Showcase for Women in Local Politics

The aim of the government’s programme Showcase for Women in Local Politics is gender balance in the local councils – and to enhance the share of women in leading positions.

22 municipalities all over the country were selected to participate in the four -years programme. They were selected on the basis of applications in which they outlined various measures for improving the gender balance of their local council, especially in leading positions. The measures can roughly be categorised into five types:

1. Measures aimed at getting parties to recruit more widely and get new people into local politics.
2. Measures towards the nominating committees and parties to increase the number of women among the top candidates on the lists.
3. Measures aimed at local media to make female candidates and female politicians more visible.
4. Measures aimed at improving working conditions for local politicians.
5. Measures to strengthen the capacity of newly elected women politicians.

Uni Research has evaluated the initiatives. The researchers have systemised the experiences of all the measures that have been tried out during the project period. They have also compiled information and analysed which measures that have the greatest effect in achieving the goal of gender balance in local politics. Good practises will be communicated to all the municipalities in Norway.

Every year the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development arranges a conference for all participating municipalities. The intention is to increase knowledge about and awareness of the conditions for women’s participation in local politics. The conferences are intended to inspire and to spread experiences between the Showcase for Women in Local Politics Municipalities during the project period.