Skip to main content
NORC at the University Chicago

Assessment of Women’s Political Participation and Leadership in Guinea

Diagnosing the state of women’s political participation and leadership in Guinea during political transition
  • Client
    United States Agency for International Development Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Center
  • Dates
    2021 - 2022

Problem

USAID Pursued Engagement with Women’s Groups During Guinea’s Transition Period.

NORC developed a Women’s Political Participation and Leadership (WPPL) Assessment Framework and accompanying data collection tools for USAID to identify WPPL-related challenges and opportunities within a country, guiding USAID Mission strategies, activity design, and resource allocation. 

USAID requested NORC apply the assessment framework to Guinea. At the time of assessment, women in Guinea had limited influence on decision-making due to patriarchal social norms, which are reproduced at the family and community levels. The September 5, 2021, coup represented an opportunity for WPPL advancement. Grassroots women’s associations were increasingly advocating for change during this political transition.

USAID therefore sought to understand how best to engage with these women’s groups and ensure its activities align with women’s priorities. By supporting these associations, USAID seeks to help shape a post-transition landscape that integrates women’s voices in governance and addresses systemic gender disparities.

Solution

NORC applied the WPPL Assessment Framework to the context of Guinea. 

NORC applied five steps in the WPPL Assessment Framework, including describing the foundational factors, diagnosing the current state of WPPL, examining the drivers of WPPL, conducting a stakeholder analysis, and making evidence-based recommendations.

To do so, NORC analyzed data collected through a review of relevant literature and USAID documents, a nationally representative survey of 2,518 adult citizens; a survey of 665 local politicians; 36 key informant interviews (KIIs) with politicians, candidates, civil society actors, leaders of political parties, and government and media actors; and 17 focus group discussions (FGDs) with citizens in all four natural regions of Guinea. The results are primarily intended to inform the Mission’s WPPL programming.

Result

Traditional norms and institutional gaps limit WPPL in Guinea.

The assessment identified several barriers to WPPL in Guinea. The country’s legal framework has made some strides in gender equality, but political instability jeopardizes these gains, with inadequate enforcement of supportive policies. Religious customs and conservative gender roles restrict women’s autonomy and prevent them from registering vital events critical for voting. Limited access to quality education leaves many women, especially in rural areas, underinformed about their rights and political opportunities. Widespread gender-based violence (GBV) and social tolerance of intimate partner violence further inhibit women’s engagement. Political parties, though publicly supportive, lack internal mechanisms to enforce including women candidates on the national list, while voter biases favor male candidates. Overall, systemic inequalities, traditional norms, and weak institutional support create a significant gap in women’s political representation and efficacy. NORC’s evaluation team prepared a set of recommendations for USAID to address these factors.

Project Leads

Data & Findings