The Team found that a variety of constraints limit the number and diversity of women who are interested in running for office, wield any meaningful power in political parties or get elected. The former focused on impediments to women in elections and specific ways to address them. The latter proposes some ways to increase women s political participation within political parties, as constituents and advocates, and in government. Initiatives to build local economies involve economics, business development, local governance and civil society and each component poses gender-related obstacles and opportunities. Another group of issues related to women s participation in the LED initiatives.
Women are important sources of talent, skills and commitment.
Further, some women may offer visions, perspectives and values that enrich the setting of goals and design of mechanisms to achieve them. Thus, it is important to note where women do participate and where they do not and the quality or level of participation that result from habits and institutional structures. The 20 members of the Cluj LED team were an extraordinary group of 10 men and 10 women who worked very effectively together. Their experience offers a model of how to begin and will hopefully result in a model of success. They often covered topics raised by government ministries and featured government decision-makers primarily men.