5 – Gender equality
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Women, indigenous knowledge and climate resilience in focus amongst our Fieldwork Grant recipients
We are happy to share our most recent group of Fieldwork Grant participants here at ICLD! This year, 9 brilliant students presented their research on highly topical subjects for both our organization, the general state of the world and local democracy. Each of them had a unique perspective on pressing issues globally, and the execution…
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From Seeds to Assemblies. Agroecology as a Tool for Political Participation
Indigenous women’s political participation remains limited due to intersecting inequalities. Nevertheless, sustainable initiatives such as agroecology have proved to empower communities and promote social engagement. This research investigates the political dimension of agroecology by examining how it can affect Indigenous women’s political participation. Social Capital Theory and Empowerment Theory are used to identify the mechanisms…
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Living Knowledge in a Changing Land
Indigenous communities in the Amazon are facing rapid socio-ecological changes that threaten traditional land management practices and food sovereignty. Indigenous knowledge and practices, essential for biodiversity conservation, are quickly being lost. I examine how changes in traditional land management affect Indigenous food sovereignty and its impact on the growth of women’s leadership in Mitú, Colombia.…
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Gender quotas – a step towards equal representation?
This article is also avaible in Spanish Local example from Guatemala At ICLD, we work to ensure that more women are given the opportunity to take on leadership roles within local government. Political participation is a human right, and when more women are in power, decisions tend to be more inclusive and often prioritise social…
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Unseen Spaces, Unheard Voices: Redefining Gender Roles to Enhance Women’s Political Impact in Guatemala and Colombia
Regional focus: South America – Colombia and Guatemala Time: September 2025 – May 2026 Abstract: This research project explores the role of gender social norms intersection in self-made spaces of participation (i.e. small cooperatives and informal local groups) and local governments “invited spaces” (i.e. street office, participatory budget, one-stop office, etc) and the impact those norms have…
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Leadership that Makes a Difference
What motivates and challenges women in political leadership? During The Swedish phase of the Women’s Political Leadership Programme, WPL, participants shared their experiences of what drives them, what makes leadership meaningful, and the obstacles they face in their daily work as local and regional politicians. It is about trust, integrity, and how to create long-term…
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Kalmar – Poltava, Ukraine
Project: Equal preparedness and civil defense – Strengthened resilience in Poltava and Kalmar The project aims at developing municipal working methods for a more equal and inclusive service, increased participation, transparency, and accountability. Ultimately, the collaboration will contribute to improving the residents’ situation at the community level. In the project, equity and inclusion of vulnerable…
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Lidingö – Slavuta, Ukraine
Project: Resilient Education: Empowering Democracy Through Critical Thinking The project “Resilient Education: Empowering Democracy Through Critical Thinking” addresses the severe disruptions of the educational system caused by the war. Schools have had to rapidly adapt to hybrid learning and emergency strategies, leading to learning losses and psychological distress among students. To counteract the long-term effects,…
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Our Childhood: A toolbox for local governments fostering child/youth inclusion
Our Childhood toolbox aims to support local governments in their attempts to sensitise and include children and youth in local (political) affairs while pursuing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The toolbox enables long-terms, cross-sectoral collaborations for inclusion of children and youth in localising SDGs. It offers support to local governments and engaged practitioners in…
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Who gets to take part: understanding intersectionality and barriers to political participation in Colombia
Regional focus: Latin America – Colombia Time: March – November 2025 Abstract: In Colombia, Latin America, and elsewhere, barriers to political participation are manifold. This research project seeks to identify and analyze the intersectional barriers to political participation faced by Indigenous and Afro-descendent populations. Focusing on the dynamics of power that underpin marginalization due to gender, ethnicity,…