Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to building a sustainable and inclusive world. Yet globally, women remain underrepresented at all levels of decision-making.
But when leadership is inclusive, solutions can better reflect the needs of the whole community. This can lead to more equitable access to essential services, more reliable infrastructure, and expanded opportunities, while addressing barriers that disproportionately affect women and girls.
In India, legislative reforms were introduced in 1992, which mandated that one-third of seats in local government be reserved for women, opening the door for millions to step into leadership roles.
When Asha Devi assumed her role as Pradhan (the term for community village head in Uttar Pradesh) in Madhawapur village, Uttar Pradesh, India, she was faced with infrastructure and service gaps that had long limited the community’s development, including poor road infrastructure and a non-functional hospital.
With support from AKF, Asha participated in leadership training, mentorship opportunities, and community visits to meet other women leaders, which helped her better understand and respond to local needs.
Working alongside her community members, Asha constructed a road to improve access to markets, revived the village hospital, and created regular forums where women could share their concerns and learn about government services and benefits,
Watch this video to see how Asha’s leadership mobilized and transformed her community.
In the neighbouring Bihar state, Babita Kumari faced similar challenges when she was elected Mukhiya (the term for community village head in Bihar) in Baghnagri village. The community lacked adequate sanitation and waste management infrastructure, and there was limited participation of women in local decision-making.
While these challenges affected the entire community, women and girls often bore greater burden. Poor infrastructure and sanitation increased health and caregiving demand, while limited participation in local decision-making meant that women’s priorities and perspectives were often overlooked, reinforcing gender inequalities.
With support from AKF through mentorship and training, Babita strengthened her leadership skills to tackle issues facing her constituents, while encouraging women to become more active participants. Under her leadership, the village introduced waste sorting, composting, and recycling initiatives, while groups of women transformed waste into products they could sell, creating new sources of income.
Watch this video to see Babita’s leadership in action.
With support from Canada, over 90 women leaders in India like Asha and Babita have participated in training, mentorship, and skills-building to lead their communities into more equitable, inclusive futures — while also modelling a path for aspiring leaders.
This project is part of the Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society component of the Foundations for Health and Empowerment program.
