Women in local politics: mentors and mentees wanted!

Women are still significantly underrepresented in local politics - even in Waldeck-Frankenberg. In the district council, for example, the proportion of women is only 32 per cent, and in the parliaments of the towns and municipalities it is not even a quarter on average. The district wants to change this and sustainably increase the proportion of women by participating in the "Municipal Action Programme - Women in Politics!". To this end, it is looking for more female mentors who can imagine coaching potential female politicians and interested women who would like to get involved in politics.

Experts coach newcomers
How does it work? In the coming weeks and months, the first step will be to find women who are interested in entering local politics and people who are already experienced in it. Tandems will then be formed to discuss a wide range of topics relating to local politics - across all political parties. This is because the mentoring programme aims to support interested women, newcomers and newly elected office holders on their path into politics. Politically experienced people are on hand to answer their questions and support them with their experience and contacts, explain informal rules of the game and encourage them to get involved in politics and move confidently through the routines of politics.

Tandems organise their own exchange
The tandem meetings take place several times a year - either in person or online. As the participants' diaries permit or as they wish. There is no obligation to meet at fixed times. Instead, the tandems should work out together how they would like to organise their exchange. In addition to the meetings, the participants can also take part in other counselling formats, network meetings or lectures on the topic.

Anyone interested in taking part in the project - whether as a mentor or mentee - can apply online at www.frauen-in-die-politik.com/mentoring. The district is looking forward to receiving numerous applications from Waldeck-Frankenberg: "We want to specifically promote women in district politics," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "By participating in the programme, we can increase the political involvement of women in the long term."

With this project, the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg is one of ten model regions in Germany. The "Municipal Action Programme - More Women in Politics" project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and implemented by EAF Berlin in cooperation with the Deutscher LandFrauenverband e.V. (dlv).

Keywords:

Women in local politics Village and regional development department