The Promoting a Culture of Equal Representation (PACER) project is implemented jointly by the 50/50 Group of and Oxfam GB, and is co-funded by DFID and UNDEF. It contributes to the Government Supporting women to aspire to election of Sierra Leone’s efforts to reduce marginalisation and vulnerability by developing a culture of equal representation and participation of women and men in to political office in Sierra Leone political life and development processes and initiatives.

The project has been highly participatory. In order to achieve its aims without creating friction with traditional governance systems and culture, PACER has involved The experience of the PACER project all key stakeholders and has worked with existing social networks.

PACER demonstrated tangible success at the 2007 and 2008 elections. It supported seven of the 16 elected women parliamentarians and 291 women local council aspirants in the districts of and Koinadugu. Of these, 31 were nominated as candidates and nine were eventually elected.

This booklet highlights the key lessons coming out of the PACER project so far and identifies areas that can be strengthened in future.

All photo credits: Oxfam

Oxfam GB, Oxfam House John Smith Drive, Oxford OX4 2JY, United Kingdom. Oxfam is a registered charity in England and Wales No 202918 and Scotland SCO 039042. Inhouse 4058 Background The electoral system The Local Government Act of 2004 was 2002 elections, including the newly Sierra Leone is located between Sierra Leone’s first post-war presidential ratified after the elections. It sets out formed Revolutionary United Force Party and on the West African coast and parliamentary elections were the requirement for ward development (RUFP) - the political branch of the rebel and has an estimated 6.2 million announced days after the ending of committees, the administrative level forces - but most of these parties failed inhabitants. It is a resource-rich country hostilities in 2002 and took place that below the district or town council, to to gain any seats in parliament. An SLPP but has been affected by over a decade same year. Parliamentary elections be made up of ten elected positions breakaway group, the People’s of civil war and ranks last of the 177 take place every five years and use a - five women and five men – and the Movement for Democratic Change countries on the Human Development constituency-based, first-past-the-post Paramount Chief and councillor. These (PMDC), competed in the 2007 elections. Index. Nearly 45 per cent of its system, although amendments were put committees provide the link between the population is aged 14 and under and at in place for the 2002 elections. There local council and communities. A new trend noticed at the 2008 around 30 per cent, literacy rates are are 112 elected seats in parliament and elections was for candidates who were among the lowest in the world. Life an additional twelve seats allocated to Political parties in Sierra Leone not nominated as their party’s official expectancy at birth is just over 41 years; Paramount Chiefs (traditional leaders). Political power is shared largely, and candidate to run as independent estimates of HIV prevalence vary but it increasingly exclusively, between the All candidates. In the increasingly partisan could be as high as seven per cent. At local level, each of the thirteen districts People’s Congress (APC) and the Sierra political environment, these independent and six major towns has an elected local Leone People’s Party (SLPP). The APC candidates are perceived as threatening The civil war, which ended in mid-2002, council. Each district is divided into enjoys a stronghold in the north, while the to divert votes from the main political created a large internally displaced wards and each ward has a seat on the SLPP is predominant in the south and east. parties, which has resulted in negative population, destroyed infrastructure, council. Candidates representing the Ten parties of varying size competed the campaigning and violence against them. hindered development efforts and different political parties contest this seat threatened social cohesion. The impact and the candidate with the most votes of the war is still felt and, although wins. In addition to the elected seats, the country is unlikely to slip back into between one and three Paramount Chiefs conflict, violence is still occasionally used sit on each council and have voting as a means of expression. rights. The first post-war local council elections were in 2004 and they take place every four years.

A decentralisation policy was followed in the post-war period and was seen as an important step in peace building. However, local councils had been abolished in 1972 and at the time of the 2004 elections there was little public understanding of their purpose and function. As a result, voter registration and turnout were low – far lower than at the parliamentary elections.

