The National Democratic Institute (NDI) announced today that it will award its 2014 Madeleine K. Albright Grant to Aswat Nisaa (Women’s Voices) of Tunisia, an organization of Tunisian women and men created after the 2011 revolution to give women a greater role in the country’s political life and democratic transition.

While women in Guatemala have slowly been making political gains, a new report by NDI and UN Women shows that a significant gender gap persists. The report, Between Challenge and Reality: Women and Political Participation in Guatemala, examines the progress made in recent elections, some obstacles women face and potential areas for improvement.

Nepali women had much to be proud of as 172 of them were seated in the country’s new Constituent Assembly on Jan. 22. They filled 30 percent of the 575 seats that were contested during parliamentary elections last fall.

In addition to traditional lawmaking, the Constituent Assembly is tasked with drafting Nepal’s new constitution, making the presence of the women especially important.

A new background paper from the World Bank written by Susan Markham, NDI’s director of women’s political participation, examines the status of women in politics and makes the case for the full and equitable participation of women in public life.