Support to Local Governance Project - Functional literacy test preparation programme (August-September 2010)

 

Women make up only 4% of the leadership positions at local government level. There is only one woman Gup in the 205 blocks in the country. For the 2010 local government elections, candidates have to get through a functional literacy test before they can contest in the local elections. With this background in mind. Helvetas-Bhutan (through its Support for Local Governance Project) and DANIDA supported an advocacy programme encouraging potential women candidates to sit for the literacy test and to contest local elections. Following this, a functional literacy test preparation programme was launched throughout the country with Helvetas support focusing on three specific districts where it is active and DANIDA supporting the programme in the rest of the country. Additionally, the Election Commission of Bhutan also developed and disseminated awareness and advocacy materials calling upon women to contest in the local elections.

 

500 women have signed up for the literacy test.