Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy

The program was broadly understood as aiming to promote more women in
the political sphere, including encompassing political parties. Each year there are
around 25 mentoring couples participating. Usually, a young woman member of the
NYCS – the mentee – is associated with a woman occupying a position in politics
or another high position in the public sphere (NGO, union, political party) as the
mentor. The idea is for the mentee to exchange ideas and gain experience from the
mentor.
This mentoring program is associated with ‘additional training sessions on issues
such as gender politics, media work, international politics, a visit to the Federal
Office for Women’s Issues and a meeting with a female minister’. 17 The mentee/mentor
is expected to fulfil a number of goals set up by the mentee, such as face-to-face
meetings to talk about personal issues, and discussions on how to organise and manage
the work-life balance with job, family and politics.
After three years of evaluation, the results have shown that overall, the mentees
reported a better career and future planning, broader networks and more self-confidence
in delivering public speeches. They also mentioned being more interested
in political issues in general, in political organisations such as parties and in gender
equality. The program helped them improve their knowledge and practice in project
management, the planning of their further education in the area of political issues
and their media performance.
It is also worth noting that this program resulted in really good media coverage
in bringing the under-representation of women to the forefront of political issues.
Another effect was the multiplication of the program at different levels, such as the
European level in Austria, Estonia, Portugal and Malta.
More has to be done by setting realistic expectations about the mentoring relationship,
increasing the range of activities to increase experience, and expanding
the time to be invested between the mentee and the mentor in order to extend positive
outcomes. It is worth noting that some mentees were disillusioned about the
reality of political life.
THE WOMEN CAN DO IT PROGRAM IN THE BALKANS 18
Originating in the Norwegian Labour Party Women’s Movement, it was then implemented
in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Kosovo province, Macedonia, Montenegro
and Serbia. It aims at ‘raising awareness about gender inequality and creating
the capacity to change the situation’. It is essential for women and young women
who are already involved or who could potentially become active in public life. They
can also be women coming from NGOs and local political parties, from the health
and social sector, schools and local administration.
It is sustained by a training program to increase ‘political skills and motivation
among women to take on responsibilities and decision-making positions in public
and political life’. It encompasses four steps: The Training-for trainers – two-day local
seminars where the participants learn about gender equality status in their own
countries; a training workshop to deliver speeches, cope with domineering techniques,
solve problems in a creative way, manage stress and defeat, campaign and
network; then the participants plan a local action to practise the new skills; and
following that there is an evaluation seminar. Local partners (women’s group) have
been the main actors within the program, carrying the main responsibility for the
seminars.
Overall, the evaluation of the seminars is appreciated by the participants, espe-
17 Neruda, 2005, 2
18 NORAD, 2005
WOMEN IN POLITICS DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DEMOCRACY PAGE 19