📋 Tender Overview
The Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, Félix Moloua, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Central African Republic, Valentine Rugwabiza, chaired, on 14 October 2024, the launching ceremony of the project “Support for increasing the rate of registration of women and young people on the electoral list in the CAR”, which will be implemented with the support of MINUSCA and UN Women.
This project focuses on the causes and factors limiting the participation of women and young people in electoral processes, as voters and candidates.
In her speech, the Head of MINUSCA stressed that "the municipal elections, which have not been held for almost 40 years, represent a unique opportunity, in what is almost two generations. (…) They offer an exceptional chance to meaningfully and usefully include Central African women and youth in local governance and in the exercise of grassroots democracy."
Prime Minister Félix Moloua declared that "this project will contribute, I am convinced, to strengthening the efforts already deployed by the Government for the participation of women in the country's political process. As you know, we must work in synergy to initiate this vast awareness campaign in favor of the active participation of women, not only as voters, but also and above all as candidates in the next elections."
Delivering her testimony as a woman engaged in politics, Christiane Doraz Serefessenet, Member of Parliament for the second constituency of Bossangoa, revealed the daunting challenges faced by women who decide to run for office. Nevertheless, she encouraged women to register on the electoral lists and vote. “If women are not registered on the electoral lists, they will not be able to vote or run for office. We who have chosen to take up the challenge of political participation have had to overcome physical and psychological intimidation, as well as various forms of electoral violence, more or less nuanced, aimed at discouraging us from any involvement in political life,” she said. She also added: “At the height of the conflicts in this country, I was confronted with 14 male opponents who did not want to give me any gifts, but the support of the United Nations system, particularly UN Women, which provided me with a political coach, was decisive for my political career today.”
As for Theresa Kpana, President of the Organization of Deaf and Mute Girls of the Central African Republic, she invited and encouraged all women and young women to register on the electoral lists and to stand as candidates or voters to support this official launch of registration on the electoral lists. "Standing as a candidate is very important for all women, including people with disabilities in the Central African Republic," she said.
The project "Support for increasing the rate of registration of women and young people on the electoral roll in the Central African Republic" is a favorable response from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Central African Republic to the grievances expressed by the leaders of women's organizations during numerous exchange meetings.
This project will be funded to the tune of 399,700 US dollars.
