Call for application for Female Political Aspirants from the South Eastern States of Nigeria

                                      

Call for applications from Female Political Aspirants for participation in a 3-day residential training course titled “Implementing 35% Affirmative Action by 2019 through Capacity building in partisan politics.

In partnership with UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, Alliances for Africa (AfA) and Gender and Development Action (GADA), calls for applications from ELIGIBLE FEMALE POLITICAL ASPIRANTS WHO ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO CONTESTING IN UP-COMING ELECTIONS IN THE SOUTH-EAST to a three -day training on Effective Political Engagement. The training will take place in Imo State in two batches from 3^rd – 9^th July 2016, and is open to 150 participants from the following states: Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Anambra. With funds from UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, AfA/GADA will cover the travel and accommodation expenses.

Overview:The results of the 2015 National Assembly Elections confirm that representation of women in parliament is steadily declining. Only 5.11% of federal legislators in the 8^th National Assembly are women, down from 9% in 2007 and 7% in 2011.  Women’s representation in a country’s highest law making body through a yardstick for gauging society’s appreciation for the importance of women’s political participation, has remained embarrassingly low in Nigeria due to various reasons. Nigeria is not only below global and regional averages of 22.1% and 22.4% respectively, we are even below our own 35% minimum standard set in 2006 in the National Gender Policy (NGP).

This project thus aims to support the implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action as contained in Nigeria's National Gender Policy (2007) by increasing the number of women elected into decision-making positions at the local and national levels in 5 states in South- Eastern Nigeria by 2019.The project targets registered card calling female members of political parties aspiring for political positions for capacity building training on 4 key areas: women public speaking, media engagement, social media, and fund raising for electoral campaigning.

Through non-formal methods, the training aims to give women the tools to effectively communicate, fund-raise, and manage media and social media campaigns during electioneering periods. The training will incorporate themes such as Effective communication, Public Speaking, Media engagements, Political Campaigning using Social Media and Political Financing/ Fundraising.The training will be conducted in English therefore, participants are expected to be proficient in English, both written and spoken.

Eligibility Criteria:

In order to participate, the applicants should be Proven Female Political Aspirants between 25 and 50 years old and must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be a female actively involved in a party and community;
• Minimum 25 years old and not older than 60 years;
• Possess a minimum of secondary leaving certificate or equivalent;
• Indigene of the South East of Nigeria or currently residing in one of the South East states. (Eligible states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo);
• Valid Means of Identification (National ID, Voters Card, International Passport, Driving License);
• Proof of Bona fide Membership of a Political Party (will be verified);
• Possess History/Evidence of Previous Participation/Contesting in Elections;
• Fully committed and available to attend/participate in entire 3-day training;
• Proficient in English (able to participate actively in discussions and presentations);
• Committed to multiplying the results of the training in the local communities;
• BE COMMITTED TO CONTESTING/RUNNING IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS COMING UP IN LGA, STATE, SENATORIAL ZONE OR NATIONAL LEVEL.

Candidates who do not fulfill the above requirements will not be considered, and hence be taken off the list.

Application Procedure:

·         Applications are due for submission by close of work Friday 10^thJune, 2016.

· Interested candidates are welcome to fill an application form accessed on http://goo.gl/forms/m49CTNQ8mmu9Du692

·         Candidates will be called for a short phone interview, please provide a phone number in this regard. 

·  For further inquiries, please call AfA on 08161576782 or 08168702759 and GADA on 08033003435.