The Assemblée nationale is elected on a party list system. Even though a 10% quota for the national legislative elections was adopted, the placement of women candidates on the party lists, as well as the support they can gather from the population, would determine whether the strict 10% would be achieved or surpassed.

The political participation of women in Niger work is particularly difficult because of the social, religious and cultural barriers, including the number of different ethnic groups and opposition from religious groups. The sole women MP in Niger is well immersed in politics, but is not well supported. Work in Niger needs to start at the base with local women’s associations to reinforce the feminine base structure and create a core to support the women candidates during the election campaign and just as importantly, once they are elected.

It is today undeniable that women participate in Niger’s administration. Great strides have been made by their marked presence in various elections since the advent of the democratic era. However, more is still required. In addition to the traditional adversities a candidate encounters during her electoral campaign, women face other adversities based on their gender: prejudices, culture and traditions, limited financial resources, etc.

Although means exist for women candidates to address the electorate, a framework to allow them to overcome the challenges of competition and especially to somewhat even their chances at success is required. This means providing practical information and advice to organize an effective campaign. It is within this framework that the pre-election workshop for women candidates was organized by the Assemblée nationale du Nigerwith the technical and financial support from the Parliamentary Centre.

The workshop, held October 8 and 9 in Niamey, brought together female candidates from the two main coalition parties (majority and opposition) representing the eight regions of Niger as well as members of Niger’s civil society and one Senegalese MP who shared her experience on quota.

The workshop was held over a two-day period and presided by Hon. Mounkaïla Aïssata, the lone female MP in Niger. The format of the workshop included presentations and discussions, as well as group work. The program was divided into two thematic blocks: “Campaigning as Women Candidates” and “Beyond the Quota – Gaining the Confidence of the Electorate”.

Discussions revolved around such issues as:

• The importance of women being represented at the National Assembly
• Potential campaign challenges and how to overcome them
• The electoral platform and key issues
• The electoral quota – importance and repercussions
• Campaign strategies

The knowledge and information shared was compiled into a booklet providing the candidates with basic information about preparing for and running a campaign. The "Women Candidate's Guide" was made available to all candidates in Niger.

Recommendations

The recommendations from the workshop participants were for the:

Government

• to respect the quota law and its application decree during the upcoming elections

Political parties

• to ensure equity in the presentation of the women candidates electoral lists and to maintain them in the definitive lists after proclamation of results in accordance to the quota law and its application decree
• to strengthen the capacities of women candidates

Women of Niger

• to convince themselves that the problems women face are identical regardless of the structures to which they belong
• to become an active solidarity
• to invest of themselves in NGOs and associations to carry out sensitizing campaigns and to utilize the media to value the image and the status of women.

Furthermore, the workshop participants declared that:

• A Quota Monitoring Committee be created to monitor the quota law and its application decree; and
• A Conseil nigérien des femmes with the mandate to regroup and mobilize women around a common goal be created.

Election Results

The December 2004 elections resulted in enormous political gains for women. Fourteen women (out 113 seats) were elected for a total representation of 12.4% at the National Assembly – a far cry from the 1.2% previously. Not only was the 10% quota respected and surpassed in these elections but the 25% quota for nominative positions was applied as well with 6 women ministers out of 23. Furthermore these women hold some important portfolios (Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration; Urbanism, Habitat and Land Registry; Status of Women and Child Protection; Enterprise Privatization and Redevelopment; Employment and Public Works; Population and Social Action).