5 – Gender equality
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…
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,…
Lessebo and Guatemala city, Guatemala
Project: Partnership for equality Lessebo and Guatemala city, Guatemala, will together address the lack of involvement of young women (16 to 30 years old) in decision-making and political community participation in Guatemala City. The objectives in Guatemala City are focused around Policy planning as well as Community participation on this issue: • Policies and regulations…
Ronneby and Ternopil
Sustainable Water Management through Local Expertise and Community Inclusion The partnership between Ronneby and Ternopil focuses on sustainable water management, particularly access to clean water and stormwater handling—critical components of local democratic resilience and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Recognizing the complexity of these issues, both municipalities have involved experts within their local administrations.…
Leadership with visions for a sustainable future
Charmaine Laubscher, Executive Deputy Mayor of Saldanha Bay, is paving the way for sustainable change. As a municipal councillor responsible for infrastructure and urban planning, she has recently been accepted to participate in the next round of the ICLD Women’s Political Leadership Programme (WPL). In an interview, she shares her journey, her visions, and the…
ICLD launches empowering new cohort for Women’s Political Leadership
ICLD is thrilled to announce the acceptance of a fresh cohort of participants for the Women’s Political Leadership (WPL) programme. Comprising 23 dynamic women leaders—including mayors, deputy mayors, and governors from across the OECD-DAC region—this programme marks the eleventh round of a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women in local politics. This year’s group includes…
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…
Gender Quotas and the Struggle for Representation in Local Democracy
At the 2024 Local Democracy Academy (LDA), researchers, policymakers, and local leaders gathered to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing democracy. Among the many important discussions, one theme stood out: the persistent gap between gender quotas and real political equality in local councils. Two standout presentations—one from Colombia by Clara Rocío Rodríguez Pico,…
Women empowered through gender equality in Chilanga’s administrative framework
Team Chilanga demonstrates the application of diverse methods learned from the ICLD Gender Mainstreaming Programme to empower women in environmental management. Within Zambia’s Chilanga district, a community grapples with the intertwined challenges of quarry mining and agriculture, navigating the delicate balance between environmental conservation and economic growth. Amidst these challenges, Chilanga Town Council has initiated…
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…
