The [Jo Cox Memorial Grant] project has really been an eye-opener for me because it provided a platform to see how those before me had sacrificed their energy in making sure that gender equality is promoted at all levels. Learning from their experiences motivated me to do more to be part and parcel of this great movement.
Councillor Angela Kayekesi, Zambia
When the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) was awarded a Jo Cox Memorial Grant of £1M between 2019 and 2021, it was with the aim of addressing the under-representation of women in local government and strengthening democratic governance across Eswatini, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The two-year-long ‘Connecting the dots’ project developed 12 advocacy networks, bringing together key stakeholders across local and regional governments with academics and professional organisations within the four countries.
The project reached over 3,400 women and young people to increase representation and economic opportunities.
Traditionally, there has been a low take-up of women participating in politics in Southern Africa. This project supported female candidates standing for election and paired young women with female councillors for mentorship. The project also created networks to promote job and leadership opportunities for women in local economic development and improved access and resources for sexual and reproductive health services.
One of the young women involved in the mentoring scheme was Councillor Lesley Way, Mayor of Siteki Municipality in Eswatini.
Society has forced us to believe that we can’t take on roles and responsibilities, so now I know I have a purpose and can continue to inspire other young women. This programme has given me self-affirmation.
Councillor Lesley Way
The project used training sessions, networking events and mentoring sessions to help develop leadership skills and confidence. This contributed to a 52% increase in women councillors holding senior positions, such as mayors and committee chairpersons, across the four countries involved.
The network also successfully passed a bill to implement a 30% quota for women in local government in Zimbabwe, which more than doubles the current representation. The President of Zimbabwe confirmed that the network’s use of evidence-based advocacy was a key factor in his support of the bill.
Lack of peer support has meant fewer women in politics, we have to support each other for the target representation ratio to be met.
Councillor Makhandanje Gugu, Eswatini
The CLGF has worked with partners to develop action plans, international links and affiliations with a global body in an effort to embed the networks into existing institutions on a local, regional and national level to ensure the progress made so far will continue.
The success and implementation of the 30% quota for women in Zimbabwe has inspired networks in Eswatini and Zambia – who are following the same steps – to introduce the quotas in their respective countries. The networks have leveraged additional funding through the success of the Zimbabwe case study to support mentorship and women in local government.
The networks continue to support each other and share lessons learned while taking action to increase visibility, opportunities and voice for women and youth, within and across the four countries.
The networks continue to support each other and share lessons learned while taking action to increase visibility, opportunities and voice for women and youth, within and across the four countries.
On the issue of sexual and reproductive health, one graduate of the project is Tina Zulu, a human resources manager in Zambia. After joining the Young Women in Local Government network, she chose to focus on giving women and girls in rural areas better access to menstrual hygiene products. Tina founded an NGO, Equal Privileges for All, which makes sanitary hygiene products available to every schoolgirl in Mpongwe so that no girl will be absent from school because of her period.
Seeing how Jo Cox fought for women’s rights made me realise that I too can fight for a great cause.
Tina Zulu