These reports are authored by ALIGN and its partners.

Report names

Who wrote these reports?

ALIGN, is a flagship digital platform and programme of work of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion team at a leading global affairs think tank ODI. ALIGN supported partner organisations in Nigeria, Nepal, Peru and Zimbabwe to conduct cutting-edge research on how norms influence political engagement of women at community, municipal and state levels. The studies cover a wide range of topics, from the experiences of women with disabilities in Zimbabwe to media narratives about women in appointed positions in Nigerian state agencies. Together they fill a gap in our understanding of similarities and differences between norms in local and national political settings.

Best quote

“Being a woman sometimes is a curse because you have so many limitations to do your duties, and this makes the community think less of you.”

– Village Head in Zimbabwe, TechVillage Report by Tracey Muradzikwa and Prince Madziwa, 2023

Key takeaways:

  • Laws are helpful in promoting gender equality in local governance, but they are not enough to address discriminatory norms: laws and policies, such as quotas, have been introduced to enhance women’s political participation, but without their full implementation, supporting resources and awareness raising campaigns, amongst other actions, they are failing short of their aim.
  • Men can make or break women’s political careers, be it by being supportive colleagues, partners, fathers etc. or by inhibiting colleagues who perpetuate violence against women online and within their institutions. Engaging men in positions of power is therefore crucial for norms change in politics.
  • Discriminatory gender norms in education and employment exacerbate political exclusion by preventing women from obtaining the higher levels of education often expected for leadership roles (particularly for female candidates) and well-paid employment necessary to fund a successful campaign for office. Improving political engagement is therefore intertwined with transformation in other sectors of society.

What’s in these reports?

Gender norms – informal and implicit rules and expectations of how men and women should behave – are infused in our political systems and institutions. They are part of broader sets of social norms such as those tied to race and class, and often lead to women’s exclusion from political positions of power and decision-making.

This series of seven reports each offers invaluable insights into the socio-political context of the study countries, including their political systems and local governance structures. They describe the experiences of women and minorities within these structures, such as traditional chieftaincies in Zimbabwe. The reports adopt diverse set of methods, from interviews with women councillors in Nepal, to the analysis of X (Twitter) and Facebook accounts of politicians in Peru and Zimbabwe.

The reports are unique in their representation of experiences of women who are often excluded from research. They document strategies that maintain power in the hands of the privileged – mostly men - by mobilising harmful norms. Although the norms differ based on power structures in the given context, many are tied to women’s bodies and expectations of sexual and reproductive roles. For example, young women tend to be dismissed as promiscuous and sleeping their way into the roles. Women politicians with children are discredited for not being good mothers or old too old to have anything else to offer. Understanding these norms, and how they are weaponised, is a crucial first step towards addressing gender injustice.

Why should you read this report?

The reports offer recommendations for governments, donors, and civil society organisations on how norms and structural barriers can be addressed to enhance women’s engagement in politics and ultimately contribute to gender equity and democratic strengthening. The suggested actions range from improved implementation of legal frameworks to awareness-raising campaigns and media training, to community-based programming that targets gender biases about women’s potential to lead as chiefs, councillors, and members of legislatures or executives.

Who are these reports for?

Civil servants and politicians will find here stories that may resonate with their own experiences in other parts of the world, as well as inspiration for activism and changes they can bring about within their own institutions. The reports also offer evidence for civil society actors interested in programming to support gender equality in local governance. Lastly, academics interested in this field can find topics of future research that is relevant for practitioners and case studies from countries of the so-called global South that are often under-researched.

🔗 Read the full reports here. 🔗

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