LPSA’s Thematic Working Group on Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment brings together government officials, policy practitioners, scholars, civil society organizations, and citizens who share an interest and expertise at the intersection of decentralization/localization with gender equity and inclusive governance, including local women’s empowerment.
Working group leadership and coordination
The LPSA Thematic Working Group on Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment is currently co-chaired by Hemanthi Goonasekera, Jacqueline Moustache-Belle, and Jacqueline Muthura, (Co-chair/Coordinator), although the Alliance is currently in the process of identifying additional core members and co-chairs for the Working Group. The Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment Thematic Working Group Co-Chairs and Coordinator can be reached by email at women@decentralization.net.
Working group purpose and activities
The LPSA Thematic Working Group on Local Women’s Empowerment seeks to assess, advance, and share the state of global knowledge on the role of multilevel governance and subnational governance on gender equality and inclusive governance. In other words, the Local Women’s Empowerment Thematic Working Group seeks to elevate the global debate on local women’s empowerment in countries around the world, including by considering (1) women’s voice and political empowerment at the local level; (2) women in local administration; (3) gender responsive subnational services and finance; (4) gender in the context of crisis; and (5) effective multilevel governance as an opportunity to women’s empowerment.
The working group’s activities include:
- Quarterly working group meetings, in order for working group members to update each other on efforts to localize public services and development goals and other relevant public sectors reforms; and to identify topics of mutual interest to the Working Group’s members;
- Advance the general state of knowledge on the extent to which functional responsibilities are decentralized or localized, and the linkages between the nature of decentralization and localization and gender equity and women’s empowerment.
- Explore topics of mutual interest and advance the state of knowledge through research and other knowledge development efforts, by mobilizing the Working Group’s collective resources and/or by linking to other LPSA resources and Working Groups as relevant.
- Knowledge sharing. The Thematic Working Group aims to keep its members as well as the larger (global) Community of Practice informed on relevant reforms, trends, and policy research in the realm of localized services and development, by sharing relevant news and information through Decentralization.Net and by organizing webinars and other knowledge sharing events where relevant and possible.
Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment Thematic Working Group Meetings
LPSA Thematic Working Groups aim to meet at least on a quarterly basis. Working group meetings are announced on LPSA’s Events Calendar and on the working group’s Landing Page.
Working group membership
The LPSA Thematic Working Group on Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment and its meetings are open to LPSA’s membership and to the general public. You can join the Thematic Working Group and receive reminders and updated from the Localization Working Group by opting-in to the working group as part of your free LPSA Membership registration.
Other LPSA Working Groups
LPSA’s Regional and Thematic Working Groups are an integral part of the Local Public Sector Alliance and operate under Terms of References issued by the Alliance. LPSA Working Groups are supported by the LPSA Secretariat.