INTRODUCTION

Somalia is headed for an indirect election after several months of postponement due to disagreements by various stakeholders and like the previous elections, the upcoming polls will be based on the clan power sharing formula stipulated in the 17th Sep, 2020 agreement and the final endorsement of the agreement on 27th May, 2021. Of critical importance in these agreements is the provision of 30% women’s quota as a means of enhancing women representation and greater inclusion of female genders in political arrangements of Somalia. As Compared to the 2016 indirect elections, the number of delegates involved in 2021 polls will be higher up from 51 to 101 and more number of polling stations will be involved this time around all in a bid to make the polls more rob ust and inclusive. Therefore a total of 27,775 delegates from across the country will vote for 275 MPs in the Lower House and out of these 30% shall be women. This is a very ambitious step but with no proper strategy to realize its implementations hence the need for increased advocacy, training and motivation of women aspirants and push for renewed commitments by the various stakeholders to ensure realization of the quota provision.

Towards this end, Somali Youth Volunteers Association-SOYVA in collaboration with Electoral institute for sustainable democracy in Africa-EISA conducted 2 days workshop aimed at strengthening the capacities of women aspirants and advancing the implementation of 30% quota. The workshop that was held at Sahafi hotel on 23^rd and 24^th June 2021 engaged a total of 50 participants who were mainly young women aspirants, women candidates, members of current parliament, former women members of parliament, business women, women scholars, CSOs representative and clan elders.

The workshop was aimed at strengthening the capacity of women aspirant and advancing the 30% women’s quota. The consideration of 30% women’s quota is one of the fundamental principles contained in the agreement signed on 17th September, 2020 and 27th May, 2021 in order to achieve affirmative action in the upcoming Somalia elections. The 30% women quota lacks legislative and constitutional support that can guarantee its full implementation. In order to fully realize it, there is need for such robust capacity building activity for women aspirants, civic awareness and advocacy to encourage the FMSs and all other stakeholders to consider the women’s 30% as an urgent matter of national importance.

The workshop was divided into six sessions spread over the two days of the activity and all participants Were provided with printed schedules for the two days.

The Objectives of the workshop

During the two day activity, SOYVA facilitators engaged the participants on the following:

1. Strategies on how to ensure the full realization of 30% women’s quota.
2. Strengthened the capacity of women aspirant.
3. Helped in advancing women aspirants’ skills in planning for their candidature, campaign and financial strategy.
4. Enlightened women aspirant on the 17th Sep, 2020 frame work and the 27th May, 2021 agreement.
5. Provided platform for women aspirant to engage with expertise on election matters.

METHODOLOGIES USED DURING THE TRAINING

1. PRESENTATION:

The SOYVA facilitators Mr. Ahmed Adow and Mrs. Amal Hassan presented the training in form of the power-point presentation.

2. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The training session provided the literature review and comparative analysis of 2016 and the 2021 indirect elections by providing factual figures on women representation, content differences and legislative process in enacting the agreed upon framework and its strengthened in advancing the 30% women’s quota. The participants were divided into two groups with each of the group to handle the hallmarks of the 2016 and 2021 polls and opportunities available for women participation. Both analyses were presented to the participants and a clear understanding of how 2021 is more robust and seek to be more inclusive was achieved.

3. PANEL GROUP DISCUSSION

The guest of honors with the background on the political framework based on indirect elections were invited to shade light on ways of achieving the 30% women’s quota and importance of women inclusion towards development of Somali society as well as better achievement of peace and reconciliation

4. FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS (FGDs)

The participants were divided in small groups of 10 and were provided with guided questions on strategies of achieving the 30% women’s quota, strengthening women aspirants and were also asked to share their opinions on the strategies women can use to get more political clout while at same time asking for experience of the two day training by SOYVA and EISA.

5. QUESTION AND ANSWER

This approach was used in order to give opportunities to the participants to ask questions the members of the panelist present during the training. It was also aimed at bringing out the voice of women and challenges they are facing to get political representation. Some of the significant questions asked during the sessions and their responses include:

Question: Nadia Suufi Abdi asked why always the women seats are subjected to rotational within the sub-clans as this normally causes chaos among the sub -clan because each sub-clan do not want women to represent them.

Mama Dunia replied to the question by pocking holes on the election frame work agreement which is not substantiated by the constitution.

She added what is needed is to strengthen the law and the constitution in order to prevent women seat to be subjected to rotational basis among the clans. She continued that the country needs a clear policy framework for gender mainstreaming instead of adhoc agreements between political class, FMSs and FGS.

