What's Happening?
UN Women is seeking an international certified executive coach to design and deliver an executive coaching component for its Academy for Women in Public Leadership. This initiative aims to support women parliamentarians, women in senior and middle-level
government positions, and women mayors. The program will provide participants with skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in their roles as change-makers, focusing on transformative leadership, strategic communication, public speaking, and gender-responsive policy-making. The executive coaching framework will align with International Coaching Federation (ICF) standards and ethics, including individual and group coaching sessions. The goal is to strengthen self-awareness, purpose, strengths-based leadership, psychological resilience, and holistic well-being under the pressures of public and political life. This effort is part of UN Women's broader mandate to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve gender equality, as outlined in its Country Strategic Note 2023-2027 and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Moldova (2023-2027). The program is supported by funding from Denmark, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Why It's Important?
This initiative is important because it directly addresses the persistent gender inequalities and underrepresentation of women in decision-making bodies, which is a global challenge. By investing in the leadership development of women in public office, UN Women aims to foster more inclusive and representative societies. The program's focus on resilience, strategic communication, and gender-responsive policy-making equips women leaders with critical tools to navigate complex political landscapes and drive systemic change. This aligns with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women's General Recommendation No. 40 (October 2024), both of which call for the removal of barriers to women's full and equal participation in political life. Strengthening women's leadership can lead to policies that better reflect the needs of diverse populations, contributing to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes. The program also seeks to counter prevailing patriarchal conceptions and stereotypes that continue to hinder women's political participation, as evidenced by studies showing an increase in the belief that women have 'no place in politics' and are less capable of leadership roles.
What's Next?
UN Women Moldova will engage a team of international and national experts to deliver tailored training for up to 300 women from central and local administrations. The selected international certified executive coach will be responsible for designing the coaching framework and methodology, delivering individual and group coaching sessions, and developing a final report summarizing outcomes and lessons learned. The assignment is expected to be carried out over a period of 12 months, with a possible extension. UN Women will handle logistics, participant selection, and coordination of the coaching calendar. The program's success will be measured by the participants' enhanced leadership skills, increased confidence, and their ability to translate individual growth into positive change within their institutions and communities. The final report will also include recommendations for embedding coaching and mentoring in future Academy cycles, ensuring the sustainability of the initiative. This ongoing effort is part of a larger strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, target 5.5, which calls for ensuring women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.
Beyond the Headlines
The initiative goes beyond simply training women; it aims to dismantle deeply entrenched gender stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes that limit women's roles in public life. The program's emphasis on psychological resilience and well-being acknowledges the unique pressures faced by women in leadership, particularly in male-dominated environments. By fostering peer learning and mutual support through group coaching sessions, UN Women is building a network of empowered women leaders who can collectively advocate for gender equality. This approach recognizes that individual empowerment must be coupled with systemic change to achieve lasting impact. The long-term implications include a potential shift in political culture, where women's leadership is not only accepted but also valued for its unique contributions to governance and policy-making. The program's focus on gender-responsive policy-making also suggests a commitment to ensuring that future policies address the specific needs and challenges faced by women and girls, leading to more inclusive and equitable societies.
