Review report on impediments to women’s participation in politics & leadership

Mission and objectivesUNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization that advocates for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help build resilient nations and improve the livelihoods of people. UNDP Gambia was established in 1975 as a development partner to provide technical assistance through advice, access to its global knowledge networks and financial support to implement government development frameworks to boost capacity development and promote national efforts to eradicate poverty and attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In The Gambia, UNDP supports national efforts for sustainable human development in line with the Gambian National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2021 which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development/SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063. To deliver on its mandate, UNDP partners with key government institutions and employs different means of actions including institutional capacity strengthening, harnessing strategic linkages, support to evidence-based policy formulation, planning and implementation, resource mobilization, support to national planning processes and mainstreaming of relevant issues.

ContextDespite significant strides made toward democratic governance in The Gambia, women’s aspirations for leadership and active participation in political life continue to face numerous challenges. Lack of women's representation in politics has stunted progress toward achieving an equitable society, despite women’s substantial contributions to community life. In The Gambia, limited access to leadership opportunities, societal norms and traditional expectations often confine women to domestic roles, limiting their ability to engage in public affairs. The widely held perception that women are better suited to caregiving responsibilities than to decision-making processes stems from deeply entrenched gender roles. This necessitates concerted efforts to dismantle these barriers and promote gender equality in leadership and governance. This study explored women’s participation in politics and their access to leadership and governance roles in The Gambia, focusing on the challenges they face and potential policy options to enhance their engagement. The specific objectives of this study are to: 1. Assess the structural, institutional, cultural, economic, and religious factors, among others, constraining women’s active participation in politics and leadership. 2. Examine regional and demographic variations in Gambian's perceptions as it relates to women’s rights to actively participate in politics and hold leadership positions. 3. Establish the importance of education, sensitization, and mobilization as a medium for enhancing community understanding of the importance of women in politics and leadership. 4. Evaluate the centrality of cooperation of traditional and religious institutions as partners in advancing women's participation in politics and leadership especially in provincial Gambia. 5. Explores appropriate policy measures needed to address the challenges militating against women's participation in politics and access to leadership positions in the Gambia. By assisting with reviewing, editing and designing the research report, the Online Volunteer will be making a significant contribution towards improvement of women representation and leadership in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The Volunteers expertise will help us create a high-quality publication that can be used to influence policymakers, mobilize resources, and inform stakeholders. This contribution will play a key role in building awareness, promoting dialogue, and catalyzing actions that support women’s leadership aspirations in The Gambia.

Task DescriptionWe are looking for an experienced and creative Online Volunteer who will support our UNDP governance team in The Gambia with the review and designing a draft research report on impediments to women’s participation in politics and leadership. In close collaboration with the project manager and Head of Governance team, the Online Volunteer will: 1. Report review and editing: • Conduct a thorough review of the draft research report to ensure clarity, coherence, and conciseness. • Edit the content to improve structure, readability, and flow without compromising the quality of the data and analysis. • Identify and rectify any grammatical, typographical, or formatting issues. 2. Content streamlining: • Reduce the size of the report from 119 pages while maintaining critical information and analytical depth. • Propose areas where content can be condensed or summarized effectively. 3. Design and layout: • Develop an engaging and professional layout for the report, ensuring it aligns with UNDP’s branding guidelines. • Include visual aids such as charts, graphs, or infographics to enhance the presentation of key findings and data. 4. Feedback integration: • Collaborate with the project manager and Head of Governance to incorporate their feedback and suggestions into the final draft. • Ensure revisions reflect the goals of the report and the expectations of stakeholders. 5. Final deliverable preparation: • Deliver a polished and visually appealing final draft of the report, ready for stakeholder review and dissemination. • Provide the report in editable formats (e.g., Word, InDesign) and a print-ready PDF version. 6. Compliance and Quality Assurance: • Ensure the report adheres to UNDP’s publication standards and meets the highest quality benchmarks. • Confirm the final draft is accessible to diverse audiences, including policymakers, civil society, and the public. The Online Volunteer will be provided with material and other sources to successfully complete the task. For close coordination and discussion, the Online Volunteer is expected to be available for calls via Skype/Zoom/Microsoft Teams.

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