INTRODUCTION

South West Federal Member State is one of the official federal states of Somalia with capital in Baidoa. The state is regarded as very significant when it comes to Somalia politics as its one of the swing regions producing the highest number of Members of parliament more than any other FMSs.

Currently as per the indirect elections agreed framework of 17th Sep, 2020. The region will have two polling stations located at Baidoa and Barawe. Baidoa will have 44 seats and Barawe will have 25 seats which totals to 69 seats making it the highest representation compared to other FMSs. With the highest number of seats, the region produces insignificant number of women as MPs.

The indirect elections framework of September 17th,2020 and the final signing of the improved agreement on 27th May, 2020 contained the provisions of 30% quota for women. Therefore, in order to capacity build and create awareness about this important provision for women folk, SOYVA in collaboration with the South West State Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development and with the technical support from Electoral institute for sustainable democracy in Africa-EISA conducted two days workshop aimed at capacity building women aspirants and enhance advocacy campaigns towards achievement of 30% women’s quota in South West federal member state of Somalia in 2021 polls. The workshop that was held at Horyaal hotel on 10th -11th July 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.

There were representatives from the Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development (MOWFAHRD) Madam Maryan Sheik Ibrahim, Member of Parliament (MP) Madam Salma Hassan Sheikh, Former Member of Parliament (Mp) madam Shukri Bashir Mohamed, Deputy Governor Bay Region in charge of security and policy Mr. Mohamed Jibril , Representatives from the department of social affairs and politics of Baidoa District Mr.Aden Ali Aden and Director General Ministry of Petroleum Mr. Abdullah Sheikh.

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

The Objectives of the workshop

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

1. Strategies to ensure the full realization of 30% women quota in South west federal member state of Somalia.
2. Strengthen the capacity of women aspirants in South west federal member state of Somalia.
3. Help in advancing women aspirants’ skills in planning for their candidature, campaign and financial strategy.
4. Horn the mobilization, lobbying, public speaking and negotiation skills of women aspirants in South west federal member state of Somalia.

METHODOLOGIES USED DURING THE TRAINING

1. PRESENTATION:

The SOYVA facilitators Mr. Abdirahman Moalim Abshir and Mrs. Saida Ibrahim Mohamed presented the training in form of the power-point presentation.

Key skills that are critical to women to advance their political campaigns and public engagement were emphasized during these presentations session and to practically help the women demonstrate and showcase these skills, women participants were given opportunities at the podium to present and talk to fellow participants. Some of these skills include:

1. Public speaking and interpersonal communication
   1. Negotiation and lobbying skills
   1. Campaign manifesto and communication
   1. Diplomacy and working with elders
   1. Fundraising and resource mobilization

• 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 specifically in South West State of Somalia, content differences and opportunities for women in the current agreed electoral framework. The participants were divided into 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.

• 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.

The guest speakers included high profile personnel from the Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development (MOWFAHRD) Madam Maryan Sheik Ibrahim, Member of Parliament (MP) Madam Salma Hassan Sheikh, Former Member of Parliament (Mp) madam Shukri Bashir Mohamed, Deputy Governor Bay Region in charge of security and policy Mr. Mohamed Jibril , Represntaives from the department of social affairs and politics of Baidoa District Mr.Aden Ali Aden and Director General Ministry of Petrolium Mr. Abdullahi Sheikh.

The panel members all affirmed the importance of women inclusion and the need for absolute achievement of the 30% quota in 2021 polls. They declared their personal and institutional support for the young women aspirants and asked all those intending to vie to come forwards and approach the ministry of women for any needed support. The deputy governor in charge of security in the region assured the women aspirants of full support in terms of safety and security against any violence that may be targeted specifically at women during election campaigns. He asked the women to report any case and seek assistance from his office whenever any of the women want to organize events so that full security will be provided.

• 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 tasked to share their opinions on the strategies women can use to navigate through the political waves and achieve their desired goals in politics.

• ANALYTICAL VIEW BY THE GUEST SPEAKERS

Madam Maryan Sheik Ibrahim from the Ministry Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development (MOWFAHRD) congratulated the girls and women presents in the training for their commitment and steadfast in acquiring information, skills and experiences necessary for the advancement of their socially and political right.

She encouraged women across South West region and the entire country to push for full realization of 30% women quota. She enlightened women not to be key players in the electoral process from being among the delegates, electoral committee, electoral conflict and resolution committee as well as the security protocol in charges of elections. She further explained that being member of the above mentioned bodies; women can access vital information necessary for the ministry’s office asking them to proactively come forward and approach the ministry.

