The Women in governance program is a program that promotes the rights of women by encouraging them to participate in Governance issues and structure. Response Network implements this program mainly among the rural communities where women are more ignorant of their rights and this subjects them to a lot of abusive situations.

The organization has trained staff to run this program. The program requires going in the communities and conducting meetings and workshops to raise awareness that women can make a difference when they take part in decision making processes. In order to carry out the program the organization works through local volunteers who help in mobilization of people when there is a meeting or workshop. These volunteers are trained on how they can mobilize people, encourage and make follow ups of the activities in the community.  

These communities are situated in very remote areas where sometimes roads are bad and the use of a vehicle is impossible so the program officer/ facilitator use a motor cycle to get to these areas. However for the organization also looks at the safety of its workers and that’s why in places which pose a danger to the life of the staff the organization releases a vehicle to make sure the officer performs the duty without other complications.

There is great need to work with key Government stake holders and traditional authorities in the community as these are the custodians of the law and people. When they are well aware of what the program is about they play a very important role in implementing it.

The Organization works with these heads of departments and trained volunteers that are trained in the community. The volunteers are given a bicycle for easy mobility and an incentive in form of money to buy soap etc.

When the women are financially stable or they have something they do to earn an income their status also improves. They can buy soap, new clothes, and food. This motivates them to mingle and share ideas and even send their children to school.

 

Women are encouraged to form up clubs where they share ideas and talk about issues of governance. In some areas where the program started and people have embraced it well, women are being elected to occupy different levels of the leadership ladder at local level.