WYDE - Women and Youth Democratic Engagement

WYDE, Women and Youth Democratic Engagement, is an EU initiative focused on increasing the participation of young people and women in democratic processes and public life. It seeks to identify and address the barriers to political participation that these groups face, including legal, cultural, and economic obstacles. The initiative encourages youth and women to engage in awareness and advocacy to overcome these barriers. 

WYDE is powered by the European Union with a budget of EUR 43 million from the EU’s Human Rights and Democracy thematic program, and it is one of the Youth Action Plan's main flagships. 

WYDE supports diverse forms of political participation, including involvement with political parties and parliaments, non-partisan citizen participation in grassroots organizations, and democracy activism through various channels like social media and grassroots movements. 

WYDE operates on multiple levels (global, regional, country, and local) and involves a wide range of stakeholders such as parliaments, political parties, academia, democracy support organizations, youth-led organizations, and grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs). The initiative also supports Schools of Democracy and Accountability Hubs to further its objectives. 

WYDE is an inclusive, multifaceted program aimed at empowering women and youth to become active, influential participants in democratic governance and civil society.

You can find more information and read about WYDE's implementing partners and their activities on this page.