International Development Grant

Women's Empowerment Task Force for Latin America and the Caribbean

Project Number: CA-3-P005743001

Status: Operational

Country/Region: Unknown

Regional Focus:

West Indies 30%
North and Central America 34%
South America 36%

Maximum Contribution: $696,778.00

Start Date: August 09, 2018

End Date: December 31, 2022

Duration: 4.4 years

Project Description

The project aims to increase women’s political representation and participation in public decision-making throughout the Americas and the Caribbean and to reduce the gender gap in leadership through increased engagement and coordination of Inter-American and United Nations institutions regional women's organizations and member States. The Task Force aims to strengthen collaboration between partners’ institutional efforts; fill key policy and programming gaps through evidence-based collaboration; and amplify existing initiatives to make them more accessible to marginalized women. It is a collaborative initiative between the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights the Pan American Health Organization the Inter-American Development Bank UN Women UNDP ParlAmericas and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. CLADEM and CIWIL two sub-regional women’s rights organizations also joined the Task Force shortly after it was launched to include direct representation of civil society organizations. The beneficiaries of this project include the stakeholders participating in the Task Force activities such as representatives from member states women’s rights organizations academic and research institutions and the private sector. Indirect beneficiaries include women who participate in leadership projects generated because of the work of the Task Force.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved coordination of key stakeholders* on efforts to increase women and girl's empowerment and rights in the Americas (*Inter-American and UN institutions member states civil society and women's organizations); and (2) increased engagement of Inter-American and UN institutions on increasing women's participation in public decision-making in the Americas.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of March 2022 include: (1) established a high-level dialogue titled Towards the XXVII Ibero-American Summit: Women’s leadership for an inclusive future pact with the special support from the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB); (2) developed an advocacy strategy reaching a statement from the governments of Colombia Costa Rica Spain and Uruguay and Task Force members (SEGIB Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) and United Nations Women). The strategy calls on the Ibero-American States to ensure the equal participation of women in all areas of decision-making; (3) launched the Inter-American Award for Good Practices in Women’s Leadership by Task Force partners (CIM Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Pan American Health Organization SEGIB ParlAmericas Caribbean Women in Leadership and CLADEM); (4) delivered a new season of podcasts showcasing the leadership of women from historically excluded groups including Indigenous and Afro-descendant women rural women and women with disabilities; (5) developed a policy paper on women’s leadership and democratic governance presented at the IX Summit of the Americas; and (6) coordinated three statements supporting and reinforcing the commitment to women’s leadership and empowerment by representatives of the highest level of the Task Force’s partner institutions.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
OAS - Organization of American States

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
NGM Americas

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Democratic participation and civil society 20%
Legislatures and political parties 20%
Human rights 40%
Ending violence against women and girls 20%

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 1 Participatory development and good governance
Budget Breakdown
2018-04-01 to 2019-03-31 $696,778 CAD
Geographic Information
929";Budget Type:Revised;Start Date:2019-04-01;End Date:2020-03-31;Value Date:2018-08-09;Value:"$206
Reference ID: 710