Friday, June 19, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
Africa: Women from P♂lls to P♀lls
KENYA: Going Beyond “Cheerleading, Singing and Dancing For Candidates”
With general elections scheduled to take place in Kenya this December, activists in the East African country are looking to constitutional reform to ensure that more women fill decision-making posts in government.RIGHTS-KENYA: Politics and Gathering Water Don’t Mix, Say Women Activists
Women in Kenya’s North Eastern Province (NEP) say they will not be able to play a more active role in politics unless concerted efforts are made to provide basic services in the vast and arid region.ELECTIONS-CONGO: A Lending Hand from Women in Belgium
A group of 22 Congolese women living in Belgium will set out to do their bit to support women participating in elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the next few months..CHALLENGES 2005-2006: Where Are Malawi’s Women Legislators Now?
More than a year ago, IPS profiled several of the women who had won seats in Malawi's parliament, something that enabled them to break new ground in the drive to make the legislature less of male-dominated forum.« Previous Page
With democratic elections a fact of life across Africa, the continent now faces a different challenge at the polls: ensuring that women have equal opportunities when running for office, representing their constituents, and casting ballots for future leaders. The Inter-Parliamentary Union notes that women hold an average of just 17.5 percent of legislative seats in sub-Saharan Africa -- a far cry from the 30 percent believed necessary for them to have real influence in parliaments, and further still from the 50 percent that would signal parity had finally been attained. Here, we examine obstacles to women's participation in legislative politics. We also analyse how women -- and men -- are dealing with the problems, so that these difficulties can be relegated to the history books.
The Week with IPS
Tracking global progress towards a sustainable world
This page includes independent IPS news coverage which is part of a partnership with UN WOMEN SARO to strengthen the voice and visibility of "Women in Politics" in the region.
Advocacy Toolkit for Women in Politics
- Planning for Advocacy
- Framing an advocacy message
- Mobilising Resources fot your Advocacy Activities
- Conducting Research
- Networking Tools - Srength in numbers
- Be Media Savvy
- Writing for Media - Opinion and Commentary Pieces
- Key Gender Concepts
- Using the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development as an Advocacy Tool
- One woman's journey in advocacy