The 50/50 office at Kailahun Traditional governance Women in the political arena The majority vote system was reinstated Traditional governance structures In the months before the 2002 in 2007. Once again, women had high also play an important role in Sierra parliamentary elections, women expectations but a return to the first-past- Leonean society. The country is split into were optimistic about their chances. the-post system seriously hampered numerous chieftaincies, each headed Women’s groups had played a strong their chances. The number of women by a Paramount Chief. These structures role in bringing peace to the country parliamentarians fell to 17. are largely male-dominated: in the north, by engaging opposing factions and no woman has ever been a Paramount mobilising around a pro-democracy At the 2004 local council elections, Chief and only a handful of women have movement and there seemed to be women won 48 of the 474 local council become chiefs in the southern districts. a general acceptance of women’s seats. Women generally fared better in involvement in public life. The elections urban areas, though outcomes were Both men’s and women’s secret societies were carried out under a constitutional extremely varied. Kailahun recorded the are prevalent throughout the country, amendment that took into account the highest number of women elected to a although women’s secret societies post-conflict situation. The war had district council, with eight seats or 24 per exercise little power on the political caused large population movements and cent. Koinadugu was the lowest, with no system. The chiefs are key figures in skewed the population distribution. A elected women. In 2008, the number of male secret societies. Membership, District Block Voting System was used, women councillors almost doubled to 86 initiation and traditions are all subject effectively a proportional representation (18.9 per cent), with particularly notable to strict secrecy but it is widely system, which has been seen to benefit increases in urban areas. Training at the Kailahun offices acknowledged that the societies have a women candidates in many countries. strong influence on politics. However, despite this, only 18 women Political parties have agreed to an gained seats in the 2002 parliament, just informal quota system for increasing the (PACER) project aims to address this by over 14 per cent. number of women candidates but there increasing the involvement of women in are no sanctions for non-compliance and the political process. Its premise is that a there is no evidence to suggest that greater number of women in parliament parties are attempting to meet this goal. and local government will directly Meanwhile, the women’s movement is contribute to a positive change in the Car sticker promoting women’s representation weakening, there is little collaboration lives of poor men and women. between women’s groups and no common strategy for awareness raising and Oxfam GB has been working in partnership mobilisation on women’s rights across the with the 50-50 Group of Sierra Leone. country. There is no functioning women’s PACER’s main goal has been to increase caucus for elected women and the the number of women contesting and reliance on political parties for election and winning seats in two districts, Koinadugu support prevents attempts at cross-party and Kailahun, at the 2007 parliamentary activity to promote women’s rights. and 2008 local council elections. PACER has motivated women to aspire to The PACER project leadership positions, worked directly Sierra Leonean women are with woman aspirants and candidates to disproportionately affected by poverty support them through the nomination and and are also marginalised at all levels election process, and raised awareness of decision-making. The Promoting of the importance of women’s leadership A Culture of Equal Representation among voters and key power brokers. PACER has seen notable success in Meanwhile, there has been a disappointing However, following the 2007 general Koinadugu, which has the reputation drop in women’s representation in elections and the 2008 local council for being the most conservative district Kailahun, where it had been hoped that the elections, there has been a shift in in Sierra Leone. Koinadugu fielded its project would build on the gains made in positions. There has been a first-ever female parliamentary candidate 2004. The district now has only one woman disappointing drop in women’s in 2007 and now has six women on parliamentarian and three councillors. The representation in Kailahun, where it had the district council. This represents a reasons for this relate largely to changes in been hoped that the project would build significant step forward and certainly the political arena and are explored in more on the gains made in 2004. The district compares favourably with other detail later. However, the project has achieved now has only one woman parliamentarian non-urban councils. far more than the numbers would suggest. and three councillors.

Meanwhile Koinadugu, which has the reputation for being the most conservative district in Sierra Leone, Steps to successful mobilisation of women in the 2008 local fielded its first-ever female parliamentary council elections candidate in 2007, although she was not elected, and six women have been • The PACER project started by developing an understanding of the national elected to the district council. and local socio-political and cultural contexts. The percentage of female representation • The project team identified key power brokers and potential allies: remains below the national average but Paramount Chiefs, chiefdom speakers, teachers, religious leaders, traders, still represents a significant step forward party activists and local women’s groups. and certainly compares favourably with • These stakeholders helped to identify potential women aspirants and other non-urban councils. This booklet encourage women to stand for election. examines the reasons for this change, and identifies both the barriers to • Trainers were trained with PACER-developed materials. They went on to women’s political participation as well train the group of aspirants through exercises that educated and built as the positive effects of the PACER confidence and solidarity amongst the women. Activities included programme. role-plays, group activities and games, and self-reflection. The PACER approach • Aspirants who decided to stand as candidates were supported through the In the run up to the 2007 parliamentary nomination process with further education and training. elections and the 2008 local council elections, PACER’s work focused on • Successful candidates attended workshops that enabled them to build a increasing the number of women strong campaign, work on their strengths and recognise their weaknesses representatives in its two target districts. and the barriers against them.

