ACFODE Engaging Women In Public Administration For Advocacy And Effective Representation

The continuous and persistent efforts to have women participate on the political scene have somewhat unintentionally left women in public administration on the periphery. Organizations rarely engage these influential women on numerous issues including identification of gender issues especially those that perpetuate gender inequalities despite the fact that they are strategically positioned to influence the change we want to see.

A cross section of the participants from Pader and Dokolo districts 

sharing thoughts and experiences

While conducting dialogues for women in public institutions including departments and sectors in the districts of Dokolo, Pader and Namutumba from the 12^th -18^th October 2012, ACFODE realized that through continuous mentorship of women administrators, the diverse challenges and constraints that impact on their effective representation could easily be addressed through drawing advocacy strategy plans. The dialogues brought together women in managerial positions from all the districts. They included Sub County Chiefs, Community Development Officers, NAADS officers, Gender officers, headmistresses and in-charges of health centers among other key participants.

Some of the challenges reiterated that impact on their level of participation and representation as women administrators included continuous discrimination and unfairness in employment and budgetary allocations, sabotage, sexual harassment, insubordination, consistent stereotyping arising out of social/cultural expectation among others. Coping mechanisms adopted such as assertiveness, continuous affirmation of their rights and freedoms and claiming for their space are yet to yield the intended results.

The dialogues provided a platform and an environment for experiential learning and building synergies which culminated in 3 forums created in the three districts for women in public administration.  The forums will be of significance for, among other causes, championing advocacy issues especially those that affect their effective representation.