Who We Are
The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics) is a unique platform that fosters exchange, dialogue and knowledge creation for all who are engaged in promoting women’s political participation.
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Since its inception in 2007, iKNOW Politics’ goal is to increase the participation and effectiveness of women in political life contributing to the Sustainable Development Goal target 5.5 . “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.”
Equitable participation of women in politics and government is essential for building and sustaining democracy. Although they comprise over 50 percent of the world’s population, women and especially young women continue to be under-represented as voters, political leaders and elected officials.
Four leading organizations in the field of women’s political participation – International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) – implement a joint strategy to boost each of the organization’s efforts to foster gender equality in politics.
The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics) is a unique platform that draws on the expertise of these four partners, acting as a one-stop shop for experts in the area of women’s political participation, as well as a platform that fosters exchange, dialogue and knowledge creation for all who are engaged in promoting women’s political participation.
Since March 2024, iKNOW Politics is supported by the WYDE | Women’s Leadership Initiative, which is funded by the European Union. WYDE | Women’s Leadership is a collaborative global effort aimed at advancing women’s full and effective political participation and decision-making at all levels, especially those most often left furthest behind. The initiative is implemented by UN Women, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and is part of the Women and Youth in Democracy (WYDE) programme, powered by the European Union, which seeks to empower and strengthen the rights, and participation in public and political life of youth and women as key actors of development and change.
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Against this backdrop, four leading organizations in the field of women’s political participation – International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) – implement a joint strategy to boosts each of the organization’s efforts to foster gender equality in politics.
The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics) is a unique platform that draws on the expertise of these four partners, acting as a one-stop shop for experts in the area of women’s political participation, as well as a platform that fosters exchange, dialogue and knowledge creation for all who are engaged in promoting women’s political participation.
What We Do
Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides the global community with an opportunity and the moral obligation to work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for all women and girls. iKNOW Politics contributes to target 5.5 "Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life."