Women's Leadership Training Anticipates Peace Deal

October 10, 2003

September 27-29 - As the civil war in Sudan seems to be drawing to a close, the task of rebuilding the country’s physical infrastructure and human capital is just beginning. With the expected signing of a peace agreement between the government of Sudan and southern rebel forces, IRI is preparing previously marginalized political actors to take up leadership roles in the new southern regional authority and national government.

Building on IRI’s women’s leadership training activities in the Equatoria region over the past year, IRI’s East Africa regional office conducted a leadership seminar for southern Sudanese women leaders in Nairobi. The seminar was led by Jackie Corcoran, the chief of staff of the majority whip of Florida’s House of Representatives. Participating IRI staff included Paul Fagan and Peter Mackenzie.

The seminar drew 30 women from all five regions of southern Sudan. The training was designed to prepare the women, all of whom have been elected from their regions, to participate in the first national convention of the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the de facto governing authority in southern Sudan. The training covered communication and the media, lobbying, advocacy, networking, message development, parliamentary procedures, and campaign management. Aside from IRI’s Nairobi staff, training was also conducted by Kenyan Members of Parliament such as the Honorable Julia Ojiambo.

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