Former Member of Parliament (Mp) madam Shukri Bashir Mohamed who is now an aspirant contributed her views by showering praises on the South West State (SWS) administration for considering women as

major stakeholders in various departments within ministries hence proper inclusion of women in public service delivery.

She introduced herself by her tribe which is Digil Mirifle and her sub-clan which is Hubber as one of the most marginalized communities with high level of illiteracy and poverty. She called upon the state organs to put in place a quota for such marginalized communities in public service as a means of affirmative action to uplift and include the community. She commended SWS for the effort towards women inclusion and particularly mentioned the districts of Dinsoor and Wajiid where women were given opportunities in the District Councils. She said out of 21 positions for the Dinsoor District Council, 11 are women and 10 are men showing higher percentage of women in the public offices. She attributed such huge numbers of women consideration in the public offices to this kind of trainings, advocacy and awareness campaign done by various stakeholders like what EISA and SOYVA currently doing for the women at large. She thanked the two organization for coming up with this workshop at this crucial time of elections and requested more heightened effort to embolden and capacitate women so that they stand up for social, economic and political inclusion.

The incoming MP challenged her fellow aspirants and all women participants to feel encouraged and motivated while taking advantage of the goodwill being shown by south west federal member state government in giving opportunities. She added that, the state’s efforts should give them the necessary impetus to vie for various seats in the coming polls as there exist role models and support systems that they can count on.

Madam Shurkri also shared her vast experience which was punctuated with success and challenges. She said women success start with struggling to contribute to wellbeing of her family and the society by doing various range of activities like small businesses that include operating tea kiosk, selling of milk, charcoal, operating butcheries and selling of vegetables and clothes in open markets. She added that by engage in the above activities, women can become known in their communities and eventually rise to become public figures. She however said that this comes with its consequences of family break up, divorce and single mother-hood which can have psychological and negative social impacts on the lives of women. She added these challenges become apparent and worse when they become an MP or the moment they participate in politics given the many responsibilities as well as misogynistic attitude of Somali culture towards women.

She encouraged young women not to lose focus or give up their dreams for fear of castigation and cultural sanctions but rather go for it and manage their family life as well so that their participation in politics does not come at the expense of social, motherly and wifely responsibilities.

Madam Shukri also delved into major challenges faced by women from their immediate families specially their husband. She said of the husbands want wife to be householders and not to engage in any public activities. She added that going against the wishes of their husbands will lead to divorce consequences.

Another major challenge she said is the financial constraints especially the fees charged to contest. She voiced he advocacy message of that women aspirants should be motivated by giving them discount in the

electoral fee paid during the upcoming elections. She advocated for a discount of 70% citing that women do not have assets or direct income and only get supports from families and friends.

Mr. Adan Ali Adan who is a participant advocated highly for the women empowerment by focusing energy and lobbying activities towards strengthening the 30% women quota and that women need to be given opportunities to women to hold administrative position in order to boost their visibility and skills.

He said Baidoa district has 10 wards and all of are represented by women showing that the regime in south west state has already committed to full involvement of women in the local governance. He added that the district has 10 departments of 4 are allocated to women. He encouraged the women participants to go for all contestable seats and they have got the institutional backing of SWS.

Mr. Mohamed Jibril who is Deputy Governor Bay region echoed similar statements made by former speakers and added that the only way we can achieve women inclusion in the politics and realization of full implementation of 30% women and surpass the quota provision in future elections is through;

1. Provisions of quality education to girls and advocating for equal enrollment in the schools.
2. Advocacy of women to be part of the delegates, electoral committee and conflict and resolution committees.
3. Discount on waving away the registration fee for women candidates
4. More capacity building for women aspirants and exposure to the public speaking and communication skills
5. Training on how to articulate agenda on social media both T.V, radio FMs and other social media platforms like twitter, facebook and instigram

Day 1

Introduction

The workshop was officially opened and kicked off with registration done by Mr. Khalid, National Program Officer EISA. This was followed by a quick opening remarks by Mr. Abdirahman Moalim Abshir and Mrs. Saida Ibrahim who are facilitators of SOYVA to set the platform for the two days workshop. They took the participants through the anticipations of the two day’s training that covered 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, contribution and views from the invited guests as well as focus group discussion (FGD).

Session 1: The Session provided an overview of changes in the Electoral System in Somalia including 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 Madam Saida 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). Mrs Saida 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.

Madam Saida 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 breakthrough 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 27th May,2021 agreement in Mogadishu.

Session2: This session aimed at explaining the 30% quota for women. Mr. Abdirahman 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.

