FES is committed to promoting the equitable participation of women in politics and government. Support for increased participation of women in political and civic leadership is thus an essential element in the design and implementation of all our programs. During general elections for example, many women candidates lose out during the undemocratic party nominations, which see nomination certificates being handed to male candidates even where the woman candidate is the best choice.

FES is engaged in project lines aimed at addressing anomalies in Kenyan political party constitutions which deliberately put hurdles in the way of women seeking office. Another project has seen FES and Kenya’s largest women’s grassroots organization Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) seek the legitimization of presidential decrees on 30 percent affirmative action for women in public sector appointments. And as the East African integration gathers momentum, The Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (The Centre), with support from FES, has been involved in researching the implications of the East African Customs Union Protocol and the Common Market Protocol for women trans-border traders.