Women Ambassador’s-network

Novum Forum Tatjana Meijvogel-Volk

November 2009

More women participation:

• Increase of legitimacy

• Increase of response

• Increase of outreach

• Increase of perspective

Sphere in Society

• Economy

• Government

• Civil Society

• Private sphere

Two projects:

• National level: Women Ambassador’s network: ‘ruling’; 2006

• Local Level: Women Ambassador’s network in the Province of Brabant; 2009

Network ‘ruling’

• Aim: to increase the representation of women in executive boards of civil society organizations, (semi-)govermental organizations, political parties.

• 14 Ambassadors (politics, media, education, sports, culture…)

• Levels: local, provincial, national, European.

The Ambassadors

- Profile: figure-head, well known, possess influence and network

- Conviction: ready to participate, content with the mission

- Action: defines several action points which he/she will work on

Events

• Kick-off meeting (definition of goals)

• Follow-up meeting (measurement of achievements

• Final event (conference)

Messages

• 1. To the individual: it’s fun to rule!

• 2. To the organization: an diverse board is a more effective board!

• 3. To society: Diversity decreases the gap between citizens and politics/administration

Ambassador’s selection

• Gender

• Political affiliation

• Ethnicity

Examples of action points:

• Definition of code of conduct

• Lobbying for female positions in International organizations

• Organizing a Municipal Councils meeting with immigrant women

• Organizing a women’s brunch during an OSCE meeting in Washington…

Website

• Information on Ambassadors network (background, goals, participants

• Action-points of Ambassadors

• Comunication issues

• Agenda, contacts etc.

Background information

• Financed by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment

• Costs: approx. 200.000 Euro

• 1 projectmanager, 1 projectassistant

• Total project phase: 3 years

• Concrete Implementation phase: 1 year

Difficulties

• Important people do not have very much time!

• A lot of people on the top are ‘lonely fighters’

• Ministry as co-operator…

Network Women Ambassadors in the province of Brabant

• Aim: to increase the representation of women in the Municipal Councils of Brabant (up to 30% by new election)

• 8 Ambassadors (100% female) from different parties en from different levels of local politics

• Profiles: municipal councillors, mayors etc.

Actions:

• Organization of row of events to inspire women for political work in the Municipal Council

• Interviews with female Municipal Councillors for website of Municipality and newspaper

• Opportunities to meet Municipal Councillors

Background information

• Financed by the IPP Activity-program

• Costs: approx. 50.000 Euro

• 1 projectmanager, 1 projectassistent

• Total phase: 1 year

The Chairman/-woman

• Key-figure• Prominent• Commited• Own network

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The project team

• Arranging of Ambassdor’s network (identifying, approaching, hiring of Ambassadors

• Organization of events

• Support of ambassadors

• Website

• PR and communication

Questions?