Question: Hafsa Abirizack Mohamed asked why elders take money from the candidates. And how can we strengthen women participation in the election?

Mr Abukar one of the elder panelist responded that the act is unacceptable and is one of the most excluding factor for women. He observed that the actions of elders amount to corruption and since the justice system of the country is not well developed and given the position of these elders, women need to shout out against the vice and challenged the CSOs to also do more advocacy about corruption in election, the need for integrity in polls as well as election fraud perpetuated by clan elder system so as to achieve universal suffrage for Somalia as the best accountable and acceptable mode of election applied in almost all world democracies. He added that women need to forward aspirants who are educated and know their right so they can minimize on the manipulation and exploitation by the elders. He advised that women should have the courage to move out of home stead to contribute towards state building , talk to their spouse about opportunities available for them to contribute towards state and gain confidence that’s is critical to realize their political ambitions.

Question: Hon Kaafia asked how women can be included in the delegates.

Answer: Mama Dunia responded by saying that the delegates are in the preserve of the community and that women need to do more lobbying and networking through their spouse, fathers, business leaders and close family elders to gain the positions. She said that the idea of having a balanced gender approach to any exercise is gaining foothold in communities and hence challenged the women participants to start doing the necessary ground work and go for the opportunities. She observed that no one should wait to be appointed but be proactive in lobbying and seeking representation.

Question: Hon Kaafia also asked why women politicians in the current parliament do not actively advocate for the 30% women’s quota.

Answer: Mama Dunia responded that the current women are selected to achieve the required numbers not based on the competence and quality. She said quantity was chosen over the quality and that is why they are not competent to defend the rights of their fellow women. She added that this time around women need to front women political activists and educated women who will engage in constructive advocacies for women inclusion and proper policy framework anchored in law especially at this opportune time when Somali will most likely move away from indirect election henceforth after 2021 polls.

Day 1 Activities

The workshop was officially opened and kicked off with registration done by Mr. Khalid, Program Officer EISA. This was followed by a quick opening remarks by Madam Amal Hassan and Mr. Ahmed Adow who are facilitators of SOYVA to set the stage. They took the participants through the expectations of the two day’s training that covers in details the theme of strengthening the capacity of women aspirant and advancing the 30% quota while also informing the participants that the workshop will be delivered through presentation, panel discussion, Question and answer sessions and focus group discussion (FGD).

SESSION 1: The Session provided an overview of changes in the Electoral System in Somalia about the recent changes from 2016/2017 to 2020/2021 elections and the level of women participations by providing comparative analysis.

In this session, SOYVA Facilitator Mr. Ahmed Adow highlighted that back May 2016, The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and National Leadership Forum (the NLF – a body of regional and national political leaders) agreed on a hybrid Electoral College model based on a 4.5 clan power -sharing mechanism despite plans for a one-person-one-vote national poll. Elders from 135 clans and sub -clans selected 14,025 members from across the country to vote for 275 MPs in the Lower House (51 members per seat). Mr. Ahmed Adow also added that there was introduction of a 30% quota of seats reserved for women in both houses of the federal parliament within the electoral framework.

The 2016 parliamentary elections resulted in electing 66 women to the lower house out of 275 and 13 women elected to the upper house out of 54 seats. Despite both Houses falling short of the 30% women’s quota, the proportion of women elected is estimated to a 47% increase from 2012 elections translating to better inclusion for women.

Mr. Ahmed informed the participants that the 2016 introduction of 30% parliamentary gender quota is a turning point towards achieving women’s equal political representation and has set the national agenda for women inclusion in Somalia.

The session continued shedding light by drawing the attentions of the participants to the upcoming 2021 indirect elections which is also based on the clan power-sharing formula stipulated in the 17th Sep, 2020 agreement and the final endorsement of the agreement on 27th May, 2021 which provided for a 30% women’s quota as a means of enhancing women representation. A comparative analysis of 2016 indirect elections and 2021 indirect elections showed a major milestone in advancing the indirect elections in Somalia. For instance, the number of delegates were increased from 51 to 101 as well the polling stations were upgraded from one polling to two polling stations in every Federal Member States. The 30% gender quota in 2021 if implemented fully will mean 83 seats for women in Somalia’s lower house of 275 seats.