• PACER worked with women’s groups and other stakeholders to mobilise It did this both by working directly with support for these women candidates. Campaigns often included voter woman aspirants and candidates, to education programmes in the constituencies, and contributed to a sense of support them through the election solidarity amongst women. process, and by raising awareness of the importance of women’s leadership Showing support for women candidates Barriers to women’s significant barriers at each of these representation stages. The very first step is for women There are three main stages to women to believe in themselves and to see achieving equal representation: firstly, that opportunities are open to them. women need to aspire to leadership Even after this belief has been built, it positions; secondly, they must be takes considerable courage for women selected by their parties as candidates; to face up to societal pressures and and thirdly, they need to be elected put themselves forward for leadership by the voters. Women must negotiate positions.

Women candidates at a training event

The key barriers to women’s political representation These barriers are common to women party candidates are more or less throughout Sierra Leone. However, guaranteed election. Women therefore Lack of self-belief and confidence.Low education levels, a lack of value additional factors relating to changes in needed to become the party’s official placed on women’s contributions, and a restriction on women’s roles the political landscape seem to have candidate in their ward – in other words, in society mean that many simply do not see a place for themselves in particularly affected women’s chances in to be given the party symbol. The SLPP decision-making structures. Kailahun district. The PACER project nomination process is carried out via an generated strong interest from women electoral college, which is male-dominated, Low literacy levels. Literacy levels in Sierra Leone are low generally but wanting to get involved in public life but heavily influenced by traditional power particularly so among rural women. As few as two per cent of women are the electoral system presented them structures and lacks transparency. The literate in some of the wards where the PACER project works. This has an with considerable barriers to achieving difficulty in getting the party symbol was impact on women’s self-belief and willingness to put themselves forward as their aims. the single biggest obstacle to women’s potential political candidates, but is also used to justify women’s absence representation at the 2008 elections – from public life. Competition for seats: In the run-up women, in effect, were blocked from even Discriminatory attitudes. Although there has been some shift in attitudes to the 2008 elections, voter education getting to the election stage. towards women as leaders at grassroots level, discriminatory attitudes increased knowledge about the role of remain entrenched in other areas, particularly within political parties and district councils, which led to greater While the SLPP is not necessarily more among traditional authorities. belief in the value of district councils and obstructive to women’s participation than increased interest in holding office. In other parties, its defeat in the Violence. Whether verbal, physical or threatened, violence is a very real Kailahun district, this was compounded parliamentary elections certainly resulted fact in many women’s lives. Standing out by aspiring to public office often by a reduction in the number of wards in many more men seeking nomination at increases this violence. and by unsuccessful would-be (male) district level in this, the party stronghold. Lack of finance. Without the resources to campaign, a woman has little parliamentarians leaving Freetown and It also put the party on the defensive: opportunity to create the vital support amongst voters on a large enough turning instead to local-level politics. The according to some people, women were scale to make her a viable contender. result was a huge increase in competition viewed as ‘high risk’ candidates and the for councillor positions and, significantly, party was not prepared to lose seats by The electoral system. The first-past-the-post system decreases the space many more men seeking election, which fielding women. Of the 28 SLPP candidates for women’s representation. The combination of strong, male-dominated resulted in the marginalisation of women. in Kailahun, only two were women. parties and the party nomination systems makes it hard for women to be selected as party candidates. Party-dominated politics: Politics in Eight of the women who were rejected by Kailahun is dominated by the SLPP and their parties chose to stand as support women candidates of all political they said they would. Pressure from the parties in their election campaigns. SLPP to rally behind male candidates Case study Martha Gbow, district council candidate, independent, Kailahun district may have caused some men to withdraw In Kailahun, PACER also sought to their support. Martha has been an active member of the SLPP for many years, and is engage the Paramount Chiefs and other one of only a few women involved in the district office. She believes she key male power holders. They worked It is curious that the project has had has strong community support – it is community members who financed together to draw up a list of criteria different outcomes in the two districts her attempt to win the party symbol for the 2008 local council elections. that viable women candidates should despite using the same strategies. It She puts her failure to win the symbol down to the perception that women demonstrate and to identify women who seems, though, that having a mixed should not be involved in politics, and to the party’s preference for a possessed such qualities. However, team of men and women working on man. She experienced lots of pressure to step down in favour of a male although a handful of men have been the PACER project has maximised its candidate, and finally did so on the eve of the election. She chose to run supportive of women, many didn’t fulfil likelihood of engaging a wide range of as an independent because she believes she has the right to participate in their promises and support women as stakeholders – both men and women. politics, regardless of the negative perceptions of women and the damaging allegations made against her.

