Polarization, shrinking civic space and declining trust in institutions are reshaping societies across Europe and Central Asia. In this context, women’s leadership is not peripheral – it is central to sustaining dialogue, strengthening institutions and holding communities together. Yet women activists and leaders continue to face structural barriers, resource scarcity, online harassment and threats to their safety, even as they work to bridge divides and build more inclusive public life.

Holding Communities Together examines how women leaders and women-led organizations in Kosovo*, Moldova and Georgia navigate complex political and social environments to advance inclusive governance and social resilience. Drawing on interviews, regional data and lived experience, the brief highlights how women are strengthening participation, fostering institutional accountability and countering polarization through coalition-building, evidence-based advocacy and adaptive strategies. It underscores the need for sustained, flexible support, stronger protections and deeper investment in women’s leadership as a cornerstone of democratic resilience across the region.

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).