Center of Women’s Studies and Policies » Projects » Projects 2007 » Project "Training for women candidates for local elections"

	Center of Women’s Studies and Policies Sofia 1000, 38 Tsar Asen street, phone: ++359 2 981 04 73, E-mail: cwsp@cwsp.bg (+359 2) 980 6265, e-mail:cwsp@cwsp.bg

Advancement of Women in Local Government – Training Workshop for Women Candidates

Why the training was organized

In May and June 2007 the CWSP staff held preliminary consultations with the women's structures/organisations to the main political parties which showed that specific trainings to include more women in the candidates' list in 2007 local elections have not been envisaged. At the same time these organisations expressed their interest and their willingness to support such an initiative and to encourage their members to participate. CWSP took the initiative to organize such kind of training to help women candidates organize better their appearance in politics and to motivate them to participate more professionally in the forthcoming local elections candidate campaign.

The 2,5 day training residential workshop for prospective women candidates from across the political party spectrum in Bulgaria who will run for mayors or city councillors in October 2007 local/municipal elections was held in the National Centre for Professional Development of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Sofia, Kremikovtsi district, on 24-26 August 2007. In the training took part 18 participants.

The training was conducted by Ms Lesley Adbela from Shevolution, Great Britain, a well-known trainer and consultant in women's political participation all over the world.

Purpouse, methodology and topics

The purpose of the workshop was to strengthen skills of women candidates to plan and run election campaigns, build alliances among them, raise awareness on the election law and help them understand the role of local councils.

The training was conducted by Ms Lesley Adbela from Shevolution, Great Britain, a well-known trainer and consultant in women's political participation all over the world. The methodology of the training includes presentations, exercises, games, and role-play. The handouts and the PPP were translated into Bulgarian by the CWSP staff, and distributed to the participants in a specially prepared kit for the training. Two well known Bulgarian female journalists and the CWSP PR specialist prepared a special presentation on work with media. The following topics were included into the training:

1. Ethical self-management - personal basic principles/values/goals - earning public trust.

2. Addressing issues that impact on women aspirants.

3. Universal principles of campaigning; canvassing, mobilising and organising; recruiting and working with volunteers and team-building; managing and deploying volunteers and the candidate election team.

4. Preparing election campaign.

5. Effective use of resources.

6. Organising public meetings/publicity/use of media; public speaking.

The CWSP awarded the trainees with certificates. At the end of the training the trainees expressed their opinion in a special evaluation questionnaire. The participants gave very high praise to the training, emphasising the practical orientation of the received knowledge that they could apply immediately during the election campaign, and also the need to deepen the gained knowledge and skills in order to professionalize their appearance in the politics. They specifically expressed that after the training they feel more confident and equipped with techniques that will help them to run the campaign more professionally and to have a success.

A press release about the initiative was prepared and sent to all newspapers and electronic media. The information about the training was posted at the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), and published in two newspapers with national coverage. Two regional radio stations broadcasted interviews with the CWSP staff.

Seven of the participants took office after the elections.