The Constituency effectiveness program

The Program engages in the conscientisation and organizing of women within the elected women's constituencies, the major aim being to provide linkages between the elected women and their women constituency. The Programme stemmed from the realization that if women in political leadership are to take forward the gender agenda there has to be a strong relationship and interaction between them and the women constituency, the latter raising issues from a gender perspective that can be carried forward for policy formulation, reform and implementation. The Programme also provides a platform for women leaders to report back to their constituencies on issues that they are discussing and making decisions on and their impact on women.

Raising the political consciousness of women is an empowering process

Raising the political consciousness of women is an empowering process for women to take up the challenge of vying for political office and contesting elections. In its capacity building workshops women's political leadership are discussed so that more women take up leadership positions in the various local structures and within their political parties also as a base for contesting in public elections.

The Programme envisages a situation where women leaders will harness the support of women in their constituencies who will be their "eyes" and "ears" on issues going on in the constituency. Thus, the Programme is setting up Constituency Consultative Forums (CCF) in each of the constituencies of the women MPs.

The CCFs are made up of 50 women from each of the wards in the constituencies, who will be support base of the woman MP in the constituency. The CCF will discuss developmental issues in the constituency especially those relating to women, laws affecting women and bills that are being discussed in the House. Reporting back to the woman MP, the CCF is in fact strengthening the position of the MP as she can take up the people's issues to national decision making levels.

16 Days of Activism - Mutasa

The Programme has so far conducted trainings in 10 of the 13 constituencies that have women MPs and have set up 4 CCFs. During the course of 2004, the program will be extended to women Councilors' Ward in order to set up the Ward Consultative Forums. The constituencies that have not yet set up Consultative Forums must be assisted to do so in 2004 and the process to begin doing the same at ward level for the women councilors must start so as to have the Women Ward Consultative Forums. The framework of the 3 phases the program carries out and the content will remain and will only be modified to include new information.

Activities

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