Digital technologies to promote women's inclusion in politics in local government
As personal and professional lives grow more and more reliant on digital tools and platforms, CLGF through the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG), has supported development of a range of digital /online tools and materials to support women’s political engagement.
These digital tools have been developed to support implementation of gender and local governance training and navigation of the increasingly dominant world of social media.
Below you will find a mix of tools which use digital technology to increase the reach of capacity building for women to join and advance in local government.
These tools were developed with support from the European Union and are free to use. The ComWLG network will continue to develop and disseminate tools designed for specific member countries, regions and for Cross-Commonwealth support to women in local government.
Recent Webinars:
Hear about the tools available by watching the dissemination webinars:
- Webinar 22nd November 2022 (Pacific/Caribbean/Canada Regions)
- Webinar 30th November 2022 (Africa/Asia Region)
Digital Tools:
COMMONWEALTH STATISTICS - WHERE DOES YOUR COUNTRY FALL ON WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION?
- Description: 2023 Statistics on the percentage of elected women in local government across the Commonwealth are the basis of a tool for dialogue at national level. CLGF has developed a tool that allow LGAs and other actors to present their countries data on elected and apooitned women in local government. This is intended as a entry point to discuss methodologies to increase women's representaiton as we work towards the global goal of gender partiy in governance.
- Target region/country: Cross-Commonwealth
- Language: English
Digital Tools & Links:
WOMEN AS LOCAL LEADERS – SOUTH ASIA
- Description: Training Module to support prospective and elected women representatives. In addition to the module a set of 11 digital tools/videos provide tips, tactics and key information on the local government system and the role of elected women leaders.
- Target region/country: South Asia – India, Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka.
- Language: Marathi with English subtitles
- Partners: Resource and Support Center for Development (RSCD)
Digital Tools & Links:
Videos:
- Constituency Manifesto
- Daily Diary of an Elected Women Representatives
- Election Certificate to Elected Women Representatives
- Case Story of Internal Parliament of potential Beneficiaries
- Institutional Identity Kit
- Women’s Village Assembly (Mahila Sabha)
- Report Card of Elected Representatives
- Display Board of Local Functionaries
- Swearing In ceremony of Elected Representatives
- Public Suggestion Box
- My Family, Democratic Family
ONLINE CAMPAIGNING - JAMAICA
- Description: Social Media campaign development, to support development of online learning tools and materials for new and existing councillors.
- Target region/country: Jamaica
- Language: English
- Partners: The Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGAJ)
Digital Tools:
- Social Media Guidebook: Guidelines for using social media
- Digital Resource Toolkit (Social Media Manuals, Workshop slides, templates, resources)
Videos:
- Videos on councilor experiences – View on the ALGAJ YouTube Channel
SUPPORTING WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP - PAKISTAN
- Description: Dialogues and training sessions highlighting the challenges faced by elected women in Pakistan and strategies to overcome these.
- Target region/country: Pakistan
- Language: Urdu and English
- Partners: Local Councils Association of the Punjab (LCAP)
Videos:
- Women’s protection under the law
- Women & work place harassment
- Discussion on Local Government Elections
- Women solving problems in their community
- Women in Politics – the Baluchistan experience
- Media and Local Government
For information about the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network, email our Senior Programme Officer-Networks: Janine Xavier-Cross.
