Civic, political processes…: Project to increase participation of women, girls launched in Yaounde.

The project titled “Lead to Action”, which is being implemented by a consortium of two non-governmental organisations; Leap Girl Africa and Association au Secours des Filles Meres, ASFM, was launched in Yaounde yesterday. 
The launching unfolded under the watchful eyes of the representative of the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family. The project is expected to last for 11 months.
The Founder and Executive Director of Leap Girl Africa, Pertulla Ezigha, and her counterpart of ASFM, Rolande Absayah, who spoke at the launching, stressed that women and girls are underrepresented in the political space and processes.
“The low level of representation in Cameroon is reflected in the percentage of women in political decision-making positions. Currently, there are 61 women out of 180 Members of Parliament, i.e 33.89% of women in the National Assembly; 26 women out of 100 in the Senate, i.e 26% and 10% of women at the head of municipal councils and none at the head of Regional Councils,” the organisations detailed. 
They have identified challenges like gender stereotypes, lack of resources, violence, non-inclusive voting polls, socio-cultural barriers among others, adding that most women have often been told that they do not belong in politics or that they are not qualified for leadership positions.
It is in a bit to increase the number of women being actively involved in political space and processes, that the Leap Girl Africa in partnership with other organisations came out with the project.

“The Lead to Action is an initiative that Leap Girl Africa started with other organisations like Gogetters Women, Nsonation and now Association de Secours au Femmes Meres. What we are really looking at is promoting young women and girls leadership and political participation for them to know that these spaces are not a myth that they cannot access,” the Founder of Leap Girl Africa told reporters.
The first phase of the project was funded by the US Embassy. The organisations involved in the project used this phase to carry out a campaign on creating a peaceful and safe environment where young women can have time to get into these spaces. They also worked on the inclusion of women living with disabilities in the political space and processes among others.
The second phase of the project is funded by the CARE Cameroon under Feministe En Action.
Officials said in this phase, a national study will be conducted to understand the challenges, opportunities and impact that women can have if they are involved in political spaces. The study will also seek to assess obstacles encountered by women and to establish the benefits that could yield from women’s participation in politics.
It also seeks to highlight the situation of women and girls as well as initiate advocacy with stakeholders to increase their participation in civic and political processes.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, the ASFM-Leap Girl Africa Consortium intends to come out with a draft law on the instiutionalisation of quota relating to the 50-50 gender parity in the representation of women in all-decision making bodies such as parliament, local elected offices among others.

The Director of Women’s Rights in the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Martine Ongola Atangana, saluted the move by Leap Girl Africa and ASFM, adding that government isn’t relenting efforts when it comes to giving women a voice in the political space and processes.
The launch of the project had in attendance, the Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Cameroon, Karen Tang; a representative of CARE Cameroon, representatives of civil society organisations among others. 
The two organisations implementing the project were both founded in 2016 and have similar missions; closing the gender gap by advancing the rights and education of women and girls, eliminating gender-based violence among others.