Linking women across continents, languages and faiths is part of the success story of iKNOW Politics – an online portal through which women in politics network and share information, knowledge and expertise. Launched by NDI in partnership with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the site is approaching its second anniversary. Since its creation, it has received over 31 million hits at a rate of nearly 138,000 per day, with membership topping 3,500.

Available in English, French and Spanish, with an Arabic language site expected this summer, iKNOW Politics’ online library contains over 1,000 resources (such as academic papers, case studies, data and statistics, editorials, training guides, legislation and reports), access to 23 international news sources and a space for online dialogue. More than 60 iKNOW Politics experts from 28 countries are also available to answer questions through the site. These accomplished women leaders include academics, former political party leaders and gender specialists from leading international organizations.

Online discussions have attracted over 1,600 participants, engaging users in active dialogue on specific challenges faced by women leaders and candidates. In South Asia, information from iKNOW Politics helped to foster the creation of a women’s wing of a political party. The Tunisia-based Center of Arab Women for Training and Research, a nongovernmental organization that aims to promote gender equality in the Middle East through research and training, is using the information to develop indicators to measure women’s political participation.

Last year, online queries from iKNOW Politics members led to seven detailed responses from the experts that were then shared within the iKNOW community. In Sudan, a group of international donors is using such expertise shared through iKNOW as a guideline for engaging women in the country’s elections later this year. “The consolidated response has helped us to focus our gender and good governance program accordingly,” said one iKNOW member, based in Sudan.

The site has also sponsored three e-discussions over the past year, with more than 120 participants from 35 countries. The week-long interactive talks, moderated by iKNOW Politics staff, led to the sharing of knowledge on a global level on such topics as women’s caucuses, fundraising strategies for women in politics and gender quotas.

Recognizing the role of the experts in the success of the online community, iKNOW Politics held a workshop with a number of its accomplished contributors in Oslo, Norway, Nov. 4-5. It led to the establishment of the iKNOW Politics “Experts’ Network” by 30 female politicians, activists and development practitioners from around the world. The network identified 52 recommendations for expansion of the website and ways to boost worldwide inclusion of women in politics.

“The consolidation of the experts' network, and in particular the promotion of an ongoing dialogue amongst us, has provided an added benefit for my own academic research and production,” said one iKNOW member from Latin America. “I find the iKNOW Politics website a very useful tool for my work on the ground with women politicians and women's rights organizations.”

Pictured above: The home page of the iKnow Politics website.

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Published on Jan. 28, 2009