Support of Women's Capacity to Mediate Electoral Conflicts in DRC

The project is designed to contribute to peace consolidation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by getting women significantly involved in a peaceful electoral process. The project is helping to improve women’s participation in managing electoral conflicts and in promoting civic education in 10 provinces. Project activities include: (1) building the capacity of 45 women leaders in electoral conflict mediation and management; (2) organizing three capacity-building workshops for 45 women candidates or potential candidates on developing communication strategies in an election period the various legal instruments protecting women and advocacy; (3) organizing 16 advocacy missions about appointing women and girls to decision-making positions; (4) subsidizing 16 women’s organizations so they can implement projects pertaining to outreach women’s participation in the electoral process preventing and managing electoral conflicts electoral observation and monitoring the status of women; and (5) organizing three capacity-building sessions on civic education and electoral observation for 30 women and girl leaders.

The expected results of this project include: (1) improved access to decision-making bodies for aspiring women candidates in national and provincial elections in the DRC; (2) increased awareness among national and provincial authorities and traditional leaders about supporting the significant involvement of women in decision-making bodies; and (3) improved access for women and men including young women and men to electoral dialogue forums organized by women’s organizations to ensure electoral monitoring and if necessary mediation of electoral conflicts in 10 provinces.