Women are under-represented in politics at both the national and local levels. Although they constitute half of the population, women and girls, particularly in rural areas, continue to be excluded from governance, political life, and decision making processes.
Therefore, our 36-month project “Beyond Politics of Men: Empowering Women to be Effective Political Actors in Sierra Leone,” funded by the European Union, restores women to their rightful place at the forefront of public and political life. In partnership with the 50/50 group, Search positions 225 women politicians and aspiring politicians as catalysts for change by increasing their participation in decision-making and local and national governance.
Our activities contribute to developing a better understanding of women’s opportunities to engage in political leadership exchanges and increase their confidence to demand equal participation and representation within parties.
Through 18 political leadership clinic/talks and symposiums, we provide women with a safe space to build their confidence and engage in conversations on public issues. These meetings are also a unique opportunity for rural women to discuss with activists and women political leaders on how to improve their political participation.
To further amplify their voices, our 120-episode radio magazine, “Uman for Uman,” provides a stable platform for women politicians to improve their debate and communication skills, popularizes their political profiles, and mobilizes other women around their aspirations and hopes.
Finally, we initiate a dialogue to transform the norms that impede women’s participation, even in the most remote areas. Our participatory theater performances allow communities to express themselves on women’s exclusion and social and cultural barriers to find concerted solutions. Simultaneously, we engage stakeholders in constituencies that resist women’s political participation to discuss these challenges and lead initiatives to overcome them.
