Sudan: training female candidates

240 female candidates from six political parties in Sudan received training in campaigning skills and the management of election campaigns at a series of workshops in February 2010. 

The signing of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 ended the decades-long conflict between the South and the Government in Khartoum, paving the way for planned elections and a referendum on the possible secession of South Sudan from the country. However, disagreements between different political parties still threaten the process and voter turnout could remain problematic, particularly amongst the displaced people of Darfur. International IDEA has been working in Sudan since 2006 where its efforts are focused on the strengthening of political parties – and their relationships with each other – in the lead up to the elections scheduled for April 2010.

International IDEA and the United Nations Development Programme are jointly implementing the “Sudan Political Parties Development” project in Sudan. Capacity building for women candidates has emerged as a project priority before the 2010 elections.

The six workshops held throughout Sudan aimed at meeting the following objectives:

• To educate the participating female candidates of the six different political parties on campaign planning and management.
• To educate the participating female candidates on how to mobilize their resources for their election campaigns.
• To educate the participating female candidates on fund raising and slogans development for their campaigns.
• To educate the participating female candidates on how to present themselves to the media in the form of press or journalist dialogue, written, TV & radio or public speech debate.

The presentations included hands-on exercises about how mistakes can be made, situations to avoid; and gave practical tips about how to present a positive image through knowledge, expression, voice or body language. The discussions canvassed gender concerns such as the need to overcome stereotypes; unequal media exposure for women candidates and how to deal with vote rigging. The women who participated in the workshops were provided with practical examples of campaigning from around the world to ensure fair treatment in an election campaign.

The next workshop will focus on the preparedness of women parliamentarians.