In partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and D66, we are excited to open applications for the 2022 Women’s Leadership Programme. The programme which runs between September 2022 and March 2023, is an excellent opportunity for women leaders to build upon their leadership skills and learn way to become effective agents for change. Participants will deepen their understanding of the essential aspects of leadership by exploring them with peers and experts.

The Programme will including political and personal training session, such as:

• Identifying issues and bringing about change
• Using the media for your advantage (and coping with it when at difficult time)
• Conduct effective oversight in parliament and using the tools available to you 
• Public speaking and how to handle difficult questions
• Building your visibility and branding to prepare for re-election
• Managing internal party structures and negotiations

APPLICATION CRITERIA

• Women leaders currently in an elected public office or hold a senior position within their political party’s decision-making structure.
• Member of a political party within the ALN. Letter of endorsement from the Party Chairperson, Leader, Secretary General is required.
• Ability to commit to all three in-person retreats between October 2022 and March 2023.
• Women leaders that have not previously taken part in the ALN’s Women Empowerment Programme.
• All applicants must have a valid passport.

Successful applicants will have the cost of their transportation, accommodation, and meals covered during the programme. All other costs will be at the participant’s expense.

Find further details about our Leadership Programme HERE in English and HERE in French.

Applications are open now until the 25^th of August 2022 (00:00, South Africa Time Zone / GMT+2)

APPLY TODAY!

If you have any questions, please contact ALN Coordinator, Robyn Thomson: robyn@africaliberalnetwork.org

In partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, we are excited to open applications for the event A voice for Africa’s liberal youth: Creating resilient youth organisations built on global best practice.

Taking place at the upcoming International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) General Assembly in Dakar, Senegal (16-19 June 2022), this is an excellent opportunity for leaders in youth politics. Our selected young leaders will also have the chance to participate in the Congress of Africa Liberal Youth (ALY).

Our event will be represented by five young leaders from ALN Member Parties, one selected from each region of the continent and in reflection of the diversity of youth structures and activism.

The selected young leaders will share the spotlight in co-facilitating a workshop focussing on key challenges and opportunities African liberal youth face. And by engaging with global participants at IFLRY and ALY, we will together craft solutions to key questions, such as:

• What are the main roles and responsibilities of a youth organisation?
• How do we select ideal leadership structures to ingrain resilience?
• What channels and activities should we consider to build committed, dedicated members?

APPLICATION CRITERIA

• Young leaders (18-35) actively engaged in political life. Demonstrable proof of leadership in youth politics is required.
• Fluent in English.
• A visible commitment to positively impact their communities, countries, and the continent
• Member of, or affiliated to, a political party within the ALN. Letter of endorsement from Party Chairperson, Leader, Secretary-General, or other equivalent authority is required.
• Ability to commit to:
  • Pre-departure briefings and completion of part-time tasks from 1 June.
  • In-person participation in Senegal from 15-19 June.
  • Consolidation of best practice notes gathered at the event until end of June.
• Applicants with some facilitation experience are preferred.
• Preference may also be applied to applicants either affiliated to IFLRY or with a pending application to join the organisation.

Successful applicants will be provided with return transportation to Senegal, accommodation, meals, and registration fees for the IFLRY conference. All other costs will be at the participant’s expense.

Applications are now open until 5 May 2022 (00:00, South Africa Time Zone / GMT+2). Please use the link below to apply.

APPLY TODAY!

If you have any questions, please contact ALN Coordinator, Robyn Thomson: robyn@africaliberalnetwork.org

The Africa Liberal Network is excited to announce the launch of its new Women’s Leadership Programme, in partnership with the UK Liberal Democrats and Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The programme, open to women politicians from all ALN member parties, will provide participants with additional knowledge, skills and tailored support to advance as candidates and into leadership roles.
Applications for the 2019 programme are now open  and we warmly invite aspiring women leaders from across the Africa Liberal Network to apply.
The programme, designed for candidates intending to run for local or general elections in 2019, 2020 or 2021, will include three two-day training workshops spread out over 9 months. The first will take place in Marrakech, Morocco from 6^th-7^th March, ahead of the ALN General Assembly. The programme will also include a mentoring scheme whereby participants will be paired with an experienced political actor to provide tailored advice and support. The training will cover a range of topics, from campaigning and voter contact models to social media, fundraising and much more, helping equip participants with the tools they need to successfully contest party nominations and elected positions.
For more information about this important opportunity, including training dates, curriculum and applicant eligibility, please read the attached programme brochure.
To apply, please complete the attached application form and return to adele.poskitt@parliament.uk. The deadline for applications is 17^th February 2019.
Application Form English
Brochure English
Application Form French
Brochure French
 
 
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about the programme or application process.

