With the existing
need to progress away from increased numbers of women in political leadership to
their enhanced participation, Action For Development (ACFODE) in partnership
with the Women’s Democracy Group (WDG) conducted two regional trainings in Lira
and Rukungiri districts for district women councilors from the 13th-15th
of May 2013. WDG is a consortium of five women organizations which
include Uganda Women's Network (UWONET), ACFODE, Women’s
Democracy Network (WDN) - Uganda Chapter, Forum for Women in Democracy
(FOWODE), and Center for Women in Governance (CEWIGO).
An interactive session during the training workshop in Lira District
The trainings, which were conducted in Lira and Rukungiri districts
brought together 74 district women councilors from Amolatar, Dokolo, Lira, Oyam,
Rukungiri, Kisoro and Kanungu. The aim of the exercises were to increase the skill sets
and knowledge base of the female leaders to effectively engage in council and
influence decision making processes. They also sought to empower the officials
to form caucuses for the advancement of women issues in local councils to
enhance gender responsiveness.
Accordingly, during
the trainings, participants were taken through topics on gender and gender responsive budgeting, lobbying, advocacy and
networking, monitoring and evaluation of government programmes, e-communication
with an emphasis on usage of bulk SMS to communicate with the electorate, Legal frameworks
for affirmative action, caucusing and the rules of procedure in council.
The topics of engagements were based on a rapid assessment carried out
by WDG in December 2012 which indicated that many local women leaders were
challenged with inferiority
complexes, which were rated at 100%; lack of advocacy
and lobbying skills, which scored 94%; poor planning and
budgeting skills and lack of knowledge on government policies, which claimed a
score of 79% and ignorance of their roles and responsibilities which
came in at 74%. Other skills gap established included: poor public
speaking ability, limited skills in gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting, unawareness
of the correct way of making ordinances, as well as inaccessibility of modern
research and new tools of information to enhance their contribution to decision
making.
A cross section of Women councilors during the workshop in Rukungiri district
The training resulted in the
formation of seven district women caucuses, which were representative of the participating
districts. The caucuses were formed uniquely on the basis of advocacy issues
that affect majority of the communities they represent, rather than on the
basis of political party affiliations. The groups were able to make immediate
progress in their varied capacities by developing advocacy strategies on urgent
issues that need redress, thus drawing closer to achieving remarkable
milestones in their respective communities.
The women councilors appreciated the three-day
engagement as a timely intervention which equipped them with tools for better
leadership and replication of knowledge and skills gained. One of such
councilors remarked “We cannot take this training for granted; We appreciate the quality
training and indeed it has helped a lot and we expect to perform better in
undertaking our roles as women councillors.’’
Compiled by:
Nancy Nandudu
Public Relations
and Communications Officer
Action For
Development
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