Background information:

Gender and Governance program (GGP) was developed as a follow up to the Engendering Political Process Program implemented in 2002 to support women to participate actively in 2002 general elections. The GGP was developed by different stakeholders comprising of women leaders and women centered civil society organisations and supported by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and development partners such as the Swedish International Development Agency, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Royal Norwegian Embassy and DFID.

The Gender and Governance Program is in its second phase, and it is a multi-stakeholder program formulated to deepen the gains of the Engendering Political Process Program (EPPP) in ensuring that women issues remain relevant in the national policy, to support transformative leadership across all levels and tiers of government that delivers for people and in particular delivers on gender equality and to strengthen women’s leadership within communities and at the national levels.

The overall goal of the GGP is to transform leadership and governance at all levels in Kenya in order to deliver on poverty reduction, access to basic needs and equality between and among persons.

The specific objectives the project are:

• To support constitutional, legal, policy and institutional reform for gender equality, non-discrimination and the equal participation of women in all governance structures in Kenya
• To increase options, choices and capacities for Kenyan women in order to enhance women’s organizing, leadership, influencing and participation for gender equality, human rights and democratic governance.
• To strengthen positive images of women in leadership within communities
• To strengthen the knowledge and capacities on women CSOs on gender and governance and positioned them to spearhead & transform policies, programs and resources allocation as well as provide empowerment support actions to women in Kenya.

MYWO Areas of implementation:

District:

Constituencies:

Nandi South

Aldai & Tinderet

Nandi North

Emgwen & Mosop

Trans Nzoia

Saboti

Samburu

Samburu East and West

Turkana

Tukana Central and North

Transmara

Kilgoris

Kericho

Ainamoi, Belgut, & Kipkelion

West Pokot

Kacheliba, Kapenguria & Sigor

Uasin Gishu

Eldoret East

Bungoma

Kanduyi & Sirisia

Mt. Elgon

Mt. Elgon

Teso

Amagoro

Activities that the program will undertake:

Internalization/Capacity building of National & Regional Leaders

MYWO will capacity build through training newly elected, national & regional leaders and bring them on one page on issues of leadership, gender and governance and the need to use their leadership skills to create visibility for women aspirants.

Training Sensitizers

MYWO will be conducting a capacity building workshop for the District Committee/Divisional Committee members to equip them with skills that will enable them serve as community sensitizers in politics & issues of development.

This will enable them to continuously partner/network with women aspirants, with a focus on both parliamentary and local authority aspirants as well as holding community awareness forums on acceptance of women leadership. The training of (Mt. Elgon, West Pokot & Trans Nzoia) will have the component of peace initiative.

Enroll MYWO elected trained leaders as sensitizers

The sensitizers will be equipped with skills to enable them identify strategies to help women candidates win elections including the various strategies of marketing the women candidates and promote women leadership at all forums at the district level.

Capacity building of field staff

The field staff from the same districts will also be oriented during the training of district committee members in order for them to implement the project

Identification of aspiring candidates

The district/divisional committee members in the 22 constituencies of implementation will identify 2007 civic and parliamentary aspirants.

Training of Aspirants

MYWO will conduct intensive training workshops for civic aspirants. Local authority is the best entry point for women in politics and will devote resources and time towards strengthening the leadership of the civic candidates, to enable them conduct effective and successful campaigns. All training will take place at the provincial level.

Mentoring of the youth

MYWO district/divisional committee members will also act as role models to mentor the youth to seek leadership positions in all districts.

Lobbying and advocacy

MYWO with other like-minded organizations will continually lobby for increased representation of women in decision making.  The organization will continue to lobby political parties and key legislators for affirmative action legislation.

Voter sensitization and mobilization         

MYWO through the district/divisional/ location/sub-location committees will continue on volunteer basis to hold community sensitization campaigns and community awareness forums on voter education. 

Monitoring and supervision

The field staff will submit on a monthly basis, monthly reports to the headquarters.  The head office will carry out monitoring and supervision on quarterly basis.

Distribution of IEC Materials:

The program will continue to capacity build the district/divisional committees and also equip them with IEC materials to aid creation of awareness.

2007 VOTER EDUCATION

The above project is funded by UNDP in collaboration with Electoral Commission of Kenya. This is a three month program starting September 15th and ending December 15th 2007. The objective of project is to improve citizens understanding of their rights responsibilities and ability to participate in the electoral process, in order to contribute to free, fair and peaceful 2007 General elections in Kenya.

Areas of implementation:

District:    

Constituencies:

Nandi North 

Emgwen & Mosop 

Trans Nzoia  

Cherangany, Kwanza & Saboti 

Kericho

Belgut

Teso 

Amagoro

 Activities:

• Identification of constituency facilitators.  The set  criteria used to select facilitators is as follows:  They should be people who are politically neutral, knowledgeable on issues of electoral processes and good governance, who reside in the constituency and speak the native language and have integrity.

• The organization will undertake training of facilitators who will carry out voter education

• The facilitators will carry out voter education using existing public barazas, church, women groups, market gathering, funerals and also mobilize