Deadline: August 4, 2025
Applications are open for the ICLD Women’s Political Leadership Programme 2025. The 12-months training focuses on developing political leadership skills and is open only to women leaders who hold an elected or appointed seat in a local or regional government in any of the OECD-DAC listed ODA-countries.
All parts of the training are based on equity, participation, transparency and accountability, and the goal is to strengthen democracy in the organizations taking part in the training, primarily by strengthening the politician herself, as well as capacitating women politicians in general to be good role models and to get a higher involvement of underrepresented groups in decision making bodies.
The training is implemented in cooperation with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR).
Costs
- All training costs pertaining to lectures, literature, documentation, study tours and certain social activities as well as accommodation and food will also be covered by the organiser. All international travel costs related to the programme will be covered by the programme organiser. Costs for personal expenses are not included and are the responsibility of the participant or her organisation.
- Participants are responsible for obtaining all relevant visas during all scheduled parts of the programme. The costs for obtaining visas are to be borne by the participant. The visa should be valid for the whole period of the workshop and the visa must cover all stops on the itinerary and the destination. It is your personal responsibility to have the necessary visas and transit visas for the entire journey.
- All participants are covered under a group insurance while on scheduled parts of the programme. Medical and dental checkups are not included.
Eligibility
- All countries on the OECD-DAC listed ODA-eligible countries, are eligible for the programme, but if a local election is held during the year when the training takes place, the country is temporarily taken off the list. This is also applicable if the country is having an election between August and December the current year.
- Only elected women politicians (currently in office) in a local/regional government will be considered. For the upcoming cohorts, eligibility is limited to women currently serving as Mayors, Deputy Mayors, or Governors and Deputy Governors. At ICLD, they aim to create a group that includes both majority and opposition politicians, as well as a diversity of ages and experience. Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) trainings are open to all that are eligible, irrespective of physical ability.
- Candidates who have previously participated in an ICLD training programme financed by Sida cannot apply for this programme.
- The training programme will be organised and conducted in English. Proficiency in English shall be indicated in the Application form.
Application
For more information, visit Women’s Political Leadership.
