[{"bbox": [82, 105, 1147, 213], "category": "Text", "text": "procedures and the perceived partisanship of certain members. The programme will continue to support the Committee to review its membership, especially to include younger and women voices, standard operating procedures and strengthening the role of the Secretariat. This is required to strengthen the ability of the NPC to effectively address the various political challenges ahead, while sustaining a sense of national ownership."}, {"bbox": [82, 236, 541, 263], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 9. Women, Youth and Persons with disabilities"}, {"bbox": [82, 287, 1147, 450], "category": "Text", "text": "Women, youth and vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities, minorities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are poorly represented in political life at all levels, especially in state and local governments, and the most impacted by the current functioning of democratic institutions. This is because these institutions often place little priority on the experiences of women, youth and vulnerable groups and their meaningful participation in the political process. This in part explained growing grievances and protests by the youth population for a more inclusive, responsive and representative government."}, {"bbox": [82, 473, 1147, 768], "category": "Text", "text": "The advocacy for women political participation has been long drawn but their representation remains in steady decline in spite of the very dynamic interventions by women groups and other key stakeholders. Of a combined total of 469 seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, women's representation was 4.7% in the eight National Assembly (2015-2019) and 4.5% in the current ninth Assembly (2019-2023). According to a research by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), of the 1487 elective positions in Nigeria, there are only 70 elected women, 4.71% of elected officials. No woman has been elected as Governor in the 22 years of democracy in Nigeria and the percentage of women appointed to political positions falls far short compared to men. Barriers to the participation of women in politics include patriarchy; violence against women; biased socialization processes; harmful traditional practices; the restriction of roles for women in party structures; feminisation of poverty; monetization of politics; traditional values; discriminatory attitudes and practices; family and child care responsibilities; the high cost of seeking public office; a gender insensitive media; a low level of political consciousness, and the politics of invective."}, {"bbox": [82, 791, 1147, 900], "category": "Text", "text": "Furthermore, while the youth inclusion act has resulted in an increase in the number of youth running for office, this has not translated in an increase in the number of youth in elective or appointive positions. This further underscores a need to engage with more youth led platforms including civil society organisations, groups and the ministry of youth to identify opportunities for better youth representation."}, {"bbox": [82, 924, 1147, 1006], "category": "Text", "text": "EU assistance will therefore seek to create new entry points that will increase the scope and quality of the political engagement of youth, women and other marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities, minorities and internally displaced persons."}, {"bbox": [72, 1168, 582, 1202], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION"}, {"bbox": [86, 1231, 490, 1264], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 3.1 Objectives and Expected Outputs"}, {"bbox": [82, 1313, 1147, 1370], "category": "Text", "text": "The overall objective of the action is to foster a functioning pluralistic, inclusive, participatory and representative democracy in Nigeria."}, {"bbox": [82, 1380, 506, 1408], "category": "Text", "text": "The Objective (Outcomes) of this action is to:"}, {"bbox": [82, 1419, 666, 1448], "category": "Text", "text": "**SO1:** Improve the quality of electoral administration in Nigeria"}, {"bbox": [82, 1458, 1147, 1487], "category": "Text", "text": "**SO2:** Strengthen capacities for legislative and judicial reform in compliance with democratic principles and standards"}, {"bbox": [82, 1497, 1147, 1553], "category": "Text", "text": "**SO3:** Enhance Pluralism, internal democracy and equality of opportunity in the political parties and the political party system"}, {"bbox": [82, 1563, 1147, 1618], "category": "Text", "text": "**SO4:** Empower Media, including new media to promote fair and ethical coverage of the electoral process and combat hate speech and disinformation"}, {"bbox": [82, 1628, 995, 1657], "category": "Text", "text": "**SO5:** Enhance participation of women, youth and other marginalized groups in the political process"}, {"bbox": [1040, 1662, 1159, 1688], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 10 of 29"}]