A comparative analysis was also done on the modalities of agreement in 2016 and 2021 indirect elections. In 2016, there was no agreement signed between the leaders at various level of government; that is the Federal and FMS but for 2020-2021 indirect elections, leaders had a substantive agreement signed and taken through the parliament to be legislated upon. There were various political meetings initiated at the Federal and cascaded down to the FMS which finally gave birth to the 17 Sep, 2020 indirect elections framework and the subsequent 27^th May,2021 agreement in Mogadishu.

SESSION 2: This session aimed at explaining the 30% quota for women. Madam Amal explained to the participants that the proposed political participation for women through the consideration of 30% gender quota has played a significant role in 2016 indirect elections in Somalia. However, the 30% gender quota will not necessarily translate into meaningful influence and impact for women in claiming the full representation in the political process without women themselves offering their names for leadership and fighting out with male counterparts.

She added that it is inevitable that the 30% quota needs to be complemented by other viable factors such as quality education and training opportunities for girls and young women at a grassroots level specially those who have ambitions to be aspirants. She pointed the various challenges faced in achieving the 30%

women’s quota laying more emphasis on the lack of legislative and constitutional support besides the rigid patriarchal systems and financial inequities.

The session also examined the limited scope and coverage of the 30% women’s quota. It was highlighted that the 30% quota only covers the political participation for women and didn’t provide the same measure to be applied in securing high ranking civil service position in the government institutions once government will be formed. This elicited discussion among the participants citing the need to build more inclusive government institutions by introducing quotas at multiple levels within the civil service both at Federal and Federal Member States as well as supporting merit-based recruitment and promotion.

The politicization of clan identity was highlighted to be one of the most significant barriers to women’s political participation and realization of 30% quota. The clan elders who are the delegates to vote for the aspirants view women as unreliable representatives in the political arena, because of their dual affiliation to their father’s and husband’s clan.

SESSION 3: The participants were taken through the following strategies of enhancing the 30% women’s quota in the upcoming 2021 elections.

1. Petitioning parliament plus other government organs and advocating for more inclusive institutions:
   • Strengthening a structural and institutional reform that enables inclusive institutions. This could involve merit-based recruitment and promotion which, along with greater incentives, would encourage the inclusion of women in positions of legitimate influence across different levels of government and full participation in the political process.

• Supporting alternatives to the 4.5 power-sharing formulas may also provide important opportunities for more inclusive power-sharing, and bodies such as the parliamentary Women’s Caucus may be well placed as a vehicle to support consultation and advocacy on inclusive politics.

• Working to regulate electoral finances would also be a key way to support the inclusion of women who do not have access to financial resources, but have a desire to run for political office.

• Women inclusion in decision-making through strategic engagement with clan and religious leaders.

• Media campaigns which promote examples of successful and powerful women politicians that will scale up and shape aspirations and expectations of young girls aspiring to be leaders.

2. Strengthened women’s political leadership skills and capacitie s

• The workshop sought to develop hard skills of the participants in effective negotiation, effective public speaking, diplomacy, influencing and consensus building, and growing technical expertise which will help them in campaigns.

• Facilitators mentored and challenged the participants to link up with positive role models, in addition to participating in regular and safe platforms for public dialogue and debate.

3. Support movement towards more transformative gender norm change

• SOYVA observed that shifting discriminatory gender norms, which prohibit women’s political empowerment, may be well supported through critical thinking and consensus based dialogue in the Somali context, helping individuals and communities to frame 30% gender quota in a positive and constructive ways.

4. Enlightening women on their strength and capacity .
5. Facilitators emphasized the importance of integrating with women from diaspora with much exposure to the outside world in order to gain mentorship and capacities that women aspirants need. Countering and Advocating against tribal politics which is seen to represent one of the most significant barriers to women’s political participation and leadership. Women can employ indirect strategy to influence clan elders through marriage and circumvent clan barriers by having good relationships with male power holders and building status in their communities.

6. The need to seek and create progressive and supportive family environments particularly supportive fathers, uncles and husbands have helped women access and influence in political spaces.

7. Women can conduct grass-root awareness campaign on women’s social and political rights. The civil societies, clan elders and religious leaders can play a major role in eliminating gender based stereotypes and stigmatization.

8. Seeking knowledge and mentorship through the current and the former women parliamentarians that can provide better strategies, women alliances and coalition that can foster high participation and motivation among the women aspirants.

