Legal Registration Study

UN Women´s programme on leadership and political participation aims at empowering Arab States women as candidates and voters, focusing in particular on first time women and youth candidates.  Towards these ends, capacity building programmes are provided to women candidates to support them in running for elections.  As well, and since a substantial part of the hurdles are related to the socio-cultural factors, awareness raising, advocacy and lobbying are offered to the different stakeholders, including political parties, electoral management bodies, government, CCSOs, commoners, to enhance civic education and knowledge of gender equality and women’s rights. UN Women complements the work done on the ground with working at the policy level as well through advocating for new legislations and constitutional reforms that are “gender responsive” and promotes women’s roles as voters, candidates, elected officials and civil service members.
To that end, the European Union and UN Women supported the launch of a regional network in May 2015 within the framework of the Joint Regional Programme for the Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the Southern Mediterranean Region- the Spring Forward for Women Programme. The main mission of the Network is to bridge the gender gap in Arab countries and to uphold the values of equality, justice and human rights. The Network has formed its own executive committee, developed the internal governing rules, and established specialized working committees. The Network aims to conduct activities, form strategic alliances and establish itself as a hub for services to women MPs across the region. To this end, UN Women ROAS is seeking a qualified firm/institution to conduct a study on the best options for registering the Network as an independent legal entity in the Arab States region.