What convinces men to advocate for women’s rights? independent candidates, but in a district However, women’s perceived failure was ‘I visited the UK and saw that women are active in public life there. If Sierra Leone where a single party holds so much used to justify not selecting more women wants to be as advanced as other countries, we need women leaders too.’ power, it takes a lot of courage to do candidates for the 2008 elections. ‘I realised that there is nothing in the religious texts that supports the idea so. The women were subject to a lot of that women should be subservient. In fact, both the Bible and the Qur’an say personal abuse and intimidation, and The positive outcomes of the that women are our equals.’ were accused of trying to undermine PACER project the SLPP. Only one of the eight female Although the primary focus of PACER ‘We can see that there is a more productive relationship between men and independent candidates was elected. has been to support women to achieve women, that there is greater interaction between them, when greater respect leadership positions, the effects of its is given to women.’ Women being judged by past work have been felt far beyond this. The ‘We want to see what difference women will make.’ performance: The Kailahun district positive outcomes of PACER include: council elected in 2004 is widely ‘Women were more vibrant than men during campaigning. I can see that the perceived to have failed and the elected Gaining the support of influential men women councillors have some brilliant ideas.’ women seem to have been judged harshly One of the key factors behind women’s ‘I really appreciated PACER’s work, the way that they began by holding on their inability to deliver in a way that success in Koinadugu was the project’s consultative meetings [with powerful men] and explained to us the men have not. In truth, the district council ability to gain the support of influential importance of women’s leadership.’ faced an uphill battle from the outset. men in the district, including religious As the new system was put in place, the and traditional leaders, and former ‘The training with imams and elders has had a big impact. We can see that roles and responsibilities of the council council members. These men are not the way we conducted our relationships previously was an error. Women were poorly defined and council members merely supportive of women taking on aren’t our possessions.’ were confused about their duties. Women leadership roles but speak passionately ‘Women and men must be co-partners in development. Women’s have been accused of not doing their job about their desire to promote women’s participation is essential for the development of the whole community.’ properly when in fact the system wasn’t rights in their district! One man even functioning and the whole council failed. donated a significant sum of money to Building the capacity of women and energy to cope with difficult situations. candidates Case study Women aspirants, candidates and It is notable that Kailahun district had a Haja Bintu Mansaray, district councillor, APC, Koinadugu councillors in both districts have said that higher number of female independent the support they received from PACER candidates than elsewhere in the country. Haja is a teacher and first got involved in the PACER project out of a general was invaluable and that they couldn’t This can be attributed to the PACER conviction that women’s leadership was important, thinking that she could have got as far as they did without it. project, which motivated and supported motivate and support other women to stand for election. However, she In some cases, they had been involved women who were unsuccessful in gradually came to believe that she could do it herself and took the decision in politics previously but still found the gaining the party symbol. The fact to run for a position on local council. She found the process hard, with training they received useful. In other that women were prepared to face up resistance from the party and from her community, but her determination instances, the women hadn’t even to inevitable difficulties and abuse is to work for development drove her on. Now that she is a councillor, she considered getting involved in politics testimony both to the support that PACER recognises that the expectations are high for women. She feels that more before they came into contact with PACER. was able to offer and to the women’s training is needed, and that specific projects should be developed for determination to bring about change women in office to allow them to demonstrate their abilities to the community. Elected women believe that the in their communities. None of the eight training equipped them with the skills candidates dropped out of the election they needed to campaign effectively process. The two female independent and prepared them for meeting with councillors elected in Kailahun and resistance from male counterparts. It Koinadugu were the first women ever to boosted their confidence, determination succeed as independents. Increasing women’s involvement in the A large number of women trained by public sphere PACER remain committed to women’s At the time of the 2004 elections, women leadership and participation. Even generally had little information about the in Kailahun, the experience of the Men and women join together to support women’s representation role of the district councils and very little 2008 elections hasn’t dampened their interest in getting involved in the electoral enthusiasm. Many of the women who process. Many women did not even failed to be nominated, or who contested realise they had the right to vote. Just the elections and lost, are willing to stand four years later, and two years into the again in future and have been involved PACER project, women in both districts behind the scenes. Some have stood are not only voting but also canvassing instead for ward committees and hope to support for women candidates and use their new role to build support for the showing enthusiasm to stand for election. next local council elections in 2012.