10. Women aspirants have to be vocal in launching their campaign manifestos in major TVs and radios as this will enhance their visibility and opportunity to interact with the electorates (delegates).
11. Women should not only focus on securing the seat at the lower and upper house but should ensure the 30% quota is applicable across other field like been part of the delegates, the electoral committee and electoral conflict resolution committee.

DAY2

SESSION 4: This session was a continuation from day 1. The participants were taken through the practical side of advancing the 30% women’s quota. Participants were tasked to familiarize themselves with the strategies available for women aspirants and ways of advancing the 30% women’s quota.

Plenary Discussion: The participants in an open discussion shared the lesson learnt on day1 of the training and shared how well they are motivated to participate in the upcoming election.

SESSION 5: This session aimed at enhancing participant’s knowledge on the content of and various key changes to the 17th Sep, 2020 agreement.

In abid to create awareness among the participants and build a well informed women candidates and aspirants, SOYVA facilitators presented the following key frameworks that will guide the upcoming poll s and the necessary commitments toward its implementation.

The National Council Leaders (NCL) reviewed the 17th Sep, 2020 and the 16th Feb, 2021 Baidoa MOU based on the following five points:

1. Resolution on the electoral committee
2. The electoral committee of Somaliland
3. The issue of Gedo regions
4. The 30% gender quota
5. The election schedule

Other points reviewed include:

^ü The election process in Somalia

• The general security and the election security
• Road map to States building

The framework of election agreement on 27th May, 2021 THE ELECTORAL COMMITTEE

1. The council decided, in accordance with the recommendation of the Baidoa Technical Committee that the office of the Prime Minister of the Federal Government be notified by the members of the Electoral Management Committee of the two levels their complaint within 3 days for replacement. The time starts when a consultative the Heads of the National Assembly sign this agreement.
2. The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, upon receipt of the member’s complaint, shall verify the evidence and submit it to the nominee for replacement, and disseminate it within 2 days.
3. The electoral committee shall elect from among themselves their chairpersons upon completion.

THE SOMALILAND

On resolving disputes concerning the Somaliland Electoral Committee

The National Consultative Leaders decided:

1. The Prime Minister of the Federal Government shall be responsible for the conduct of the elections in Somaliland Seat on the recommendation of the spe aker of the Upper House and the Deputy Prime Minister.
2. The speaker of the upper house Abdi Hashi shall nominate 4 members to the State Electoral Indirect Team (SEIT),
3. The speaker of the house will also nominate one member to the Federal Electoral Indirec t Team (FEIT)

THE GEDO ISSUES

On resolving disputes concerning the Gedo regions, the National Consultative Leaders decided:

The leaders of the National Consultative approved the recommendations of the Technical Committee Baidoa on 16 February 2021 on the roadmap for resolving political and security disputes in Gedo region in general and the holding of elections in the region. The National Consultative Leaders therefore agreed that:

1. The people of Gedo Region to work for peace, unity, social cohesion and Jubaland state building.
2. The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia will lead the security and reconciliation in Gedo region in order to ensure the smooth running of the elections in Gedo region.
3. Establishment of a consultative reconciliation committee comprising of Member States other than the Federal Jubaland in accordance with the recommendations of the Technical Committee Baidoa.

The responsibilities of the consultative reconciliation committee

• The committee is responsible for creating a secure environment for free and fair elections in collaboration with the FGS Prime Minister.
• Consult and do public participation forum with the people of Garbaharey.
• The consultative reconciliation committee proposes two members for the post of Garbaharey district commissioner and Deputy District Commissioner in consultation with the community.
• The consultative reconciliation committee will be, appointed within 3 days of the Signing of this agreement.

4. The President of Jubbaland State shall nominate the members of the Garbaharey District Administration submitted by the reconciliation committee in accordance with the recommendations of the technical committee on 16th February 2021 in Baidoa.
5. The National Consultative Leaders instructs the reconciliation committee to finalize the plan for the stabilization of Gedo region and the process of conducting Garbaharey elections within 30 days of the appointment of the reconciliation committee.
6. Regarding the security of the Garbaharey elections, the National Consultative Leaders agreed that:

• Deployment of AMISOM Police to Garbaharey Town

• AMISOM to ensure the security of the city and the polling station,
• The reconciliation committee and the newly appointed Jubbaland Administration are instructed to work with the Electoral Committee, delegates and candidates in order to ensure reliable security during the elections.

7. The National Consultative Leaders resolved that the reconciliation committee to submit to the office of the Prime Minister the plan and timetable for the regional peace process and the completion of the formation of the Gedo Regional Administration, to be implemented within 60 days after the election.

