10 – Reduced inequalities
Fostering Women’s representation in Local Democracy – A Qualitative Analysis of the Factors Surrounding Female Political Participation at a Mayor Office Level in Colombia
This study critically examines the gendered experiences of female political candidates running for mayoral offices in Colombia. It addresses the systemic exclusion women face in a patriarchal political system, compounded by economic constraints, political violence, and societal norms. Through seven qualitative interviews, the research identifies the strategies used by women to overcome these barriers. The…
BUILDS-UP – Building Universal and Inclusive Local Design – a Swedish-Ukrainian Partnership
Regional focus: Ukraine Time: December 2024 – December 2026 ICLD is part of a cooperation project funded by the Swedish Institute, under the Ukraine Cooperation Programme. The project BUILDS-UP is led by Malmö University, with ICLD and NGO Poruch as partners. Project summary: The BUILDS-UP cooperation project addresses challenges from the war, and supports Ukraine’s drive towards…
Region Västerbotten, Vaupes and Amazonas, Colombia
Project: Equitable health in sparsely populated areas – women’s and indigenous perspectives Region Västerbotten, Vaupes and Amazonas in Colombia, will together address the fact that indigenous women and youth in rural Colombia, face severe human rights violations, especially regarding health access. Geographic and sociocultural barriers limit their access to quality services, leading to high maternal…
Åre and Panajachel, Guatemala
Project: Local democracy, gender equality & education – A joint learning project The municipality of Åre in Sweden and the municipality of Panajachel in Guatemala are collaborating to address the issue of gender inequality and the exclusion of minority groups in municipal decision-making processes. This effort aims to strengthen local democracies in both municipalities through…
Piteå – Lutsk, Ukraine
Project: Increase young people’s interest and impact in the municipality decision making process Piteå Municipality and Lutsk Municipality address the issue of low youth engagement in political life and decision-making processes in Ukraine, particularly in Lutsk. Young people often lack interaction with authorities and have insufficient awareness of government responsibilities, resulting in low civic competence.…
Advancing Women and Youth in Dusheti: Strengthening Participation and Leadership
As part of its participation in the ICLD’s Human Rights-Based Approach Programme, Dusheti Municipality in Georgia undertook a change project that empowers women and youth in local governance. Through dynamic capacity-building initiatives and the formation of a proactive Youth Council, the project transforms these groups into powerful catalysts for change. “Empowering women and youth is…
Region Gotland och Kibaha, Tanzania
The partnership between Region Gotland and Kibaha Town Council in Tanzania have successfully been working on several projects targeting different aspects such as gender equality, Sustainable Development Goals, and Gender based violence. The new Inclusive Youth Participation in Democracy project addresses the problem of low consideration of youth opinions in all development aspects at Kibaha…
Team Balikesir empowers youth with autism
“With our ‘I’m Happy to Produce’ initiative, we empower young people with autism by providing meaningful work and fostering vibrant community involvement,” says Fatma Tabanlı from NGO OBİDEV, Turkey, and a former participant in one of ICLD’s programmes. Team Balikesir’s “I’m Happy to Produce” initiative shines as a beacon of hope and transformation for young…
Youth Issues in Focus: Francistown and Lund
In mid-May, Francistown City Council visited Lund Municipality as part of their municipal partnership. The visit’s program centered around the partnership’s key themes – human rights, democracy, and youth issues. The purpose of Francistown’s visit to Lund was to exchange experiences and gain inspiration. Guset writers: Simon Berg and Emma Lewin The partnership between Francistown…
Umeå kommun and Cape Agulhas local municipality
Youth democracy in Umeå municipality and Cape Agulhas municipality In Cape Agulhas, youth leadership is not being adequately developed due to a lack of knowledge on local government matters and motivation. Municipal leaders are not mitigating this adequately which can compromise the democracies of the future. At the same time there is a lack of…
