Women Political Representation Enhanced (WOPRE) in the 2017 General Elections in Kenya.

Funder: European Union

Duration: 2016-2017

Project sites: Kiambu, Laikipia, Homa Bay and Taita Taveta.

Partners: Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood (GROOTS Kenya) and Advocates for Social Change- Kenya (ADSOCK) as the implementing co-applicants and We Effect being the lead applicant.

This project was based on experience of facilitating change through interwoven approaches targeting various individuals, groups and institutions for attitude, behaviour, practice and/or systemic change. The action was aimed at changing the political, cultural, and social norms and power relations that prevent women from taking up leadership positions. It was aimed at identifying, disrupting, adapting or dismantling policies, structures, practices and systems in communities, political parties, in campaign processes and other electoral institutions that reinforce patriarchal dominance in political leadership and negative stereotypes of women as leaders. In facilitating the power shifts, this action was directly targeting the main political actors who have persistently guarded the status quo, using carefully structured strategies with an aim to pursue the cause of gender equality. An organised movement of community champions was at the forefront in addressing the root causes and deliberate barriers which are normally erected to bar women from assuming leadership. This, action was delivered through collective and multiple efforts, bridging alliances at the intersections of our priority themes to influence mind-sets, practices and policies, with an aim of enhancing women participation in leadership and in decision-making.

Interventions of the action

1. Strengthen the movement of organised Community Members (men & women) pursuing Gender Equality
2. Strengthen the capacity of women politicians through training & mentoring
3. Promote female membership in political parties
4. Transform media image of women leaders/politicians
5. Prevent electioneering GBV
6. Raise the awareness and understanding of citizens on the importance of women’s equal participation in politics.

Primary target groups

This project targeted women in political leadership, female aspirants, political parties, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), media practitioners, community champions (men & women) for Gender Equality, including opinion leaders among them socio-cultural, religious leaders & government administrators in the four project Counties.

Final beneficiaries

The final beneficiaries under this two year project were member of the general public, especially voters in the target areas & future women leaders/ politicians. The contracting authority under this two year project was the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Kenya, under its programme dubbed “European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)”, which is a country-based support scheme through which it implements actions in partner countries.