Eleven million FCFA : this is the sum of money that the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has just donated to members of the Federation of Women's Groups and Associations of Gontougo to build a social centre in Bondoukou. The partnership agreement between UNOCI and the Federation coincided with the organisation a workshop on the theme : « Quick Impact Projects : tool to strengthen social cohesion during peace consolidation », on 11 November 2015. It was held in the présence of the Prefect of the Region, Germain François Goun, UNOCI's Office Coordinator, Jean Emile Vincent Nkiranuye, and more than 50 women from various groups and associations in Bondoukou, all of who make up the Federation.



The aim of the workshop was first and foremost to train the women on how to manage their project and encourage them to promote social cohesion in a post-electoral period. Another objective of the workshop to explain how QIPs work and the reasoning behind them, as well as how they can help to consolidate peace.



Women constitute an essentiel link in the peace and development process of a nation





{« Women constitute an essentiel link in the peace and development process of a nation. This is why UNOCI uses QIPs as a way to once more show its interest and attachment to women in Côte d'Ivoire in general and in Bondoukou in particular to encourage women's leadership. You should use this project as a way of staying together and without doubt, you will make an important contribution to the restoration of lasting peace locally and all over Côte d'Ivoire {», said UNOCI's Coordinator for the Region.



For his part, the Prefect of the Region, Germain François Goun, welcomed UNOCI's approach which is to always to listen to the people. {« National development starts with regional development; nothing can be built in discord and disagreement. I therefore urge you, women of Bondoukou, through your federation, to promote messages of peace to people on a daily basis, in order to make peace and establish social cohesion by rejecting discord, conflict, and human rights violations, to guarantee lasting peace and development in Côte d'Ivoire. Be assured that we will be beside you to ensure that this project succeeds »}, he said.



At the end of the session in which several UNOCI sections participated, 56 women from the Federation were trained and sensitised by representatives of the UN Mission's Civil Affairs, Public Information and Human Rights sections on the mechanism for women's participation in public management, UNOCI's mandate and how best to use QIPs to consolidate peace.