Gender, Women and Democracy

Confidence, Capacity, Connections: A Young Woman's Guide to Leadership

This guidebook aims to help young women with all aspects of leadership, from balancing personal and professional responsibilities to planning and implementing advocacy projects. The guidebook is designed as a workbook rather than a textbook, with charts and exercises for readers to chart their progress. It also includes a section on how to use new media tools and social networking sites effectively.

New Report Examines the Reality of Women’s Participation in Guatemalan Politics

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.

In Nepal, Women Fight to Maintain Seats in the Constituent Assembly

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.

Between Challenge and Reality: Women and Political Participation in Guatemala

Gender Equity in Politics (Policy Seminar, Liberia)

Key Gains and Challenges: A Gender Audit of Kenya's 2013 Election Process

New Paper Examines Status of Women in Politics

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.

Ambassador Russell: We Must Work Together to Achieve Lasting Gender Equality

“Increasing women’s meaningful participation in political and public life is about changing cultural norms about women and changing the culture of politics,” Catherine Russell, U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues, said in remarks delivered at NDI in Washington last week.

A ‘Head Start’ for Women Mayors and Councilors in Nicaragua

A revision to Nicaragua’s law on municipal elections last year required political parties to put up equal numbers of women and men as candidates for mayor and city council. It also increased the number of city council seats in each municipality. The result has been more women than ever winning races for mayor and city council.

One of them was Antonia Rizo, a city councilor in San Sebastian de Yal. “When I arrived at my position, I was afraid to speak,” she said, because of lack of familiarity with the city’s legal system.

And she was not alone.