The GAP project begins in Palestine, aimed at promoting the active participation of women in local politics

The GAP project, led by REFORM, ACPP, and Jovesólides España, seeks to reduce the gender gap in Palestinian politics by training 150 young people as Agents of Social Transformation.

The initiative aims to address the low representation of women in local Palestinian politics, where only 6% of seats are held by women.

GAP project participants designing proposals for more equitable local policies.

The “Gender Accountability Promotion” (GAP) project is launched in Palestine, an initiative led by the Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development (REFORM) and the Spanish NGOs Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz (ACPP) and Jovesólides España.

GAP is a program designed to reduce the gender gap in politics, strengthen female leadership, and encourage the active participation of women in decision-making spaces, contributing to the development of a fairer and more resilient society.

The project, implemented over 18 months, works with 150 young people—women and men—who are members of local councils and municipal administrations in the West Bank. Participants are trained as Agents of Social Transformation, leading change processes in their communities.

Training sessions of the GAP project where young social transformation agents work for gender equity.

Key activities include gender audits in 15 municipalities, aimed at identifying and eliminating structural barriers to equity. In addition, concrete proposals are created in dialogue spaces called “Souks,” where diverse stakeholders work together to generate practical and inclusive solutions. As part of the project, international exchanges are organized between women from Palestine and Europe, strengthening global networks of female leadership.

Discussing barriers and solutions to promote women’s political participation in various municipalities as part of the GAP project.

Women’s political representation: An urgent need in a challenging context

The launch of GAP responds to an alarming reality: the limited political representation of women in Palestine. Currently, only 6% of seats in the Palestinian Central Council are occupied by women. Although legal quotas have increased the number of female candidates, their impact remains insufficient. This was evident in the 2022 local elections, where only 20% of those elected were women, and just 2% reached leadership positions.

These figures reveal a structural system that perpetuates the exclusion of women from decision-making spaces. The perception that their participation is a legal requirement rather than a legitimate right limits progress toward real equality. GAP aims to change this narrative by addressing the cultural and structural barriers that prevent women from fully contributing to the development of their communities.

Training in the “La Maleta” methodology for designing social campaigns, as part of the GAP project.

Female leadership not only democratizes political spaces but also brings new perspectives and inclusive solutions. GAP is committed to integrating these voices into local governance, prioritizing policies that address critical needs such as education and caregiving.

This approach has the potential to strengthen Palestinian society’s resilience to current challenges, promoting more equitable and sustainable governance. As Nancy Al-Masri, from the Palestinian Municipal Development and Lending Fund, states: “Local authorities are key to driving female empowerment initiatives, which not only promote social balance but also strengthen community resilience.”

The GAP project is led by The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development (REFORM), Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz (ACPP), and Jovesólides España, and is funded by the Cooperación Valenciana and the Vice Presidency and Ministry of Social Services, Equality, and Housing of the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain.

Stay updated on the “Gender Accountability Promotion” (GAP) project on social media with the hashtags #WomenDecide #EllasDeciden #EllesTrien.