Zabré – Burkina Faso

Women’s involvement in decision-making bodies in rural areas

Key areas

Region/country

THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INITIATIVE

Women in Burkina Faso make up the poorest and most vulnerable population group, particularly in rural areas. Cultural and legal obstacles, as well as unequal access to social services and resources limit their contribution to the country’s political and economic life.
Traditional customs and a lack of legal protection for issues such as inheritance and domestic violence further limit women’s opportunities to become independent leaders, whether in their communities or on a national level.
Women elected to positions on a local or national level do not manage to effectively contribute to important causes, in particular the reduction of poverty and local development initiatives. This is due to a lack of support from their respective political parties and a limited capacity of influence.
To sum up, members of women’s organisations, women in political parties or locally-elected women have very little sway, having limited influence in policy formulation and decision making relating to development.
This reality is what has led the Pag-La-Ya association launch initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s participation in decision-making bodies at the local-authority or party-political level.

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE

– Ability and skill building with 120 women to influence management of local authorities.

– Organisation of 20 lobbying and advocacy meetings with traditional and religious authorities, leaders of political parties and local authorities to improve women’s involvement in decision making.

– Organisation of 20 training and awareness-raising sessions to improve participation in local development processes.

– Organisation of meetings between women active in politics and female leaders of civil society organisations, to share experience and to seek solutions to shared difficulties.

– Organisation of a multi-actor forum on the topic of “Women’s political participation: overview and outlook for the local elections”.

WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OUR GROUP?

4 paid employees
15 volunteers

WHICH PARTNERS ARE YOU WORKING WITH ON THIS INITIATIVE?

Women living in rural areas were illiterate and had no right to speak in public or to take part in decision-making meetings, either at a family or village level.rnrnWith literacy and capacity-building initiatives carried out by the Pag-La-Yiri association, women have become more dynamic and do now speak in public.
Women living in rural areas were illiterate and had no right to speak in public or to take part in decision-making meetings, either at a family or village level.rnrnWith literacy and capacity-building initiatives carried out by the Pag-La-Yiri association, women have become more dynamic and do now speak in public.
Women became aware that they needed to be more involved to influence political decisions and to improve local development. rnrnNow, women work on improving their skills in order to better take their place in decision-making bodies and to positively influence decisions in favour of the most vulnerable.
Women became aware that they needed to be more involved to influence political decisions and to improve local development. rnrnNow, women work on improving their skills in order to better take their place in decision-making bodies and to positively influence decisions in favour of the most vulnerable.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

“A 25% increase in the number of women on candidate lists for the 2016 municipal elections in the targeted communities of Zabré, Zoaga, Zonsé and Gomboussougou.”

Women are fighting to be present in decision-making bodies on the village level, as well as in village councils for development (CVD).

When a CVD was reappointed in one of the villages in which we work, out of 12 available posts, women occupied eight, with a woman occupying the position of president.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE?

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?

Finding new partners to increase impact in the region.