The Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs convened a meeting for the core team committee members to domesticate the WEE policy in Plateau State. The purpose of the meeting was to strategise and discuss a way forward for the committee and also to set up a new timeline because the initial timeline had been missed. The meeting stressed the need to immediately identify stakeholders consisting of groups representing the state.

The domestication process, with Gender-Based Violence as a mainstreaming factor, is expected to launch a WEE policy in the state by the end of the year. The process is supported by the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC)

Core Team Members for the Domestication of WEE Policy in Plateau State

Opening Remark by the Director of Women Affairs in the Ministry: Mrs Mary Chuwang

The director welcomed the team and explained why the work slowed down; – so much workload, travel and politics (upcoming local government elections slated for 9^th of October 2024).  Women contribute to the economic growth of the state in so areas, but most economic empowerment initiatives fail. So, the domestication process offers the team an opportunity to identify why interventions fail and build a robust approach to resolving them through the WEE policy.

The team identified the following organisations to identify and coordinate the stakeholders under each thematic area.

• Agriculture: The National Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA) to coordinate other smaller organisations under agriculture.
• Entrepreneurship: Plateau State Small and Medium Industry Development Agency (PLASMIDA) all entrepreneurs’ female entrepreneurs running micro-businesses.
• Traditional Labour Market: Leadership of the Plateau State Market Women Association
• Emerging Industry: NAWOJ to coordinate the creative industry, information and communication technology and traditional media.
• Education and Skills Acquisition: The Plateau State Board on Technical Education to coordinate various groups and sectors involved in vocational and technical education.

Others/Cross-Cutting: GEO Commission, NCWS, WOWICAN, FOMWA, Women in Traditional Councils, and other highly placed women and experts who have held various leadership positions.

The team agreed that at least 10 to 50 stakeholders will be mapped for further engagement. The stakeholders should also be representatives of a cluster. The committee suggested the need to convene a high-level meeting with females who have held leadership positions at both the local, state, and national levels to serve as influencers and support the policy dialogue. They will also serve as our influencers and support systems. This meeting should be held when all local consultations have been concluded. So, when a draft is ready, they can be brought in.

Conclusion and Next Steps:

• The next meeting is to be convened on the 15th of October, 2024, after the LGCs elections.
• All groups should go ahead and map stakeholders and make names and contacts handy before the meeting on the 15^th.
• The Commissioner to brief the team ASAP on the constitution on the 54-member consultative team.