Programmes – Africa Liberal Network

The Africa Liberal Network Women Leadership Programme is a training initiative that aims to strengthen the capacity of active women in politics as well as foster their engagement in political and civic leadership at local, national, and international levels. The program focuses on engaging ALN Members parties and decision-makers to support women in advancing to higher levels within political structures.

By empowering women and political parties, the program aims to enhance their impact on democracy, responsive governance, and gender-balanced representation in leadership roles. The initiative includes targeted career guidance and life coaching to evolve the capacity of women leaders, enabling them to generate effective policy proposals.

Starting in 2019, the programme ultimately strives to promote gender-balanced representation and responsive governance in Africa.

Overview

The Africa Liberal Network (ALN) Women’s Leadership Programme (WLP) returns in 2020 to continue training, coaching and developing politically active women within our member political parties, with high potential to be elected internally and in public office within the next two years (2020 – 2022). As an annual development programme for women politicians from ALN member parties, aimed at developing their knowledge and skills to win candidate nominations and upcoming elections, or to be elected to internal party leadership positions, the programme aims to dismantle barriers to women’s political participation and selection as candidates.

The WLP empowers women leaders by providing them with tailored skills and mentor support to develop and advance their political careers, and ultimately to increase women’s participation and influence in politics.

Supported in the 2019 debut by the UK Liberal Democrats, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for freedom and a host of mentors from our member parties, international sister parties, liberal regional networks, international partners and the global federation Liberal International, we remain confident our continued partnerships will advance the cause of developing capable liberal women leaders.

The empowerment programme is an annual one, with three in person training sessions, covering a range of public leadership empowerment tools to provide all the critical skills and knowledge necessary to successfully campaign for party nominations and elected public office.

The programme’s public leadership empowerment tools include how to develop a campaign plan and team, fundraise, multimedia communication, traditional and conventional voter interaction models and much more. The training workshops provide practical tools and ideas that our participants apply directly to their domestic campaigns.

The programme also includes private mentoring support, whereby each participant is paired with an experienced political pillar from our global liberal family.

After successfully completing the programme, #ALNwomen Alumni have the opportunity to share their experience, co-facilitate trainings and act as mentors to new cadets.