Gender Equality and Elections modular workshop

22-24 January 2025

South Sudan

The United Nations Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT) in South Sudan, in collaboration with the National Elections Commission (NEC), organized a three-day BRIDGE modular workshop on Gender Equality and Elections. The workshop convened key stakeholders who play a critical role in promoting a gender-balanced electoral process, including representatives from the State High Elections Committees, the Political Party Council, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Academia and the Media.

The workshop, conducted in Juba, South Sudan from January 22-24 2025, was led by BRIDGE facilitators Natia Kashakashvili and Shalva Tskhakaya. Twenty-six participants (23 female and 3 male) attended the workshop.

The workshop aimed to equip participants with a deeper understanding of the structural and systemic approaches to advancing gender equality and the skills to implement practical strategies for inclusive electoral processes; The workshop objectives were:

1. Understand Women’s Participation in Politics:

– Explore global targets and benchmarks for women’s political representation.

– Analyze current data and trends on women’s participation in political and electoral processes.

– Review key international frameworks and obligations supporting gender equality in elections, including human rights treaties and global commitments.

2. Identify Obstacles to Women’s Participation:

– Discuss the major barriers faced by women in electoral processes, including cultural, institutional, and systemic challenges.

– Understand systemic barriers and the impact of electoral systems on women’s representation and inclusion.

3. Promote Gender Equality in Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs):

– Examine strategies for embedding gender equality within EMB structures and practices.

4. Enhance Gender Equality Throughout the Electoral Cycle:

– Develop action plans to promote gender equality during pre-election, election, and post-election phases.

– Understand the importance and types of gender quotas in addressing disparities.

5. Design Advocacy Campaigns:

– Understand the principles of effective advocacy and lobbying for gender equality in elections.

– Develop impactful advocacy campaigns to advance gender equality in politics and elections.

– Craft clear, persuasive messages for advocacy initiatives that resonate with diverse audiences.

6. Address Gender Inequalities Through Strategic Planning:

– Explore how strategic planning can mitigate gender inequalities in electoral processes and foster sustainable change.

Based on the analysis of participants’ written feedback, several key themes emerged regarding the most valuable aspects of the sessions.

The foundational knowledge components were highly valued by participants, particularly the coverage of legal frameworks, international electoral standards, and gender equality principles. Participants specifically appreciated learning about gender quotas and strategies for mainstreaming gender equality throughout the electoral cycle. The workshop’s thorough examination of barriers to women’s political participation, coupled with practical strategies for overcoming these obstacles, provided participants with actionable insights for promoting inclusive electoral processes in South Sudan.

The practical and organizational elements of the workshop also received significant praise. Participants highlighted the effectiveness of sessions focusing on stakeholder engagement, organizational gender mainstreaming, and leadership development. The interactive nature of the training, including networking opportunities and accessible supplementary materials, enhanced the learning experience. The facilitators were commended for their expertise and ability to create an engaging, participatory environment that encouraged open dialogue and knowledge sharing. Additionally, participants valued the structured approach to addressing gender equality within organizational contexts and throughout the electoral cycle, indicating that the workshop successfully balanced theoretical knowledge with practical application for promoting women’s meaningful participation in electoral processes.

Participants provided valuable insights regarding the workshop’s conduct and delivery. The workshop’s implementation received significant praise for its effective organization and delivery approach. Participants particularly commended the facilitators for their expertise, clear presentation style, and ability to create an engaging, participatory environment that encouraged open dialogue and knowledge sharing. The course content was noted as well-structured, with clear learning objectives and a balanced integration of theoretical knowledge and practical applications. The interactive elements, including stakeholder engagement activities, networking opportunities, and accessible supplementary materials, enhanced the learning experience. The workshop’s structured approach to addressing gender equality within organizational contexts and throughout the electoral cycle effectively supported participants’ understanding of women’s meaningful participation in electoral processes.

Several key recommendations emerged for future workshops. While participants valued the practical components already incorporated, some suggested further increasing hands-on activities and real-time scenario practice. Participants strongly advocated for expanding the program’s reach by conducting similar training at state and county levels throughout South Sudan, particularly emphasizing the need to reach young women and girls. The workshop duration was consistently highlighted as an area for improvement, with many suggesting extending beyond three days to allow for deeper engagement with the material and comprehensive coverage of the curriculum. Participants emphasized the importance of increasing male participation to address barrier creation more effectively and recommended incorporating women with disabilities to ensure inclusive representation. Specific programmatic recommendations included implementing robust monitoring and evaluation systems, developing targeted programs for women’s political participation, and incorporating topics on gender-based violence in electoral processes. Participants also suggested enhancing stakeholder engagement through advocacy and lobbying addressing structural gender inequalities, and focusing on gender equality in voter registration and civic education. Additional recommendations included sharing presentation materials with participants for future reference, providing post-training support and resources, exploring financing mechanisms for women politicians, and continuing such training through the election period with government officials’ involvement. Many participants emphasized the need to build partnerships and coalitions for gender equality, advocating for policy changes that promote women’s political participation through temporary special measures.

Based on the analysis of participants’ responses regarding their planned actions to promote gender equality in their work contexts over the next six months, several strategic themes emerged in their commitments.

A significant focus was placed on institutional capacity building and policy implementation. Participants committed to establishing gender units within their organizations, developing gender-responsive policies, and ensuring gender considerations are integrated into planning processes, including the review of draft plans and instructions. Many emphasized the importance of creating safe and inclusive workplace environments through implementing equitable pay practices, fostering work-life balance initiatives, and establishing support systems for women in the workplace.

The responses also highlighted commitments to education, awareness, and advocacy initiatives. Participants planned to conduct comprehensive awareness programs across regions, with special attention to reaching women at grassroots levels, including those living with disabilities. Specific action items included mapping women in political parties, designing advocacy campaign messages, and working with stakeholders such as the National Election Commission and Ministry of Justice to amend relevant laws. Professional development emerged as another key focus, with participants committing to provide training opportunities for women candidates, implement mentorship programs for young women, and conduct gender inclusion training. Additionally, several participants emphasized monitoring and evaluation components, including tracking gender-based violence, conducting post-election gender assessments, and implementing systems to measure progress toward gender equality goals.

Facilitators:
Natia Kashakashvili, Shalva Tskhakaya
Location:
Juba
Format:
Face to face workshop
Audience(s) for this workshop:
Electoral Management Body, Civil Society Organisation, Government, Media,
Language(s):
English
Modules used at this workshop:
Gender Equality and Elections
Expected Outcomes:
Provide Electoral Principles to Staff, Professional Development of Staff, To develop a support network for stakeholders in electoral processes
Categories: