WYDE| Women’s Leadership Initiative Factsheet

The WYDE | Women Leadership Initiative is part of the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement Programme (WYDE), funded by the European Union, which seeks to empower and strengthen the rights, and participation in public and political life of youth and women as key actors of development and change.

The WYDE| Women’s Leadership Initiative is a collaborative global effort which works to advance women’s full and effective political participation and decision-making at all levels, especially those most often left furthest behind. Despite international standards promoting gender equality, women remain underrepresented in political and public life, with significant barriers persisting due to entrenched gender stereotypes, discriminatory practices, and power imbalances. This initiative, funded by the European Union with €11.5 million over three years, seeks to address these challenges through a multifaceted approach, including advocacy, networking, and transformative social norms change. 

Implementing partners are International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and UN Women.