“No matter what obstacle you face, you push.” - Honorable Neema Lugangira, Member of Parliament (MP) and Chair of the Women in Politics Parliamentary Group, United Republic of Tanzania

“We have a responsibility to stop violence against women and girls by taking action, not only in words.” - Zaklina Pesevska, Member of Parliament (MP) and President of VMRO-DPMNE’s Union of Women in North Macedonia.

Last month in Tanzania, representatives from diverse backgrounds, including civil society organizations (CSOs), women and youth groups, faith-based leaders, regional and ward leaders gathered in the town of Bukoba, Kagera for the Women in Politics Forum. The forum, supported by NDI in partnership with a local non-governmental organization, Omuka Hub, comes at a critical time for the conversation around women’s political participation in Tanzania, as the country is currently in an ongoing political and electoral reform process. 

Nairobi Forum ‘85 and the 1987 International Caucus of Women Political Leaders: From its earliest days, NDI has contributed to the global dialogue on women's political participation and leadership. The Institute’s engagement in Forum '85 - which presaged the non-governmental track in the UN's conferences on the status of women - helped define NDI’s broad approach to women’s political empowerment.

Nigerian women face great difficulty in the journey to achieve their political aspirations. Most obstacles they encounter are rooted in gender discrimination. They face patriarchal, cultural and religious views and practices that uphold men’s rights to power, as well as legal discrimination. Winning elections and assuming leadership roles are some of the areas in which Nigerian women face the greatest obstacles.

With the help of local partners, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) is working throughout Sierra Leone to prepare women to overcome traditional barriers to their political participation and ensure their voices are heard in Parliament and the country’s local councils. These efforts extend across the expanse of Sierra Leone’s distinct regions, including the rural northern district of Koinadugu. For much of the district’s history, it was taboo for a woman to inherit or purchase land, rent a house in her own name, stand for a political position, or speak in meetings.

Faida Phiri and Patrica Mtungila, two recent graduates of NDI’s Next Generation: Youth Leaders’ Academy, are great examples of what can happen when young women leaders invest in themselves. As young civil society organization (CSO) leaders, they joined the academy to become better advocates for Malawi’s women and girls. Having graduated in June, they are moving on to bigger, brighter visions for themselves and their communities.