On the occasion of International Women's Day 2026 a message from Dr. Odette Uwizeye Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG):

IWD2026

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a moment to reflect on progress, recognise what remains unfinished, and recommit to the practical work that advances equality. This year’s IWD theme, “Give to Gain” reminds us that when we invest in women’s leadership - through time, trust, opportunity, and support - our communities gain stronger decision-making, more inclusive services, and more resilient local democracy.

For the ComWLG, “giving” is not abstract. It looks like opening pathways for women to stand for office, ensuring safe and respectful political spaces, supporting first-term councillors to thrive, and building institutions that value women’s leadership rather than treating it as exceptional. It also means telling the truth about where we are - because credible data is one of the most important tools we have for accountability and change.

2026 figures on women in local government

To mark IWD 2026, CLGF is publishing new statistics on women councillors across the Commonwealth. The updated figures show that, across 44 Commonwealth countries with elected local government, women now make up an average of 25.7% of elected representatives (latest year available for each country). While this reflects movement in the right direction, it also underscores the scale of the work ahead: in too many contexts, women remain far from equal representation in the decisions that shape daily life - housing, safety, markets, local infrastructure, climate resilience, and basic services.

We encourage all members and partners to read the 2026 figures, share them within your councils and associations, and use them to ask the next set of “implementation questions”:

• What helped progress where representation is rising?
• Where are the barriers strongest - party gatekeeping, financing, violence and intimidation, caregiving burdens, biased norms, exclusion from networks?
• What practical reforms - within councils, within political parties, within local government systems - will move the numbers and, more importantly, sustain women’s leadership over time?

Learning from women’s leadership

IWD is also a chance to learn directly from women who are shaping local government every day. As part of CLGF’s 30th Anniversary, we are publishing a year-long series of interviews: CLGF at 30: 30 Women in Local Government. These conversations are rich, honest, and deeply practical, covering how women enter leadership, how they navigate political systems, what they do differently in office, and what support makes the greatest difference.

So far, 18 interviews have been published, featuring women in leadership from: Africa (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, The Gambia, and Zambia), Asia (India and Sri Lanka), the Caribbean and Americas (Canada, Dominica, St Lucia, and Trinidad), Europe (Malta and the United Kingdom), and the Pacific (New Zealand and Solomon Islands).We will continue working our way across the Commonwealth throughout the year.

I encourage members to read and follow the series, share the stories with colleagues and communities, and use them as a resource for mentoring, training, and motivating the next generation of women leaders. The full collection is available here: 30 for 30

A call to action for 2026

On this International Women’s Day, let us make “Give to Gain” tangible:

• Give visibility to the data and the lived realities behind it.
• Give support to women already serving - especially those facing harassment, isolation, or disproportionate expectations.
• Give opportunity by opening doors to committee leadership, speaking roles, and decision-making spaces.
• Give investment to the systems that grow women’s representation—candidate pipelines, leadership development, safe participation measures, and institutional reform.

When we do, communities gain more representative councils, stronger governance, and local democracies that can better withstand today’s shocks and stresses.

On behalf of the ComWLG, I wish all women in local government - and all those working alongside them - a meaningful International Women’s Day. Let us use this moment to strengthen networks, deepen learning, and accelerate real change.

Dr. Odette Uwizeye

Chairperson, Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG)

Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF);

Chairperson, Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) 

Chairperson, Rusizi District Council, Western Province, Rwanda