Forums of influential women

The project presented by the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) through the Observatoire francophone pour le développement inclusif par le genre (OFDIG) consists of facilitating 2 forums for influential women in collaboration with the National University of Vanuatu and a closing activity. The project activities include: (1) organising a forum in Vanuatu in the second half of 2025; (2) organizing a second forum in Cambodia in 2026; (3) organizing a closing activity in Vietnam in 2027 which will conclude the project by disseminating and promoting the results of data analysis. During each forum a portrait of gender equality associated with women's participation in public life and decision-making powers will be created. The participants in this project are: organizations involved in the promotion of women's rights Francophone and Asian universities (including young researchers from the UQAM and OFDIG network) and experts and decision-makers. The project aligns with Strategic Objectif number 3 ("Investing in and Connecting People") of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. This forum is a platform for reflection sharing and collaboration among opinion leaders influential women academics and emerging young leaders from Francophone countries and the Asia-Pacific region.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased meaningful engagement of Canadian organizations with their Indo-Pacific counterparts in conferences workshops round table discussions and panels in and/or on the Indo-Pacific region; (2) increased meaningful engagement of Indo-Pacific civil society organizations (CSOs) in Canada and Canadian CSOs in the Indo-Pacific region; (3) increased collaboration between Canadian academics and researchers with their Indo-Pacific colleagues.