Dr. Arnaud Kurze Receives $25,000 State Department Grant for Capacity Building Program in Guinea

Dr. Arnaud Kurze, an esteemed faculty member of Montclair State University and a Fulbright Specialist, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State to support a groundbreaking project aimed at empowering women in Guinea. The initiative, slated to begin in September 2024, will focus on capacity building and leadership training for women across the country, in collaboration with the non-profit organization “La Guinéenne en Politique” (LGP), led by the Honorable Makalé Camara, former Guinean Foreign Minister.

This project builds on the successful efforts initiated in Fall 2023, where Dr. Kurze and his team began laying the groundwork for enhancing women’s participation in Guinea’s political sphere. Over the summer Dr. Kurze carried out a series of online seminars in preparation for the fall visit. The 2024 program will expand on these efforts, offering a series of comprehensive workshops designed to equip a cohort of 80-100 women with essential skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, resource management, and fundraising strategies.

Participants will also receive training in basic macroeconomic concepts, digital technology skills, and social media literacy. These skills are critical for newly elected representatives and public servants as they navigate the complexities of governance and public administration. The workshops will initially take place in the capital, Conakry, with subsequent sessions planned for various regions, including Maritime Guinea, Middle Guinea, Upper Guinea, and Forest Guinea.

A central element of the program is the “coach the coaches” initiative, where previously trained women leaders will mentor and train other members of their communities. This approach aims to ensure that the benefits of the program are widely disseminated across the country, promoting sustainable capacity building at different administrative levels.

The program addresses the persistent underrepresentation of women in political leadership in Guinea. Despite their proven leadership abilities, Guinean women face significant structural barriers, including discriminatory institutions and limited access to resources. By providing targeted training and resources, the program seeks to overcome these challenges and support women in their development as effective leaders.

La Guinéenne en Politique (LGP), a non-profit organization uniting female party members from across the political spectrum, will play a pivotal role in this initiative. LGP’s involvement ensures that the program is deeply rooted in Guinea’s political structures and that it contributes meaningfully to the ongoing efforts to promote participatory democracy in the country.

The $25,000 grant will be instrumental in expanding and deepening the initial efforts, allowing the program to reach and inspire more women as they pursue their political careers. This initiative represents a significant step toward achieving greater gender parity in Guinea’s political landscape and empowering women to become influential agents of change.

For more information about this program and to support this initiative reach out to Dr. Kurze’s at kurzea@montclair.edu.