Mr. Abdirahman invited a panel to shade light on the 30% women quota by asking them the following questions with interjections from participants

1. Strategies to be used by women candidates in order to achieve their political ambitions.
2. How can we curb the rotational seats allocated to women?
3. Ways of realizing the 30% gender quota in the upcoming 2021 indirect elections.
4. What are the plans for South West women aspirants to clinch many seats in the upcoming elections?

• The government support and institutional mechanisms to facilitate women aspirants.

Mr Abdirahman also formed 5 focus group discussion of 10 members each to discuss and make presentation on the following:

1. Why the 30% gender quota is important?
2. Strategies to be used by women candidates in order to achieve their political ambitions.
3. Ways of realization the 30% gender quota in the upcoming 2021 indirect elections.
4. Differences of 2012, 2016 and 2021 election and the level of women participation.
5. Obstacles faced by women and the way forward.
6. Critical skills necessary for campaign and public engagements.
7. Use of Social media to build public profile for aspirants.
8. Readness of women to fully particpate in the upcoming polls.

Session 3: The participants were taken through the following strategies of enhancing the 30% women’s

quota in the upcoming 2021 elections in slide presentation by Abdirahman Abshir and Mrs Saida

1. Promote more inclusive institutions-
   1. Strengthening structural and institutional reforms should help grow more enabling and 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.
   1. Supporting alternatives to the 4.5 power-sharing formula 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 around this agenda.
   1. 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 office.
   1. Opening up the location of power and decision-making, and strategic engagement with clan and religious leaders may be a particularly helpful strategy in this respect.
   1. Media campaigns which promote examples of successful and powerful women, in addition to scaling

up girls’ education, may also help to shape aspirations and expectations around women leaders

• Foster women’s political leadership skills and capacities
  • Development of negotiation, influencing and consensus building, and growing technical expertise could help women work with legitimacy in key sectors and at all levels.
  • Supporting leadership training and mentorship, linked to positive role models, in addition to creating regular and safe platforms for public dialogue and debate, should further support women to hold and employ power safely.
• Support movement towards more transformative gender norm change

• 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% agenda Quota in new and constructive ways.
• Enlightening women on their strength and capacity
  • Integrating women coming from diaspora and non-diaspora in order to provide mentorship and capacitate those women aspirants who had no much exposure to the outside world.
  • Engagement with women operating at different levels of government with aim on unpacking their experiences and how they can translate in upstream to exact influence at Federal and FMSs in coming up with strong women candidates.
• Tribal politics is seen to represent one of the most significant barriers to women’s political participation and leadership. Women can 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.
• Creating progressive and supportive family environments particularly supportive fathers, aunts and husbands have helped women access and influence in political spaces.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• Investment in and prioritization of girl child education
• Facilitation of consensus based dialogue on women political empowerment
• Creation of regular and safe platform for public dialogue and debate for women
• Promotion of critical thinking to challenge discriminatory gender norms.

DAY2

Session 4: This session was a continuation from day 1. The participants were taken through the practical side of advancing the 30% women quota.. Some of the practical initiatives that women aspirants were challenge to undertake include:

1. Formulate campaign manifestos and development agenda
2. Seek support of their families, communities and clan at large

• Approach clan elders in partnership with influential supportive family elders
• Conduct fund raising activities
• Identify tech savvy youth supporters to manage campaigns on social media
• Request T.V and Radio stations to be invited to sell campaign manifestos and development agenda
• Find women support groups to conduct awareness among communities.
• Seek support from government institutions
• Identify and work with men supporters to conduct campaigns and act as campaign coach.

Latter in the session the participants were taken through the following contents of Sept 17th 2020 agreement.

The Sep 17, 2020 Electoral framework

1. The kind of election shall be indirect elections which will take the form of electoral caucuses where the FG and FMS shall nominate independent electoral committee at each level of the government that will work harmoniously.
2. Delegates of electoral caucuses shall be formed by community elders, Civil Society and the FMS.
3. Caucus should be 101 who will in turn elect an MP
4. Each FMS will have 2 places/locations of elections outlined/Mapped that election should take place in
5. Somaliland seats should be filled in directly in Mogadishu for the upper and lower houses.
6. FMS MPs will elect upper house MPs
7. The agreement shall be taken to upper and lower houses and enacted into to electoral law
8. Election plan and process should start 1st November, 2020
9. The FG and FMS shall provide security at the pooling stations.
10. 30% gender quota to be considered for the women.
11. Freedom of media to be upheld as provided in the provisional constitution and they should be accorded opportunity to cover the elections freely without intimidation.

