Furthermore, the workshop seeks to sensitize Civil Society Organisations and Ivorian women advocacy groups on strategies for promoting women’s participation in electoral processes. Finally, the meeting seeks to create a women advocacy network on gender and elections within the community region.

Participants at the workshop are mainly representatives of women organisations involved in electoral activities, electoral management and the Ivorian Ministry of Solidarity, Family, Woman and Child.

Also participating in the training will be resource persons, including partners from the African Union’s Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, as well as the International Electoral System Foundation.

The training will focus on practical issues grouped under modules with a variety of activities designed to convey the main ideas in clear detail, while yielding specific learning results.

Organised by the ECOWAS Commission through its Gender Directorate and with the support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the training comprises 24 modules, of which one is devoted “Gender and Elections”.

This capacity building workshop is devoted to developing the skills and knowledge of electoral systems from the viewpoint of gender and goes beyond merely bridging gaps in the capacities of women’s advocacy as a constitutive group.

These capacities will undoubtedly improve the political commitment inculcated and strengthen support and action for increased participation at all levels of the national democratic processes.