 
The nominations for the Africa Liberal Network (ALN) Executive Committee are now open as of 1 February 2019 and will be closing on 15 February 2019 at 15:00 GMT. All ALN member parties to please check their e-mails for further details.

Kenya’s future leaders: Empowering women to win is an ALN project aimed at facilitating and supporting the participation of 15 women candidates in Kenyan politics. The workshop will take place in the Naivasha area of Kenya between 13-15 February 2017, and consists of a range of sessions designed to develop and support the participants in various aspects of Kenyan political life.
The three-day workshop includes training in areas such as understanding the internal ODM party machinery, communicating effectively through different campaign channels, overcoming all forms of political violence, and reaching out to voters through canvassing and on-the-ground campaigning. The workshop also aims to inspire the participants by inviting speakers who have themselves faced and overcome social and political challenges. By combining training sessions with the real life experiences of other female politicians, the workshop aims to provide the participants with the best possible tools for facing the upcoming elections.

Leading up to Kenya’s August 2017 elections, the ALN launched the Campaign and Organisational Development (COD) Unit, its most ambitious project to-date. With this unit, the ALN in collaboration with long-term strategic partners at the UK Liberal Democrats, aims to aid the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in campaigning and building a strong support base in target areas. The ODM is the biggest party in Kenya, holding 99 parliamentary seats, but much work remains to be done to empower women candidates and politicians.
Following the assessment visit of the Campaign and Organisational Development (COD) Unit, a key area identified for support of the ODM is in the training and development of female candidates. Women are often the victims of serious political, economic, and social exclusion in Kenya, and despite legal requirements, political representation of men exceeds the legal two-thirds limit. Although Kenya’s electoral system makes provision for a women’s list and ballot, female ODM candidates often struggle to compete with their counterparts from other parties.
Trainers and facilitators supporting this training in Kenya include:

• Victoria Marsom (former Director of Strategic Seats at the UK Liberal Democrats)
• Brigitte Dzogbenuku (Executive Director of Mentoring Women Ghana and winner of Fortune/Goldman Sachs Women’s Leadership Award)
• Christine Jardine (former candidate for the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament and experienced political campaigner in the UK)
• Dr Agnes Zani (ODM Senator and Secretary-General)
• Irene Oloo (Political gender advisor in Kenya)

The ALN and UK Liberal Democrats look forward to this important engagement with the future of Kenya’s political landscape. By working with promising women candidates, the network and its partner for this activity hope to support the ODM in delivering outstanding candidate public representatives to Kenyan voters.

The ALN is proud to announce that the network’s upcoming 13th General Assembly will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 22-25 March 2017. Hosted by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and under the theme Liberals in Cooperation: Coalitions, Negotiations, and Democratic Collaboration, the 2017 General Assembly focuses on cooperation among liberals in Africa. Our sessions will emphasise the need for increased collaboration among liberal democrats not only across the continent, but also within our respective countries.
With the rise of militant populism, authoritarianism, religious extremism, and other anti-democratic and illiberal ideologies, it is crucial that liberals work together to ensure a future of freedom for all Africans. Never before has the need for liberals to stand united in their principles been so great, with so very much at stake for the continent’s prosperous development and advancement.
Collaborating as liberals and democrats builds towards a brighter future for our countries and the continent. It is this future which must be built for our youth, and of which they are the main stakeholders; the future truly is in their hands. With this in mind, the 2017 General Assembly will also hold a strong focus on young people, increasing their roles and participation in political life, and providing a space for the innovative approaches provided by Africa’s youth. The newly-elected Advisory Youth Council (AYC) will hold its own session at the General Assembly, outlining its vision and mission in promoting liberal democracy as a beacon of hope for Africa’s young people.
The network’s members will also be welcomed by our host party, the Orange Democratic Movement. The ODM hosts the General Assembly at a pivotal time in Kenyan history, with the upcoming August 8th 2017 nationwide elections set to take place after receiving support from the ALN’s Campaign and Organisational Development Unit throughout the year.
The ALN expresses its gratitude towards its partners for the event, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), the UK Liberal Democrats, the Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), and the International Democratic Initiative of D66.
Invitations and delegate nomination forms have been sent to all political party members of the ALN. For further information or to learn more about participating in the event, please contact the ALN Secretariat:
Luke Akal (Coordinator)
luke.akal@africaliberalnetwork.org