Political training for women candidates in municipal elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Twenty women candidates for municipal elections in the provinces of Kasaï-Oriental, Lomami, Haut-Katanga and Lualaba recently participated in training on the electoral process in Lubumbashi, capital of Haut-Katanga. This initiative aims to provide women candidates with support before, during and after the electoral campaign, by connecting them with female mentors from West Africa and Europe.
Trainer Gertrude Ndaya explains that the participants first followed theoretical training in Mbuji-Mayi, then went to Lubumbashi. There, they were able to benefit from the experience of Congolese and foreign women, who hold positions in local institutions. Each candidate has been paired with a mentor who will support her throughout the electoral process.
During the training, women had the opportunity to share their experiences, develop campaign strategies and learn the skills needed for fundraising. The mentors, although some were unable to be physically present, were able to communicate with their mentees by videoconference.
This training was organized by the NGO Democracy Reporting International (DRI) with the financial support of the German International Cooperation Agency GIZ. The objective is to strengthen the presence of women in the political sphere and to promote their success in municipal elections.
The return of the 10 women from Kasai-Oriental and Lomami to Mbuji-Mayi marks the end of this training, which provided them with the necessary tools to lead an effective electoral campaign and actively engage in the political life of their region. It is hoped that this initiative will encourage other women to participate in elections and play an important role in local governance.