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Action Programme Municipality – Women into Politics!
Best Practice
Promoter Information:
Name: EAF Berlin and Deutsche Landfrauenverband (German Association of Rural Women)
Email: info@landfrauen.info
Website: https://www.landfrauen.info/
Abstract:
The Action Programme Municipality – Women in Politics! aims to sustainably increase the proportion of women in municipal representations, including municipal, city, and district councils, as well as full-time and honorary mayors and district administrators. This program focuses on initiating structural changes that enhance women's participation and improve the acceptance and attractiveness of local politics, particularly in rural areas. Over a 1.5-year project period, 10 selected regions benefit from numerous offers and a one-time grant of €5,000 for regional activities. Supported by a regional steering group comprising municipal or district equal opportunities officers, mayors, district administrators, representatives of local parties and factions, regional rural women, and women's political organizations, the project is sponsored by EAF Berlin in cooperation with the German Rural Women's Association (dlv) and financed by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth (BMFSFJ). Key activities and concrete actions within the program include the development of an action roadmap tailored to the region's specific characteristics and needs, which is created during a regional kick-off event in collaboration with EAF Berlin. This roadmap guides the program throughout its duration, with each region receiving a one-time grant of €5,000 to implement activities independently. Fixed components of the program include a mentoring program that pairs experienced politicians with politically interested women, focused support offers for female mayors, and a democracy workshop in each region conducted by the German Rural Women's Association. Additionally, EAF Berlin provides continuous support through newsletters, public expert forums on relevant topics, consultation hours, and digital networking opportunities among the regions, ensuring the program's goals are consistently pursued and project time is utilized effectively. Specific actions within the program include workshop discussions for interested women, candidates, and elected officials to facilitate exchange, qualification, and networking, conducted by the German Rural Women's Association; advising regions on improving framework conditions such as meeting culture, compatibility of local political office with family life, and prevention of assaults/everyday sexism based on workshop discussion outcomes; nationwide mentoring and qualification offers via a digital mentoring platform, forming regional mentoring tandems; networking and qualification opportunities specifically for female mayors; kick-off and networking meetings for the participating regions; and nationwide public relations efforts to promote the program and its outcomes. The first round of the action program began in June 2022 with ten regions and concluded in May 2023. The second round commenced in June 2023 and will continue until the end of 2024, involving ten new regions. These comprehensive and structured efforts aim to foster a significant and lasting increase in women's representation and participation in local politics. Increasing women's representation in local politics is crucial for the acceptance of democratic processes and the safeguarding of social cohesion. Diverse perspectives in decision-making processes are essential, especially at the municipal level. With an increasingly diverse population, it is vital to hear different voices and include varied perspectives for the development of sustainable local policies. Women, who make up the majority of the population and are represented in all social groups, bring unique perspectives, experiences, and skills that are particularly needed in local politics.
Keywords:
women's representation; municipal politics; municipal representation; structural change; rural areas
Dates:
Jan. 6, 2022 - Dec. 31, 2024
Source Specificity:
Initiative/Practice/Project/Programme/Case Studies
Website:
https://www.landfrauen.info/projekte/aktionsprogramm-kommune-frauen-in-die-politik
Power Domains:
Political
Methods Tools:
Competence development, Networking, Funding
Country:
DE
City:
unspecified
Implementation Scale:
national
Language:
German
Other Links:
https://www.frauen-in-die-politik.com/programm
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