout could decrease to 45%.

It is worth noting that B.R. Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution, once stated that “Political power is the key to all social progress.” This statement holds today, as women cannot expect to receive justice unless they have a say in decision-making processes.

Women in India are demanding more measures to remove gender bias. Last September, the Parliament passed the Women’s Reservation Bill to empower women. This bill ensures a 33% reservation for them in Parliament and state legislatures. Both the Congress and the BJP claimed credit for the bill’s passage. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said, “It is our bill.” In 2008 Sonia Gandhi passed it in the Upper House but failed to do so in the Lok Sabha. Last September, PM Modi introduced this bill with pride, and it passed almost unanimously after 27 years. Due to the delay in the census and delimitation process, the bill will be implemented only after four years.

Read here the full article published by The Siasat Daily on 9 April 2024.

Image source: The Siasat Daily

JAKARTA - Politics and women are two things that are considered difficult to put together, but are being pursued. Women's involvement in politics is still underestimated, even though they have an important role for long-term policies.

Women are not the dominant actors in the political realm of various countries, including in Indonesia. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in the 2019-2024 period, only 120 women were able to occupy the seats of the DPR RI out of a total of 575 people. This means that this number has only reached 20.87 percent of the total members of the DPR RI from the results of the 2019 Legislative Election.

This figure does show an upward trend in both the number and percentage compared to the previous three edition elections. But although women's participation in politics has developed in recent years, women's representation in politics is still low.

The lack of representation of women in the political field is partly due to patriarchal cultural conditions. In countries that adhere to patriarchal values such as in Indonesia, women's opportunities to become politicians are relatively limited due to public perceptions about the division of roles between men and women, which tend to limit women's role in household affairs.

Read here the full article published by VOI on 6 April 2024.

Image source: VOI

Earlier this month, in celebration of International Women’s Day, the National Democratic Institute premiered an interview we conducted with one of our partners, Honorable Neema Lugangira, a champion of legal reform and women’s empowerment in Tanzania. Hon. Lugangira has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in Tanzania since 2020 and is Chair of the Women in Politics (WiP) parliamentary group that NDI conducts joint advocacy with on women’s issues. She is the founder of Omuka Hub, a non-governmental organization, and one of NDI’s legal reform advocacy partners who works to accelerate digital inclusion in Tanzania. Through Omuka Hub, Hon. Lugangira has championed access to digital resources in underserved areas and strengthened the online visibility of women in politics. As a parliamentarian with an extensive background in policy advocacy and legislative reform, she has prioritized promoting gender equality in politics in Tanzania and across Africa. In 2024, Hon. Lugangira, together with the WiP group, played a pivotal role in advocating for the adoption of inclusive amendments to three electoral laws. Her work with WiP has resulted in new protections within Tanzanian elections law that penalize Violence Against Women in Elections (VAW-E), making Tanzania the first country in the African continent to do so. We sat down with Hon. Lugangira to discuss this change, her insights into the legal reform process, and what this means for women in Tanzania.

“To get to where Tanzania is at the moment [you need to] first understand your landscape. You need to have a thorough review of your existing laws… and where Tanzania is at the moment.” - Honorable Neema Lugangira

Despite constituting half of the population as of the 2022 Census, women in Tanzania are significantly underrepresented in public office and political party leadership at both the local and national levels. In 2020, only 26 women were elected to parliament out of 264 seats, and women comprised only nine percent of candidates for president, parliament, and councilorships.

Read here the full article published by the National Democratic Institute on 2 April 2024.

Image source: National Democratic Institute

In the ongoing war in Sudan, there is an insufficiently narrated tragedy—the plight of women who are paying a hefty price for this war and are simultaneously being kept from the table in the discussion of how this war can end. International Women's Month coincides with a difficult period in Sudan, where women are facing various forms of violence and violations, including rape, sexual assault, kidnapping and the loss of providers. This is all occurring in a context marked by extreme poverty and lack of medical facilities, especially those related to sexual and reproductive health. 

The war that erupted on April 15, 2023 between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces has led to a humanitarian crisis that UN reports have ranked among the largest globally—stating that nearly 8 million people have been displaced due to the war, 88 percent of whom are women and children. There are more than 4 million women and girls at risk of sexual assaults, and alarming reports have appeared of women being sold in markets in Sudan. 

The painful irony is that Sudanese women were at the forefront of the Sudanese revolution that overthrew Omar al-Bashir's government on April 11, 2019. Despite their contributions and sacrifices, they found themselves marginalized and excluded from decision-making positions in the subsequent transitional government. The promises of allocating 40 percent of the Sudanese parliament’s seats for women remained unfulfilled. When the actual figures emerged, they reflected a failure to meet Sudanese women's aspirations and acknowledge their vital role in society and the political process. 

Read here the full article published by the Washington Institute on 25 March 2024.

Image source: Washington Institute