More women in politics: Advisory board supports action program to pave the way

Women remain underrepresented in local politics. The "Action Program Municipality - Women in Politics!" project advises and supports various municipalities in implementing a wide range of measures. An advisory board acts as an expert panel to provide guidance on how to promote local political engagement from a gender perspective.

Expert input and networking: The advisory board as program ambassadors

In practical terms, this means the advisory board actively supports the project with expert input to develop solutions for challenges in the action program's partner regions. Furthermore, they share activities, events, and results from the regions within their own networks.

Members from various sectors and disciplines

The members, drawn from politics, administration, associations, foundations, and academia, support the program, and the expert advisory board is scheduled to meet twice a year. The next meeting is planned for December 8, 2022.

More about the project

The action program enables partner regions to carry out a variety of activities, including:

• Networking, exchange of experience, and mentoring via a digital mentoring platform for interested women, candidates, and women currently holding local political office, as well as the formation of regional mentoring tandems
• Motivation and empowerment of women at the regional level, including through workshops and training sessions
• Specific networking and professional development opportunities for female mayors
• Advising regions on improving the framework for women's participation (e.g., meeting culture and scheduling, balancing local political office with family/private life, and preventing sexual harassment/everyday sexism)
• Interregional exchange of best practices and kick-off and networking meetings for the participating regions
• Building sustainable partnerships with relevant stakeholders at both regional and national levels.

More information: www.frauen-in-die-politik.com

The members of the advisory board at a glance:

• Dr. Petra Follmar-Otto, Head of the Equality Department at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ)
• Dr. Helga Lukoschat, Chair of the Board of EAF Berlin
• Petra Bentkämper, President of the German Rural Women's Association (dlv)
• Prof. Dr. Hans-Günther Henneke, Chief Executive Officer of the German County Association (DLT)
• Tanja Demmel, Consultant at the Association of German Cities (DST)
• Dr. Janina Salden, Consultant and Deputy Press Spokesperson for the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB)
• Elke Quandt, Federal Spokesperson for the Federal Association of Municipal Women's and Equality Offices
• Lisi Maier, Director of the Federal Foundation for Gender Equality
• Dr. Beate von Miquel, Chair of the German Women's Council
• Ralf Wolkenhauer, Head of the Rural Development Division at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
• Dr. Tuuli-Marja Kleiner, Thünen Institute of Rural Studies
• Anne-Kathrin Meister, Deputy Federal Chair of the German Rural Youth Association
• Claudia Geist, Advisor in the Office of the Minister of State
• Carsten Schneider, Federal Government Commissioner for the New Federal States
• Ana-Maria Trăsnea, State Secretary for Civic Engagement and International Affairs in the Berlin Senate Chancellery and 2020 Helene Weber Award winner
• Katarina Peranić, Board Member of the German Foundation for Engagement and Volunteering