Training in external financing

experiences of women leaders in the Executive Branch and proposals for affirmative actions

Abstract

Gender equality is fundamental to global socio-economic development, although persistent challenges highlight significant disparities, especially in the Brazilian context. Despite the progress made, such as the increase in ministerial representation, women continue to face under-representation in various spheres, including restricted participation in submitting requests for external funding for relevant projects. This limitation compromises not only female representation in strategic decisions, but also the effectiveness of implementing equitable and inclusive public policies. In order to better understand this challenge and increase the participation of women in a strategic area of the public sector, a pilot project was developed to provide capacity building for governors, mayors and secretaries of sub-national entities in external financing for projects with a gender perspective. This study offers a report of the course, exploring the perceptions of women managers about the specific challenges they faced and aiming to provide input for the development of public policies aimed at promoting gender equality and facilitating the equal participation of women in decision-making processes regarding external funding.