Interview with Lucie Daniel about her work within Equipop's Advocacy France and International division.
Lucie, you've been working at Equipop for a year now. Can you describe your current role? How were your first few months at Equipop?
I joined Equipop in September 2018 as an Advocacy Expert within the Advocacy Department, which is made up of a mixed team based in Paris and Ouagadougou. Together with my colleagues, I am responsible for implementing Equipop's advocacy strategy. We work with the French government, the European Union, and the UN to make SRHR—sexual and reproductive health and rights—a priority for French official development assistance, specifically in West Africa, and, more generally, to move toward feminist public policies. Our advocacy consists of meeting, raising awareness, and challenging decision-makers. It is directly informed by Equipop's programs, in close collaboration with our partners, particularly feminist associations and activists in West Africa.
What do you think makes Equipop so special?
In my opinion, what makes Equipop unique is its positioning, which combines an approach rooted in international solidarity with a militant feminist and activist commitment.
What motivates you in Equipop's advocacy work?
Equipop's advocacy work is a long-term endeavor. We are aiming for societal and structural changes whose effects will only be visible after several years of mobilization. What motivates me is seeing that, slowly but surely, our tenacity is paying off. One of the tangible results of our mobilization within the framework of the G7, for example, is the participation of young feminists from West Africa in high-level meetings with French political decision-makers. Of course, there is still a lot to be done, but we are in the process of shaking up old political patterns and changing the status quo.
How would you like to see the structure evolve?
Equipop is already evolving. By co-piloting the Women 7 movement in 2019, we have broadened our advocacy and taken a decisive feminist turn. I believe that in the future, Equipop will have a role to play in defining the contours of the new "feminist" diplomacy advocated by France, but also in building bridges between development NGOs working on gender issues and French feminist associations. We have a foot in both camps, thanks to our positioning and programs in France and West Africa, and we can see that the issue is gaining momentum in France, both domestically and internationally. Now is the time to take the plunge!
