Today, CLGF joins with women across the globe to mark International Women’s Day 2022.  This year, women come together under the theme Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow and call for climate action for women, by women.

CLGF Commonwealth Women in Local Government Networks

Through the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG), CLGF has been advancing efforts to support women through a series of recent initiatives under the EC funded project – SGA II Strengthening local government’s role as a partner in development. On the heels of 2021’s successful initiatives to support Mentoring for Women in Local Government, the ComWLG has been supporting the Development of Digital Tools for Women in Local Government. 

In Jamaica, in February 2022, CLGF engaged Impetus Creations Communications Consultants in partnership with the Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGAJ) for a two month project to deliver Digital tools and training;

In South Asia, in November 2021, CLGF engaged the Resource and Support Center for Development (RSCD) for a five month project which will see the development of a training module with digital tools to support the implementation of gender and local governance training for elected women representatives in local government bodies in South Asia – India, Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka.

Upcoming initiatives

• Paper on Women in Local Government and Climate change (coming soon)
• Commonwealth Women’s Forum (20–21 June 2022) – As part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), CLGF will be partnering with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to host two sessions around the theme Delivering a Common Future; Transforming for equitable access and inclusive growth - Session Title: Women in Leadership - Beyond numbers in the Women’s Forum.
• Meeting of the Southern Africa Women in Local Government Network for a one-day virtual dialogue session (March 2022).
• Meeting of the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (April 2022, Caribbean to be confirmed.

Focal points in local government associations

To enhance its capacity to operate as a network of networks, and to ensure that members are centrally positioned to maximise the benefits of this network, CLGF has asked all member Local Government Associations to nominate a focal point and an alternate, within their association, to function as the conduit for matters relating to the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network and, more widely, to issues of interest for women in Local Government.

Recruitment for Focal points is still open. Does your LGA have a focal point? Register your LGA focal point today via email to CLGF Networks Officer, janine.xavier-cross@clgfcaribbean.org.tt

The Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network is keen to share the progress, programmes and best practices of the womens’ networks across the commonwealth. See our story about activities relating to International Women's Day 2022 for a taste of what some of our members are doing to mark the day. We encourage you to follow their pages on social media and where possible, register for these events as we  join forces to  share knowledge and strategies to support gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow.