Strengthening Women´s Leadership in Ukrainian Municipalities
Inspired by Sweden’s long-standing work with women’s leadership networks, the "Women in Governance Network", was recently created in Ukraine within the framework of the Polaris Programme - Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine.
Political empowerment for women in Ukraine remains a challenge, with significant gender gaps in representation and leadership. In the 2020 local elections, only 16.6% of heads of local councils were women. Female leaders face additional pressures from persistent gender stereotypes, and the ongoing war has increased the complexity of their roles. Recognizing these challenges, SALAR International and the Polaris Programme, together with three all-Ukrainian local self-government associations, launched an initiative to support and strengthen women in municipal leadership.
Building a Network for Support and Leadership
For many years, SALAR International has supported gender equality efforts in Ukraine, for example through supporting Local Government Associations. One such initiative was the establishment of a Gender Plarform, designed to mainstream gender equality into local governance and to provide space for women political leaders to meet, discuss challenges, and share experiences.
However, experience from the platform showed that women in local councils need more direct and targeted support. Inspired by Sweden’s long-standing work with women’s leadership networks, a broader initiative, the Women in Governance Network, was recently created. This network offers practical leadership support through both online and in-person meetings, where participants themselves identify the most relevant themes and priorities. Its mission is to help political leaders who are women consolidate their positions, foster a culture of equality, and build alliances that strengthen their leadership—locally, regionally, and nationally.
Sweden and SALAR as a forerunner for Ukraine´s own Network
The initiative closely mirrors the Swedish experience. In 2006, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) set an ambitious goal: to make women’s political leadership visible and influential. The following year, Sweden launched its first three-year network of 25 political leaders who are women from municipalities, regions, and seven political parties.
These leaders met regularly to share experiences, discuss challenges, and support one another. Their exchanges ranged from managing crises to navigating everyday politics, and from exercising power effectively to achieving tangible results for their communities. The networks proved to be more than supportive spaces—they became engines of cultural change in Swedish politics.
Today, the results are clear. As of 2025 in Sweden:
- 57% of Chairs of Regional Executive Committees are women
- 37% of Mayors of Municipal Executive Committees are women
- 33% of Chairs of Regional Assemblies are women
These achievements are the outcome of years of sustained work to build networks, exchange experiences, and strengthen cooperation across party lines.
A great example of how Swedish experience can be leveraged
The Women in Governance Network in Ukraine is a strong example of how Swedish experience can be shared internationally. When adapted to local contexts, it can inspire other countries to advance women’s political leadership in ways that reflect their own needs and realities. This example was also presented during the International Conference – Reshaping Power for Equality: Women´s Political Participation and the Future of Democracy, hosted by SALAR and SALAR International in cooperation with UCLG.