Gender Assessment of the 2021 Electoral Process in Puntland

On October 25, 2021, Puntland became the first federal member state in Somalia to hold democratic elections to district councils. “One person one vote” elections were conducted in three “early districts” of Eyl, Ufeyn and Qardho. In addition to their historic significance, these elections offer an important opportunity to learn lessons, not least when it comes to the promotion of gender equality and the political participation of women.

The purpose of the Gender Assessment of the 2021 Electoral Process in Puntland was to
document challenges and enabling factors for the promotion of gender equality as part of democratization. The lessons learned from the present assessment are valuable for upcoming electoral processes, not only in Puntland but also in other member states, to which Puntland’s efforts towards democratization can provide key insights.

The report was produced by FBA in partnership with Puntland Development and Research Center (PDRC) and authored by Gabrielle Bardall, P.h.D.

Summary in English

Summary in Somali