A capacity-building programme for women aspiring to compete for political mandates on the municipal level. It aims to ensure diversity and inclusivity, we selected participants from different political, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. The training curriculum included legal topics (such as the Municipal Law, the Public Procurement Law, municipal finances, and budgeting), interpersonal skills (including leadership, conflict resolution, and public speaking), and technical know-how (such as electoral campaigning, proposal writing, gender, and coalition building).
Through this programme, we strengthened the knowledge of 80 women trainees, boosted their selfconfidence, and helped them challenge patriarchal thinking and structures in their environments. This opened doors for new partnerships, network-building, and the exchange of practices among the women participants. They are currently working on a committee to collaborate on specific initiatives and to encourage other women to run in elections.
Within the framework of this project, we also trained youth on electoral law and conducted a mapping of parties and civil society organisations to understand their needs and potential for shaping a new political agenda. To further support reforms in the country, DRI Lebanon worked with legislators to draft new decrees of the Municipal Law and helped speed the implementation of the Public Procurement Law.