Women Leaders in Puntland Strengthen Leadership Skills Through Gender and Governance Training

Programming example

I recently facilitated a gender and leadership skills training for female district staff in Puntland, implemented by VNG International under the Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance Somalia programme.Engaging with women leaders from Qardho and Garowe, the training focused on strengthening leadership confidence, enhancing communication and public speaking skills, improving decision-making in local governance, and deepening understanding of gender equality and women’s political participation in male-dominated spaces.One thing I am particularly excited about is that Puntland has reached a significant milestone in terms of elections and women’s participation in politics, especially at the local council level. In the Puntland State of Somalia, district council elections were held on 25 May 2023 under the One Person One Vote (OPOV) system. Out of the 774 seats contested across 30 districts, women secured 129 seats (17%), while men won 645 (83%).This progress is meaningful, but it also highlights that there is still more work to be done. It reinforces the importance of continued investment in women’s leadership, capacity building, and creating enabling environments where women can fully participate and lead.I left the sessions inspired by the strength, ambition, and determination of these women. With the right support, they are not only participating but are ready to lead and drive inclusive change within their communities.#WomenLeadership #GenderEquality #LocalGovernance #Puntland #Somalia #SDG5 #LeadershipDevelopment

Communities

• Women

Formats

• Workshops

Goals

• Grow