UN Women: "Café Genre” – Women's participation in local governance

Mbalmayo, Cameroon, september 14th, 2021. In its capacity to foster women's representation and participation in local governance, UN Women, in partnership with ELECAM and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family organized the 9th Edition of the "Café Genre”.   

By highlighting key issues of women's leadership at the local level and the obstacles women face such as marginalization, discrimination, exclusion from business opportunities and decision-making spaces, limited access to capital and other resources, information and technology, including adequate entrepreneurial education, this edition provided an opportunity for participants to brainstorm on improving women's representation in local governance.

This activity carried within the framework of the Leadership and Political Participation program addressed the issues of:

·       Women and GBV during elections'', developed by Mrs. BANAMBA Monique from the regional delegation of Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family.

·       The regional situation of women's candidacies in elections'', presented by the regional delegate of the Centre/ELECAM.

·       The participation of women in local governance'' outlined by Valerie Mengue Ango, program coordinator of governance and WPS at UN Women.

These interventions, under the moderation of Dr MBASSA, Lecturer-Researcher at the University of Dschang, gave rise to vibrant debates whose recommendations were taken up and presented by Valerie Mengue Ango. These recommendations are as follows:

1. Men should be integrated and involved in the different workshops and seminars related to women's leadership and the promotion of women's rights and positive masculinity should be promoted to support female leadership.

2. Women should be more involved in local governance.

3. Women should be encouraged to apply for their position in the first third of the electoral lists drawn up and presented by the political parties.

5. Encourage the exchange of experiences between old and new authorities to edify and encourage others.

Regarding good practices, the experiences of some women involved in politics on the national scene made it possible to note important aspects that are motivating and encouraging for all women. Indeed, four women spoke about how they reached their positions (former member of parliament, two women municipal councilors and a woman traditional leader), their daily life, their achievements, the difficulties they encountered and how they overcame them.

The 9th Edition of the “Café Genre” was closed by UN Women representative who took this opportunity to thank the government partners and the moderator Dr. MBASSA, for his availability and his particular attention to gender issues. She encouraged and wished the partners a good continuation of the "Gender Café" initiative and reminded the audience of the importance of moving forward in all these development processes by including young women as actors and partners.