The PACER project directly trained 282 At the recent ward committee elections, women aspirants for the council elections only five of the 53 wards in the two – 110 in Kailahun and 172 in Koinadugu districts failed to meet the legal - and carried out awareness raising at requirement of having women in half grassroots level on the electoral process of all elected positions – and several and the importance of women’s leadership. wards have more women than men on A combination of these activities has greatly the committee. Having legislation in increased women’s awareness of their place has made this possible, but so rights and brought many to believe that they too has the willingness of women to put can play a role equal to men in public life. themselves forward for the positions, and this is rooted in their belief that women meet with and talk to women, for example should be involved in decision-making by going to the market place, and saw and are capable of doing a good job. the results at the polls. One woman councillor was supported by women In Koinadugu, even women who didn’t petty traders who stayed away from the participate in the PACER training are market on election day to campaign on being inspired by seeing women leaders her behalf. in their community and are beginning to aspire to leadership roles themselves. Many of the women who were trained For example, the district has female court by the PACER project but did not put members for the first time. themselves forward as candidates have become strong gender equality Grassroots women are gradually advocates. They showed real solidarity beginning to change their attitude with those women who did contest towards involvement in the public sphere. the elections and actively supported When PACER began, it was difficult to them in their election campaigns. In engage women in community meetings Koinadugu, women even succeeded but seeing women leaders in their in joining together across party lines communities and a growing awareness and supported each other with their of their rights has had an effect. campaigning!

“We are not allowed to even talk Bringing a belief in women leaders as when men are around, because a force for change for us it is a taboo. For us women, Women aspirants, candidates and when the men are talking you are councillors are often motivated to get just there to clap…You just give involved in politics by their desire to bring your support; it has always been development to their communities and in that way.” Rugie Marah, Deputy particular to help their fellow women. Chair, Council “I want to stand because I want Women are not just attending public to show our small sisters that meetings but making meaningful what a man can do, a woman contributions and are no longer afraid can do. And when you are a girl to sit at the front of the room. This is an child, you can take the small achievement in itself. education you have and stand for bigger positions. I want to Building solidarity between women give them the zeal to learn and A noticeable difference during the be somebody tomorrow. I want 2008 elections was that women were to be a role model for them.” much more willing to support women Juliette C Konteh, district council candidates. Women candidates sought to candidate, Koinadugu

