Our work on political voice and leadership explores pathways and barriers to equal representation in the political space, including in leadership roles, at decision-making tables and within social movements. In our work we consider the role of harmful gender norms in shaping political representation and mobilisation and strategies for shifting them in different contexts, including a focus on how these dynamics unfold and change in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

In other research, we analyse women’s experience of formal and informal political settings, including within gender equality movements, broader social and democratic movements and other forms of political action. We also investigate how different actors navigate informal rules of political negotiation and agenda-setting at global, national and local levels. Finally, we explore how adolescent girls develop voice and agency in household, school and community life.