Global best practice for equity in financing women in politics

Description

This study investigates the structural and institutional determinants of gender inequity in political financing and identifies evidence-based mechanisms to promote women’s equal participation in democratic processes. Through a comparative analysis of international experiences and regulatory frameworks, it demonstrates that women’s underrepresentation in politics is closely linked to unequal access to financial resources, compounded by socioeconomic disparities, unpaid care responsibilities, limited access to credit, and gender-biased party funding practices. The findings highlight a range of effective measures, including the disclosure of gender-disaggregated political finance data, civic monitoring with a gender lens, and conditional public funding tied to parity and training outcomes. Complementary strategies, such as equitable internal resource distribution within parties, fiscal incentives for private contributors, and innovative financial tools like microcredit and crowdfunding, further support women’s political engagement. The study also underscores the importance of cultural and legal interventions – such as awareness campaigns and mechanisms to prevent gender-based political violence – in transforming discriminatory norms.

Authors

Sandra Ximena Martinez Rosas, Juan David Hincapié Gómez, and Ana Sofia Bentancourt Zuluaga

Reviewers

Jon Vrushi and Annie-May Gibb

Date

17/10/2025

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