Supporting representation and leadership of women in local governance

The status of women in Bangladesh has significantly improved over the past years, particularly in terms of health and education, but a lot remain to be done to address existing gender inequality in political and economic spheres. At present women are highly under-represented in local government institutions and there is still a long way ahead for them to engage as citizens or potential representatives in democratic processes and political debates.  This is moreover influenced by prevailing social norms and patriarchal attitudes that reinforce a political sphere that is mainly dominated by men.

Through the Aparajita project, Helvetas supports an alliance of four partner organizations working in 16 Districts, 62 Sub-Districts and 540 Unions to engage with potential and elected women representatives and male members of their families and local communities, as well as with other influential persons and local institutions that support the inclusion of women in local political life and act as a driver of change. In addition, the project works on improving the policy and legal framework and gives special attention to hindering and enabling factors at national levels that will accelerate political empowerment of women.

Capacity development, gender sensitization and advocacy are the foundations of this project. Women's Development Forums and Aparajita Networks at Upazila and District levels serve as a platform for women representatives who self-advocate at sub-national levels. These channels support politically interested women and supportive men working both as a support system and united voice.

Main achievements

• Around 9,000 grassroots women leaders supported by the project have increased capabilities, skills and confidence, and greater levels of engagement in local governance.  These women leaders, organized in "Aparajita Networks" at different levels, have reached out to several hundred political leaders and dozens of Members of Parliament through self-advocacy on matters such as ensuring that all political parties have at least 33% in various committees as per an existing legislative provision. 
• Over 5,000 elected male representatives of local government bodies in project working areas, and more than 600,000 people, including family members and other members of local communities of the grassroots women leaders participating in the project, have been sensitized on gender and women's political empowerment.

The project is a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) mandate implemented by Helvetas.