On June 18, 2019, CECI officially launched the “Women’s Voice and Leadership” in Senegal in the presence of Her Excellency Lise Filiatrault, Ambassador of Canada to Senegal, Ms. Àbsa Ngom, representative of the ministère de la Femme, de la Famille, du Genre et de la Protection des Enfants, and Mr. Mouhamadou Leye, Director of CECI-Senegal.
The project, funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, aims to strengthen the institutional, human, technical and financial capacity of women’s organizations and their networks in Senegal. Through this project, using innovative, effective and efficient approaches, CECI is seeking to enable women to better exercise their rights and make progress towards gender equality in Senegal.
“For 34 years, CECI has been committed for the promotion of women’s and girls’ rights and leadership in Senegal, as well as for their well-being. Through the implementation of gender equality projects and programs in the country, CECI is focusing on raising awareness, building capacity and implementing sustainable tools to promote change within the communities,” explained Mr. Mouhamadou Leye, Director of CECI-Senegal.
The “Women’s Voice and Leadership” project, which will directly support 20 women’s organizations from civil society and 5 partner networks, also stems from the implementation of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and fits perfectly within the strategic orientations described in the Plan Sénégal Émergent, as well as in Senegal’s Stratégie Nationale pour l’Équité et l’Égalité de Genre (National Strategy for Gender Equality and Equity).
“Canada finds it extremely important for women and girls to know more about their rights and to be heard. Local organizations promoting women’s rights need to find more support to realize their aspirations and see the fruits of their efforts in empowerment and well-being. I am confident that this project will find partisans and allies well beyond civil society,” said Lise Filiatrault, Ambassador of Canada to Senegal, at the launching ceremony.
Finally, the ministère de la Femme, de la Famille, du Genre et de la Protection des Enfants emphasized the importance of strengthening the feminist movement in Senegal for the well-being of all women and men. The ministry’s representative recalled Senegal’s international commitments regarding the promotion of women’s rights, and welcomed CECI’s and Canada’s support for the empowerment and leadership of Senegalese women.
