Section title Ellas+

AECID finances projects that promote leadership, women's political participation, and the encouragement of caregiving policies.

Despite significant global progress, no country in the world has achieved gender equality. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by structural discriminations that hinder the exercise of their rights and capabilities. In 2023, the representation of women in national parliaments is still at 26.5%, while, according to a report from the World Economic Forum, in 2022, the global proportion of women in leadership roles was 31%, and in sectors such as Energy, Manufacturing, or Infrastructure, it barely reached 20%. At the same time, according to survey data from 83 countries, the average time devoted to caregiving and unpaid domestic work is three times higher for women than for men. 

The Ellas+ Programme, which AECID has been developing since 2021 (Ellas+ Executive Summary 2021 in spanish), aims to not only boost but also accelerate the progress of women's real participation and leadership at all decision-making levels in the political, economic, social, and cultural spheres. 

Each year, initiatives presented by states, NGOs, and development actors' alliances that wish to contribute to the achievement of Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls can apply for Ellas+. Specifically, this Programme seeks to promote progress in achieving Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life, with its action lines reflected in various program documents of Spanish Cooperation, especially the Fifth Master Plan, the Gender Strategy in Development and AECID's Gender and Development Action Plan. (Ellas+ infographic)

In 2023, the Ellas+ Program has been selected by the European Union within the framework of GAP III (Gender Action Plan III) as a good practice in Leadership and equal participation. As such, it is included in the Capacity4dev platform. (Know more…)