Final Report: Action on systemic barriers to women’s participation in local government

The final report offers an overview of the three-year Action on Systemic Barriers to Women’s Participation in Local Government project. It concentrates on the four main areas in which women participate in local civic life: as candidates and elected decision-makers; as participants in citizen-led municipal advisory bodies; as municipal employees; and as participants in city-led public engagement efforts. Project staff conducted quantitative and qualitative research in each of these areas to establish an evidence base of barriers women encountered, opportunities they experienced, and their recommendations for change and action in each of these areas. The focus was specifically on what cities as institutions can do to create more opportunities for women from diverse backgrounds to participate fully in these civic forums.