Launch of Gender and Local Governance Project

Phase II of the project will be launched at CINCW Office/Takuvaine, on Monday 2nd July 2012.

On Monday evening at 5.30 pm a function is being planned for to witness the commencement of Phase II of the Cook Islands Gender and Local Governance Project, 2012-2015.
Attending will be; Te Ariki Rongomatane – Patron, and the President and executive members, of the Cook Islands National Council of Women, Ms Megan Praeger Regional Program Coordinator, Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) Pacific, and Mr Mokoroa, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister.
Phase I of the project involved following the 2010 National 5 year Action Plan for Advancing Women in Public Life and Decision report, which strongly recommended mounting a:
• Targeted awareness raising campaign throughout the islands on why more women in parliament and Councils is good for policy development and growth
As a result, the Cook Islands National Council of Women undertook a comprehensive awareness program throughout most of the islands to share with men and women in the islands;
• an understanding of the state of governance on the island; is it shared?
• If the island is ready for more equal sharing of governing and management of island
• Understand the challenges, possibilities and benefits of increasing women’s participation in decision making positions.
The awareness program involved a series of 2 hour meetings with;
• Island leaders
• Women leaders
• Community
• Island Council
The key outcome of those visits included;
1. Island community awareness of the importance of advancing women into the local governance structures and processes.
2. Island community identifying what they need to do.
3. Gender and Development Division and Cook Islands National Council of Women officials being aware of the capacities of the island communities towards progressing more shared governing.
Phase I activities were made possible by generous funding support from the Commonwealth Local Governance Project.
Phase II is aimed at encouraging more women to enter island governance systems and decision making processes (island council, island administration) and will build on the outcomes of Phase I and especially will;
• Establish the Gender and Governance network.
• Consolidate Phase 1 efforts (National wide awareness raising campaign).
• Provide mentoring and capacity development opportunities to women interested in entering local governance structures.
• Coordinate and monitor gender and governance activities.

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