Session 5: This session aimed at enhancing participant’s knowledge on the various key changes to the 17th Sep, 2020 agreement in order to create awareness among the participants and build a well informed women candidates and aspirants,

The participants were informed about the process that led to 27th May, 2021 resolutions based on Sep 17th 2020 elections framework. The facilitators enlightened them that the resolution came as a result of failed agreement on the modalities of implementing the 17th Sep. Therefore, 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
   1. The electoral committee of Somaliland
   1. The issue of Gedo regions
   1. The 30% gender quota
   1. The election schedule

Other points reviewed include:

• The election process in Somalia

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

The electoral commitee

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 seats

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 speaker 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 Indirect 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 andJubaland 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
   1. The committee is responsible for creating a secure environment for free and fair elections in collaboration with the FGS Prime Minister.
   1. Consult and do public participation forum with the people of Garbaharey.
   1. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 protocal

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 of 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

The elections schedules

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 specified 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 of the workshop. During this session, The participants were divided into 5 focus group discussions of 10 members each (FGDs) and 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 30 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.

From their presentations, the five groups demonstrated clear understanding of the following key issues:

1. The need for Bay regions women alliance with supportive clan elders through effective lobbying to secure adequate representation.
2. That realization of 30% gender quota in the upcoming indirect elections depend on creating friendly environment for women aspirants among other factors. Getting endorsement from the most important people like husband, father, brothers and sisters is paramount. Once this is realized, it is easy for women candidates to navigate through the clan elders and compete effectively.
3. Knowledge of effective public speaking skills, interpersonal skills, lobbying skills, diplomacy and mobilization skills is critical for women aspirants to secure political positions
4. That woman aspirants need to have good working relationships with male clan leaders and other male power-holders within and outside of the political system, in addition to strengthening and maintaining their support base within their communities to enhance their bargaining powers.
5. That women can fight of cultural stigma attached to women entering government and politics by demonstrating a balance between family life to safeguard their marriage and public responsibilities
6. Through Positive media campaigns and participating in t.v as well as radio talk shows women candidates can showcase their leadership and development manifestos that can earn them following and consolidate their support for elective positions.
7. Women can work to establish good relationship with traditional elders (delegates) . To break a cycle of skepticism and mistrust; women need to develop the skills and motivation to successfully interact with elders. At the same time, traditional elders could be encouraged to create space for them by removing barriers to women involvement in politics.

• Through participation and involvement in electoral management body as delegates, technical implementing committees, poll station workers, dispute resolution committee, volunteer election observers and community educators, women can effectively show their ability to lead.
• Effective use of online platforms for knowledge sharing and networking among politically engaged

women can enhance women candidates’ campaign.

1. Women need to continuously sharpen their leadership skills, negotiation skills, public speaking, networking skills and campaign management and advocacy for effective role in political space.

KEY LESSONS LEARNT AND RECOMMENDATION

1. The Involvement of key government departments and stakeholders in our activities enriches the delivery of content and enlightened women participants on the government’s effort to enhance women inclusion at local state level.
2. The participation of key government stakeholders provided a platform to communicate available opportunities to women in SWS and the readiness of government institutions to support women aspirants.
3. Violence against women during election is a critical subject that needs to be addressed and that women due to their gender.South West Deputy Governor in charge of security pledged to offer proper security to all women aspirants in the federal state.
4. Women can form political and leadership support groups to help each other navigate the male dominated political space of Somalia
5. By demonstrating ability to manage social, family life and public life, women can challenge the misogynistic Somali culture and gain trust of elders to lead their constituents.
6. Women need to start lobbying with immediate family members and supportive elder relatives and then advance the lobby to larger clan through family elders.
7. With discounted electoral fees for women aspirants, the financial burden constraining many women from participating in polls is reduced and hence higher chances of 30% quota achievement. Most women lack assets to dispose and raise the electoral fee required for aspirants thus effectively missing out on ballot.
8. 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.
9. Women should acquire quality education in order 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. This has to start from school enrolment
10. Without sending women with education, knowledge and awareness about women rights to parliament, the women agenda will continue to lag behind
11. Media platforms are the key tools that women aspirant can fully utilize in order to sale their manifestoes, share experiences, showcase their leadership abilities
12. By allowing participants to present to their fellow participants’ i.e “a crowd of 50 people in a room” is

a good methodology to help beneficiaries of the activity gauge their confidence levels,

communication skill and public speaking skills. This methodology is important and SOYVA will use in its activity future delivery.

1. Women can involve in impactful small scale economic activities that can raise their profile in communities, clan and eventually catapult them to political stage.