ELECTIONS SECURITY PROTOCOL

The National Consultative Leaders agreed that:

1. Establishment of 9-member security committee, responsible for electoral security, led by the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, comprising of Federal and Federal Police Commanders, and the AMISOM Police Commissioner.
2. The Security committee prepares Special Forces to guard the polling stations, especially the polling stations in Somaliland, the Speaker of both Houses of Parliament and the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
3. The National Consultative Leaders instructed all branches of the security forces at both levels not to interfere in political affairs and elections.
4. The Electoral Security Committee regularly reports to the National Consultative Leaders to give briefings on the current situation of electoral security issues.

IMPLEMENTATION THE WOMEN’S QUOTA:

The National Consultative Leaders agreed that:

In accordance with the agreement of 17 September 2020, the 30% quota for women to be implemented in order to protect representation for women in both Houses. The commitment towards implementation of this was expressed

ELECTION SCHEDULE

The National Consultative Leaders, in anticipation of the delay in the timing of the 2020/2021 and to avoid further delay of the Federal Elections decided that:

1. The election to be completed within 60 days as per the proposal of 16th February, 2021 in Baidoa.
2. The Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) should issue a general timetable for the implementation of the elections based on the period spec ified in letter (1).
3. The State Indirect Electoral Implementation Team(SIEIT) should prepare a specific timetable for the election of the Member States in accordance with the schedule of the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT)

SESSION 6: This was the final session aimed at providing the practical ways of advancing 30% women’s quota. The participants were divided in to focus group discussion (FGDs). In this session, the participants were given guided question to brainstorm and demonstrate how women aspirants can navigate through various challenges concerning the consideration of 30% women’s quota, the lessons learnt from the two day’s training and the recommendation.

The breakaway session took 20 minutes and the facilitators asked the group leaders to present their key findings. The session also provided the facilitators with an opportunity to consolidate key issues and wind up with training.

Mr. Khalid from EISA also addressed the participants and encouraged the women aspirants to have confidence and speak loud for their rights. He added that nothing comes on the silver platter and the women folk need the strength and braveness to actively advocate for their inclusion in the decision making and the political process.

KEY LESSONS LEARNT AND RECOMMENDATION

9. Women aspirant are encouraged and motivated to actively look for seats. Failing for the first time should strengthen their ego and try in the subsequent elections. Giving up is not an option.
10. Women should acquire quality education in o rder to equally compete with men folk. Education is empowerment and therefore the young women generation aspirants have to focus on gaining knowledge and leadership skills.
11. Without sending women with education, knowledge and awareness about women rights to parliament, the women agenda will continue to lag behind
12. That universal suffrage is the only means through which most of systemic challenges hampering women political participation in Somalia
13. Women aspirant have to use lobbying strategy through their family members, husbands and the community at large. Their leadership skills should be seen at the community level before venturing in to the mainstream politics.
14. Media platforms are the key strategy that women aspirant can fully utilize in order to sale their manifestoes, share experiences, public speaking skills, leadership and problem solving skills.
15. The training also benefitted the women aspirant on gauging their communicative and public speaking through sharing of ideas, FGDs and presentation.
16. Rotational seats for the women aspirant are one of the key issues highlighted. Majority of the women aspirants against the rotational seat and they recommended that a legislative piece of law has to be in place to curb such manipulation from the clan elders and the co mmunity. The women aspirant highlighted that the rotational seat normally cause chaos in the clan as every sub -clan do not want women to represent them.
17. Previous women parliamentarians are selected in order to fill the positions and no one has considered their quality to represent effectively the women folk. In 2021, the women aspirants proposed that they need quality women to represent them and no more need of quantity.
18. Not all clan elders are unanimously against the women aspirants. This is according the elders present during training session.
19. Women aspirants are not well supported because seasoned politicians want to maintain the status quo in the community. By empowering young women aspirant, such politicians will face stiff competition from the women of their family members and thus most of the male aspirants do not want to see 30% women’s quota.
20. Women aspirant have to accept fair competition and never go for easy ways. This will strengthen their confidence in venturing in to active politics
21. Women folk have to send to the parliament educated competent women so that they can do extensive lobbying for the implementation of 30% women’s quota and actively advocate for the higher representation of women in the parliament.
22. Women can become public figure by participating in the community service at the grassroots on volunteerism and building good rapport with the community and the clan elders.