Addressing Urban Violence and Local Security: Participatory Research with Young People in Colombia and South Africa
This report documents a persistent mismatch between official security priorities, still centred on crime and armed actors, and what young people themselvesidentify as most urgent: unemployment, lack of opportunity, and mental health. Drawing on these findings and recognising that despite being separated by continent, language, and political history, the two cities share a history of…
Understanding intersectionality and barriers to political participation
The case of the Women’s Advisory Council of Popayán, Colombia This study situates these dynamics within Cauca’s long history of social movements and the broader literature on political participation, gender and intersectionality, illustrating both the importance of intersectionality in understanding barriers to participation and its implications for more inclusive and equitable approaches to participatory governance…
Addressing Online Violence Against Women In Local Politics
A toolbox for Zimbabwe This toolbox draws on data that was collected from six local government authorities in Zimbabwe on online violence against women in local politics. It provides recommendations and strategies for women in politics and local government authorities on how to address online violence. These recommendations fall under three pillars: Protection, Mitigation, Prosecution…
Digital Violence and Political Intimidation: Addressing Online Violence Against Women in Local Politics in Zimbabwe
This report addresses this critical gap by examining the nature, form, and impact of online violence against women in local government politics in Zimbabwe. Classified as ‘not free’ by Freedom House and burdened by a history of political intimidation, Zimbabwe has seen a decline in women’s political representation despite established gender quotas. At the local…
NORMSTORM Educational toolbox
Lessons from the Stellenbosch and Jönköping Municipal Partnership Contributors: Chantal Côte & Robin Alnäs This is a practical toolbox designed to guide the implementation of Normstorm in classrooms and communities across South Africa and beyond. Normstorm is a method designed to break the silence. It is a value-driven educational approach that engages young people through…
Responsive Local Governance Matters
Insights for Strengthening Citizen Participation from wartime Ukraine This policy brief presents the most effective ways to promote citizen participation in local issues during wartime. War presents a unique environment characterized by significant physical danger, mental and physical fatigue for both citizens and officials, and geopolitical instability. As a result, the brief also explores how…
Citizen engagement in times of polycrisis: Learning from Ukraine’s communities during Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion
Citizen participation has substantial normative appeal as a response to the “global polycrisis,” a set of overlapping crises—including climate change, global pandemics, and Russia’s war on Ukraine—that destabilize the international system. It strengthens societal resilience through bottom‑up, contextual responses and addresses democratic deficits by reducing political alienation, fostering ownership of collective outcomes, ensuring minority perspectives…
Designing Cities for Mental Wellbeing
A universal design tool for visually assessing the urban landscape in relation to mental health in cities The aim of this briefing paper is to sketch out a simple transferable method by which cityofficials can do a pilot study of how comfortable their city is regarding urban mental health, as a complement to the earlier…
Recognize to Transform
Toolbox to promote gender equality in local spaces – examples from Latin America Recognize to Transform is an invitation to look at local democracy through the experiences and voices of women. This toolbox offers ideas, experiences and practical tools to recognize gender inequalities, strengthen women’s political and community participation, and expand their influence in local…
Alianzas Transnacionales y Gobernanza Inclusiva
Lecciones desde la cooperación intermunicipal para la garantía de derechos LGBTIQ+ en gobiernos locales Este informe analiza cómo la alianza intermunicipal entre Maicao (Colombia) y Upplands-Bro (Suecia) funciona como una herramienta estratégica para priorizar el reconocimiento de derechos de personas LGBTIQ+ en las administraciones públicas locales. Ante los vacíos institucionales históricos provocados por prejuicios yprioridades…
