Project Summary:

The “Enhancing Women’s Political Representation through improved capacity and enhanced support in Moldova” (“Women in Politics”) is implemented jointly by two UN Agencies - UN Women and UNDP, in partnership with two civil society organizations - East Europe Foundation (EEF) and the Centre “Partnership for Development” (CPD), with the support of the Government of Sweden. The period of implementation is July 2014 - December 2017.

Objectives:

• Legal frameworks and policies to advance women’s rights to participate in decision-making at national and local levels are reformed/adopted and/or implemented;
• Gender equality advocates influence legal framework and policies to increase women’s leadership and political participation.

Expected results:

• To support the increased participation of women in politics and in the decision-making process by creating an environment conducive to their meaningful participation;
• To support capacity development of women before, during and after the elections at the central and local levels;
• To promote increased public awareness of women’s contribution to political leadership;
• To support the realization of women’s rights and commitments undertaken by the Government of Moldova.

Accomplishments:

• Extensive advocacy for the adoption of the Law no. 71, which introduces 40% gender quotas for party list candidates and cabinet nominees, paternity leave, definition and prohibition of sexism, etc;
• 2 Roma women were elected as local councilors for the first time in the Republic of Moldova, with the support of the Programme;
• 8 comprehensive voter education campaigns conducted, prior to 2014 parliamentary and 2015 local elections, reaching a total of 442,096 people;
• 98 women - out of nearly 1000 who received training and individual coaching before the local elections - were elected as mayors (8) and local councilors (90);
• The Gender Equality Platform – consisting of 28 prominent NGOs and individuals – was formalized and is acting as an unified voice of civil society for gender equality;
• Comprehensive sex-disaggregated data on voters, candidates, elected officials, electoral officials collected by CEC and CCET have been analyzed and presented in user-friendly infographics;
• The International Association of Women in Electoral Management Bodies was established.
• 15 regional parliamentary forums gave the possibility to 650 citizens, including 542 women to address their issues directly to members of Parliament and local decision makers;
• 30 media organizations engaged in self-monitoring process on their coverage from a gender equality perspective;
• Seven political clubs were established in seven districts to facilitate the dialogue between prospective women candidates and political parties and to serve as capacity development centers for women leaders;
• 27 first-mandate women local councilors from 20 districts completed a pioneering mentorship and small grants program;
• 250 members of the Women’s Network of the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova, primarily women mayors, participated in 10 exchange study visits in 15 communities considered as good practices.