Deadline: 15-Jul-2025
The Council of Europe is pleased to launch the Academy for Women Candidates, a tailored capacity-building program designed to enhance women participation in electoral processes.
Despite existing legal gender quotas and institutional frameworks that promote equal representation, women in Bosnia and Herzegovina still face significant barriers to meaningful political participation. The Academy seeks to address this gap by offering dedicated capacity-building support to women aspiring to hold public office.
Between September 2025 and September 2026, selected women participants will take part in up to four core modules led by Council of Europe experts. These trainings will cover key areas such as the electoral process, campaigning, public speaking, and political leadership, among others.
Costs Covered
- Training costs (accommodation, meals and materials) are covered by the Council of Europe.
Training Format
- Training modules across different BiH regions from September 2025 to September 2026
- Each module lasts 2 days
- Topics include electoral systems, campaigning and communication, among others
Eligibility Criteria
- Women across BiH who aspire to be on candidate lists in the electoral processes
- Women who have previously run but were not elected
- Women committed to gender equality, democratic values and public service
- Women available and willing to participate in up to four training modules between September 2025 and September 2026
- They particularly encourage:
- Political party candidates from across BiH
- Independent candidates
- Activists from youth, minority groups and other categories of underrepresented groups
Application Requirements
- Submit a CV (2 pages – maximum)
- Motivation Letter (up to 300 words)
- Subject line: Application for Academy for Women Candidates _CoE _Name and Last name of the applicant.
For more information, visit Council of Europe.