Gender Training for French Speaking African EMBs!

International IDEA organised a BRIDGE modular workshop for African EMBs on 4 – 8 June 2012 in Accra, Ghana.

This project is one of many interventions by IDEA with a purpose of strengthening Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in Africa and the Middle East. In Africa; a joint collaboration was established between International IDEA and the African Union Commission with the aim to develop capacity for the officials of various EMBs for effective management of all Electoral processes and administrative activities. Funded by AUSaid; this modular workshop is part of the Joint Activity Plan – JAP Project between the two afore-mentioned parties.

The BRIDGE five-day modular workshop was a training based on the Gender and Elections module of the BRIDGE curriculum.

International IDEA and AUSAID provided funds for accommodation, subsistence and travel for all participants including consultancy fees for the facilitators.

Seventeen (17) participants, 6 men and 11 women, from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon and Guinea shared their experience and knowledge on international agreements, gender mainstreaming strategies, barriers faced by women in accessing the electoral processes and strategies to support women’s action plans in their countries.

Four BRIDGE facilitators participated in the preparation and delivery of the course:

1. Ibrahima “Ibou” Amadou Niang (Gorée Institute; Senegal – Senegalese – Lead Facilitator)
2. Antonia Ngabala Sodonon (Consultant; Congo Brazzaville – Congolese)
3. Fatima Diabate (Consultant; Côte d’Ivoire –  Ivorian)
4. Ibrahima Sona Diallo (Projet Faisons Ensemble – USAID; Guinea – Guinean)

At the end of the training, Ibrahima Sona Diallo and Fatimata Diabate received their certificate of full accreditation after completing their field work.