A Campaign Manual for Women Candidates in the Sierra Leone Local Government Elections

Developed by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), this 23-page training manual is designed to train women candidates in campaigning for local elections. The NDI reportedly trains women candidates because women generally face more challenges than men in running for office, but, once elected, work hard to serve and improve their communities.

The guide has 4 key sections that cover everything from the role of local government to planning a campaign, speaking in public, and fundraising. The sections are as follows:

• Local Government Overview - this section covers the role of local government council and chairpersons, the electoral process, and eligibility criteria for candidature.
• Campaign Planning - this section looks at creating a candidate's profile, identifying voters' needs, developing campaign messages, drafting budgets, preparing a campaign schedule and a voters' list, training and mobilising volunteers and party workers, making contact with voters, and monitoring the polls.
• Public Speaking - this section deals with how to be a strong public speaker and provides tips for campaign speeches and media interviews.
• Fundraising - this section covers various ways to raise campaign funds as well as the kinds of people, organisations, and businesses to approach.

The guide also includes a number of worksheets to help candidates organise and plan their campaigns.