Participatory Local Democracy

Tools for Engendering Local Governance (TELG) were produced as part of the continuing efforts of the Caucus for Women’s Leadership (formerly the Kenya Women’s Political Caucus) to build local capacities in matters pertaining to good governance and gender mainstreaming. The tools are intended for use by the leaders of gender groups in conducting a series of structured learning activities.

After the defeat of the Affirmative Action Motion, moved in parliament by Hon Phoebe Asiyo in 1997, Kenyan women has struggled for equitable participation in decision-making organs at all levels of leadership. The motion never became law, but the event brought a phenomenon that would transform the struggle for women’s political liberation in Kenya, as the Caucus for Women’s Leadership (CWL). The Caucus moved from a ‘movement’ to a program oriented organization by 2003, and now focuses on women’s leadership empowerment and capacity building.

The Leadership Trainer’s Guide (Module 1 -3) gives trainers an opportunity to acquire and apply tools to carry out their responsibilities as trainers in local Governance programs. The guide elaborates on the three concepts: 1) social and public accountability, 2) civic engagement, 3) participatory approaches to local governance and gender mainstreaming, and demonstrates their interrelationships in engendering local governance. The training Guide contains the following units:

1. The constitution and citizenship
2. The judicature and the rule of law
3. The practice of government
4. Local government
5. Electoral process
6. Development process
7. Gender mainstreaming
8. Leadership and gender

Each unit contains a series of learning activities based on group participation, and activities are appropriate for participants who are not familiar with the concepts. Activities in each unit are designed for use in a participatory manner.

The guide is written for community leaders involved in training in Gender and Governance program, but it is also appropriate for lobby groups, social accountability and monitoring groups, policy groups (Policy Councils or Policy Committees), and managers of civil society organizations. Through instilling in citizens the understanding of the engendering process in democratization, the tool tries to achieve long term support towards womens’ enjoyment of human rights and participation in democratic governance.

To learn more, check “the Caucus for Women’s Leadership”

*We are looking for a soft data of the trainer’s guide to be uploaded here.