Harriett Turay, 50/50 Group president, at an event in Koinadugu Support to elected women men in the district. They fear that the While there is growing support for district council simply doesn’t have women’s leadership, so too are there the resources to meet expectations. extremely high expectations of them. They suggest that the women should Now that women have been given a be supported to apply for and space in politics, there is pressure on manage donor grants, so that they can them to prove that they can, in fact, do a demonstrate they have the capacity and better job than men. integrity to manage money and deliver development projects. “If we fail the people, they won’t forget, but if we come together Building women’s capacity at ward with determination and work committee level hard, we’ll get more women [in PACER’s ability to achieve its target council] in the next election.” of increasing the number of women Rugie Marah elected to local councils was constrained by significant barriers, particularly This offers both opportunities and in Kailahun. However, it succeeded threats. In the words of one woman, in generating a lot of energy and ‘Women elected now are brushing the enthusiasm among women, who are path for others to follow’. If they are already talking about working towards supported to play an effective leadership the 2012 elections. The ward committee role, they could bring about a shift in elections were a huge success, with the attitudes towards women leaders and majority of wards achieving the target open the door for women to be elected in of 50 per cent women and several PACER has built relationships with existing social networks greater numbers in 2012. If, however, surpassing this. they are left to muddle along and work things out for themselves, they are likely The ward committees offer a great to fail. Women have requested opportunity to build women’s capacity to They have a real determination to be a development and a growing belief that accompaniment and ongoing training on play an effective role in leadership and force for change and to show that they women might be the ones who can make a number of issues to be effective to prove that they are able to deliver. In are able to succeed where men have it happen. That isn’t to say that resistance councillors. This could be done directly this respect, they are an ideal breeding failed. They are also determined to act as to women’s leadership has been by the PACER staff or by linking elected ground for women candidates for the positive role models to others. overcome completely, but both women’s women in different localities. 2012 elections. and men’s attitudes are gradually There is a growing willingness among changing. One woman elected to the Koinadugu Continuous awareness-raising both men and women to support district council this year says that she PACER is beginning to achieve a shift in women who aspire to leadership roles, What next for PACER? does feel under pressure to deliver attitudes towards women as leaders and influenced by a desire for change. It is Although the outcomes in terms of numbers but is committed to doing her best. in women’s perceptions of their commonly believed that men are corrupt of elected women were different in She particularly feels the need for own capabilities. But change doesn’t and self-interested; that they have been Kailahun and Koinadugu, the two districts support to write project proposals, to happen overnight and ongoing unable to deliver so women should be share many common experiences and be able to access funding to implement sensitisation is needed if the project is to given the opportunity to prove that they are able to point to similar lessons for the development projects in her ward. This effect lasting change. can do better. There is a real hunger for future of PACER’s work. view has been echoed by some of the Messages about women’s rights and their Reinforcing solidarity among women Women who have been involved in the get the party symbol. One male journalist participation in the public sphere need At the last elections, women candidates PACER project understand Oxfam’s believes that if the party system were to reach a wider audience and these were able to mobilise greater support position and suggest that implementing abolished at district level, women would messages need to be reinforced. from women – a significant shift from projects aimed at women’s economic dominate in public life. the 2004 elections, when women were empowerment could be an approach that The PACER project has good support just as likely as men to oppose women would help level the playing field with men. However, any change in the party system from the local media, and radio is candidates. Again, this collaboration is highly unlikely. Therefore, advocacy an effective way of reaching rural among women needs to be built on and Advocacy for women’s representation initiatives at national level should continue women. In particular, efforts need to be reinforced for lasting change. The ward committee elections provide to lobby for legislation that will guarantee made to ensure that messages reach a good example of how high levels of 30 per cent representation for women communities where NGOs are not active. One suggestion is for women’s groups women’s representation can be achieved at district level. There should also be to be established at community level if there is a supportive legislative lobbying aimed directly at the political Continued engagement of male and for women to be encouraged to environment. Both men and women parties, in order to influence them to activists come together to discuss the issues are convinced that a far higher number adopt more transparent nomination In Kailahun, PACER has found it they are facing. Women’s groups have of women would have been elected to processes and to put in place and difficult to engage influential men to the potential to develop future women district councils if they had been able to enforce quotas for women candidates. support women’s leadership. However, aspirants, to build women’s support PACER has made some progress. The for women in political processes and Paramount Chiefs are notoriously difficult to support elected women to play an to involve in development work and effective role. Building confidence in public speaking the fact that the project succeeded in bringing them all together in a workshop Women ward councillors have an is a significant achievement. PACER important role to play in acting as a also has the support of the district go-between to enable women’s issues chairman who, for example, overturned to be heard in formal decision-making the result of one of the ward committee mechanisms. Grassroots women need, elections and insisted that it be rerun above all, to feel that their issues are to meet the requirement of 50 per cent being taken seriously if they are to women’s representation. The project continue to offer women their support. should continue to engage key male stakeholders in discussions and seek to Support for women’s livelihoods influence attitudes over time. It is clear that a lack of financial resources is a considerable barrier Meanwhile, although the project has to women’s engagement in political gained the support of some powerful processes. However, this is a point male advocates in Koinadugu, these men that Oxfam and the 50-50 Group have are insistent that sensitisation should differed on. Oxfam will not give money to continue. They believe that messages political candidates, in order to maintain need to be constantly reinforced so as neutrality, while the 50-50 Group wanted to consolidate progress, be sure not to to give each woman competing in the move backwards and engage even elections a small grant to finance her more men. election campaign. The Promoting a Culture of Equal Representation (PACER) project is implemented jointly by the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone and Oxfam GB, and is co-funded by DFID and UNDEF. It contributes to the Government Supporting women to aspire to election of Sierra Leone’s efforts to reduce marginalisation and vulnerability by developing a culture of equal representation and participation of women and men in to political office in Sierra Leone political life and development processes and initiatives.

The project has been highly participatory. In order to achieve its aims without creating friction with traditional governance systems and culture, PACER has involved The experience of the PACER project all key stakeholders and has worked with existing social networks.

PACER demonstrated tangible success at the 2007 and 2008 elections. It supported seven of the 16 elected women parliamentarians and 291 women local council aspirants in the districts of Kailahun and Koinadugu. Of these, 31 were nominated as candidates and nine were eventually elected.

This booklet highlights the key lessons coming out of the PACER project so far and identifies areas that can be strengthened in future.

All photo credits: Oxfam

Oxfam GB, Oxfam House John Smith Drive, Oxford OX4 2JY, United Kingdom. Oxfam is a registered charity in England and Wales No 202918 and Scotland SCO 039042. Inhouse 4058