Remarks by Christina Wedekull, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden, on "Shifting the Landscape: Increasing Women’s Political Representation and Fostering Male Champions" webinar

Remarks by
Christina Wedekull, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden,
Shifting the Landscape: Increasing Women’s Political Representation and Fostering Male Champions - A Zambia Case Study.

Dear colleagues and participants
Ladies and Gentlemen, 
Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this important event on improving gender equality in Zambia, particularly women’s participation in political life.
Women’s influence in political decision-making is not just about equality - it is essential for national development, good governance, and a stronger future for Zambia.
Despite Zambia’s democratic progress, women’s political participation remains low. Representation has declined since the 2016 elections. Today, women hold only 17% of parliamentary seats and 7% of local council positions - among the lowest in the region.
We know why. Evidence points to financial barriers, educational gaps, harassment and violence, and deeply rooted gender norms.
But we need stronger evidence of what works to change this - now, not in ten or twenty years.
In the context of shrinking aid budgets, this is even more important. Sweden is strengthening its use of evidence in development, and the NDI programme is a good example of this approach. It helps generate practical evidence that can guide real change.
Zambia has no shortage of capable women ready to lead. We know that.  Identifying and training them is not the main challenge. The real barrier is the system around them - social norms and strong power structures that limit their opportunities. Addressing this requires engaging influential leaders, including traditional and political actors – often male - to support and be a driver of change. Lessons learnt from this programme might show the way. We hope so. 
Global evidence is clear: when women participate in politics - societies benefit. Women bring attention and prioritize education, healthcare, and community development, and contribute to a more inclusive leadership. Zambia has produced strong women leaders - and it needs many, many more.
Improving statistics on women in politics is a priority, especially ahead of elections. This programme will generate evidence that can be used widely to close the gender gap in political participation in Zambia.
Finally, I encourage everyone working in this field to actively use this evidence. Spread it widely in your channels. It is a global public good, available to everyone, and should inform both policy and practice.
Thank you.

Watch the webinar here