Background

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) stipulates 25% representation by women at all levels. This has provided women with the opportunity to assume leadership and decision making roles in the Government of Southern Sudan.

UNDP’s Good Governance and Equity in Political Participation (GGEPP) project seeks to facilitate the participation of women leaders (potential and actual) by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge, to enable them to effectively participate in decision-making processes in politics, development and public affairs. GGEPP has been working with the Special Committee for Gender in the Southern Legislative Assembly, the Ministry for Gender, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs and the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs, in order to realize this goal.

The programme has also worked closely with other UNDP Governance programmes, such as the Support to the States Programme and the Local Government Programme, to develop the capacity of the 10 State Assemblies. It has developed a framework for the empowerment of women at the local government level, in order to achieve the 25% target for representation by women at all levels of government. It will therefore be imperative to build the capacity of women and promote partnerships between women and men as a means of achieving political reform.

Objectives
The aim of the project is to engage with those within political structures and civil society institutions as part of the wider effort to contribute to good governance and increase the political participation of Sudanese women.

Specific Objectives:
• To increase women’s representation in political structures and within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Secretariats and Commissions;
• To elevate gender issues on the national agenda;
• To increase women’s representation in Parliament; and
• To increase the number of women voting in elections.

Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• Conducted training needs assessment for women leaders in March 2006 and developed training materials in December 2006.
• In collaboration with the Support to the States Programme and in partnership with the Specialised Committee for Gender, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs, supported study visits for 38 MPs for the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly and the State Assemblies to Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda, in July, October, November and December 2006 respectively.
• In collaboration with the Support to the States Programme and in partnership with the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs, organised and coordinated capacity development training for MPs in the 10 states of Southern Sudan.
• Financially supported a state tour by the Specialised Committee for Gender, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs to enhance communication between the Legislator and their Constituency in October 2006.
• Provided technical, material and financial support for the 8th March, International Women’s Day celebration in the 10 states.
• Supported the establishment of two Civil Society Network forums in Malakal and Wau, in March and April, 2006.