Gender and Governance

Women as Leaders

Governance refers to decision-making by a range of interested people  including those in formal positions of power and ‘ordinary’ citizens. These decisions have a huge impact on the ways in which women and men lead their lives, on the rules they are expected to abide by, and on the structures that determine where and how they work and live. They also shape how public resources are allocated and whether services take account of both women’s and men’s needs and interests. Yet women are often excluded from decision-making, from the household to the highest levels of government and beyond to the global level.

It is believed that women because of their ongoing connection to social movements that promote their growth, will use their power in transformative  ways and avoid co-option. Therefore, women’s equal participation in all levels of decision making plays a key role in addressing disparities based on gender and brings social transformation/gender equality.

EKTA gives utmost priority to gender and governance with the following objectives:

• Enhance women’s political participation at all levels
• Strengthen the women’s knowledge base and leadership skills
• Advocate for an enabling environment to participate in governance