International Development Grant

Gender Equality in Politics

Project Number: CA-3-D002664001

Status: Closed

Country/Region: Unknown

Regional Focus:

Africa 25%
America 25%
Asia 25%
Europe 25%

Maximum Contribution: $2,000,000.00

Start Date: March 03, 2016

End Date: December 31, 2018

Duration: 2.8 years

Project Description

This project aims to increase the political empowerment of women in selected countries in support of poor and marginalized groups. Project activities include: (1) providing support to parliaments to enhance their ability to address women’s rights and become more gender-sensitive; (2) facilitating women's access to parliaments by reinforcing their skills and technical capacities; and (3) supporting the compilation of research and data on women in politics. Beneficiaries are members of the parliament and staff with a specific focus on women parliamentarians.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthening decision-making of women in parliaments; and (2) increased effectiveness of women and men parliamentarians to implement gender sensitive reforms and legislation.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved by the Inter-Parliamentary Union through the support of the Government of Canada and other international donors as of the end of the project December 2018 include: (1) a toolkit for evaluating the gender sensitivity of parliaments and plan 0f action to address shortfalls was published in 5 languages (English French Spanish Arabic and Russian) and promoted and distributed; (2) gender self-assessment exercises and training sessions were undertaken in parliaments including in Kenya Namibia and Tanzania leading to raised awareness and policies and plans to support women’s leadership; (3) the findings of the study on sexism harassment and violence against women parliamentarians published in 2016 continued to be disseminated to Members of Parliament (MP) and the general public; (4) support was provided to women parliamentarians and women’s parliamentary caucuses to enhance their influence in parliaments; (5) support was provided to the Mauritania caucus of women MPs to promote women’s rights; (6) the Women in Politics 2019 map was updated and produced (https://www.ipu.org/resources/publications/infographics/2019-03/women-in-politics-20178 ) and the Report on Women in Parliament 2018 was published (https://www.ipu.org/resources/publications/reports/2019-03/women-in-parliament-in-2018-year-in-review) contributing to better gender data in support of informed decision-making; and (7) data contributions were made to the virtual library and support provided to events for the International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKnow Politics) promoting women in politics worldwide.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Inter-Parliamentary Union

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Legal and judicial development 25%
Democratic participation and civil society 25%
Elections 25%
Human rights 25%

Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated

Policy Markers
Level 2 Gender equality
Level 2 Participatory development and good governance
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2015-04-01 to 2016-03-31 $2,000,000 CAD
Geographic Information
000";Budget Type:Original;Start Date:2017-04-01;End Date:2018-03-31;Value Date:2016-03-03;Value:"$60
Project Number: CA-3-D002664001