Women leading civil society engagement in democratic processes
Project title:
Women leading civil society engagement in democratic processes.
Project location:
Sierra Leone, districts of Koinadugu and Kailahun
Project summary: 1000
Elected women, along with other women leaders and opinion makers of the target districts, will lead the establishment of a sustained mechanism for dialogue between institutions and civil society, so that policy making is participatory and women’s voices contribute to determining policy decisions at all levels.
The project builds on Oxfam’s work done to increase women’s equal representation in Koinadugu and Kailahun local governments. The project will train representatives from the local government and civil society to dialogue, and will establish a dialogue forum for designing and implementing development policies through a participatory approach. Particular focus will be given to gender equity and inclusion of marginalized groups.
The project will pilot a replicable methodology. Dissemination activities will include preparation of policy manuals and toolkits plus meetings with media, academic institutions, parliamentarians and sectoral groups.
Requested amount:
$ 410,000
Applicant’s own contribution
In addition to the grants requested form UNDEF, the applicant will contribute with USD100,484 in terms of resources, administrative and office costs of country office allocated directly to the project
Activity line:
Civil Society Empowerment
Gender considerations:
Addressing gender inequality 500
In Sierra Leone, gender inequality perpetuates despite ongoing development, because of low capacity among women to identify and voice their needs and assert themselves in the political fora, and low capacity of elected representatives to integrate women’s issues into all dimensions of policy making. By addressing these factors, the project contributes to generating a virtuous circle of women’s participation and recognition of their determinant role in democratisation.
Addressing needs of Marginalized or vulnerable groups: 500
The decentralization and devolution of power to local government is fundamental to ensuring the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable groups in policy and plan design, and implementation. This project will strengthen the decentralization of democracy by supporting the dialogue for participatory policy design and implementation at local level. This project will also address inclusion of marginalized groups, especially women and the extremely poor living in geographically remote areas.
3. Project Description
Problem context and justification (500)
Democratic institutions are being reinstated in SL after decades of conflict, but civil society is little engaged in policy making. The decentralization initiated in 2004 will enhance the political legitimacy of the government only if it is accompanied by the empowerment of civil society at local level. The election of women is an important step but will produce sustained results only if elected women will lead the process of inclusion of the needs of marginalized groups into policy making. Why Koinadugu and Kailahun?
Objectives/purpose (max. 300)
The overall objectives of the project are: (1) the consolidation of democratisation and development processes in Sierra Leone, (2) the recognition of women needs and the enforcement of women rights in all aspects of policy making.
The specific objective is to support civil society, especially women’s groups, to assume a determinant role in designing and implementing sustainable and equitable development policies in SL.
· Conducting a preliminary KAP survey
· Preparing knowledge resources for concerted and participatory policy making for sustainable and equitable development?
· Training of the elected women in local government to lead the dialogue between government and civil society.
· Training women leaders and representatives of civil society to engage effectively in the policymaking processes.
· Enhancing the capacity of local Government representatives in designing and implementing policies through a gendered participatory approach
· Establishing a permanent forum for dialogue between civil society and government for concerted efforts to strengthen the democratic and development processes.
· Organising a study tour for selected trainees
· Disseminating results through experience sharing seminars, television spots and radio programmes
· KAP survey
· 40 Toolkits on methodology and mechanisms of civil society empowerment
· 40 Toolkits on effective engagement of civil society in policy making
· 100 printed manuals on gendered and participatory policy making
· 4 workshops for 20 elected women on leading the dialogue between government and civil society.
· 4 workshops for 20 women leaders and representatives of civil society to engage effectively in policy making
· 4 workshops for 20 persons from local authorities in participatory policy design and implementation
· Launching event for a permanent forum between civil society and local government
· 10 monthly meetings of forum representatives.
· Exposure visit of 12 forum members to an African country
· Policy recommendations of the forum
· 10 presentations to academic institutions, media associations, sector working groups and Parliamentarians
· Study tour
· Symposium to present project results
· Project coverage on radio and television
· Mid term review
· Participatory summative evaluation
· Women are able to identify, voice their needs and rights, and take a proactive role in dialogue between public institutions and civil society;
· Formal mechanisms and structured interfaces of dialogue between local government and civil society are in place;
· Elected persons understand importance of women’s issues, integrate their voices in policies and plans;
· Civil society engages in policy and plan making;
· Design and management of district development plans is gendered, participatory and inclusive.
Monitoring and evaluation
How outcomes will be measured, what measurements will be used and who will be responsible (300)
Oxfam and partners will monitor and evaluate the project through a monitoring framework based on indicators identified and refined through a KAP survey, monthly progress reports, a mid term review and a results-based participatory summative evaluation, documenting the most significant changes.
In development projects, women are usually beneficiaries and the “ones to be empowered”. In this pilot project, drawing on election results, women will be “the ones who empower”. They will lead the engagement of civil society and government in policy making through dialogue for inclusive democracy.
Sustainability
How achievement of project will be maintained beyond funding period (300)
The project will pave way for reciprocal understanding and recognition between local authorities and civil society, thereby motivating them to strengthen reciprocal raison d’etre and sustain dialogue facilitated through the project. It will build women's capacity to take forward needs of the poorest.
Why UNDEF funding is particularly strategic (300)
UNDEF recognition will enhance the credibility of the project objectives and women’s capacity to lead civil society empowerment. UNDEF funds will provide the required financial resources not available with the Local Government struggling to establish itself in a post-conflict impoverished context.