Call Leadership School for Women in Local Politics 2026

The EU-LAC Foundation is launching the EU-LAC Birregional School of Local Political Leadership for Women 2026, conceived as a strategic space for training, exchange and networking among women leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union. Our objective is to bring together women with experience in the political, community and social spheres in order to strengthen their leadership and advocacy capacities at the local level through a feminist, intersectional and human rights-based approach. The School promotes the exchange of experiences, the development of intergenerational mentoring networks and access to practical tools in areas such as political leadership, communication, negotiation and public management. The programme will combine preparatory virtual sessions with an intensive in-person meeting, fostering both accessibility and meaningful dialogue and learning among participants from both regions. Through this initiative, the EU-LAC Foundation seeks to contribute to strengthening women’s political participation and to the development of leadership capable of driving democratic and inclusive transformations within their communities.

Date and Venue

The second edition of the Birregional School of Local Political Leadership for Women will take place in October 2026 in Panama.

Profile of Applicants and Eligibility Criteria

Young women: Proof of membership in a network, programme, organisation or institution, together with a letter of support endorsing their application. A commitment is expected to participate in the preparatory modules, the in-person meeting in Panama and the follow-up activities. Demonstrated interest in territorial political leadership will be valued, whether in formal spaces such as local councils or local governments, or in informal spaces such as feminist collectives, community organisations or neighbourhood networks. Initial training or interest in birregional relations with a focus on gender, local development or civic participation will also be taken into account. Applicants should also show willingness to share situated experiences, learn from other territorial contexts, strengthen their emerging leadership alongside other women leaders, and have an interest in actively joining the EU-LAC WIN Network from a perspective of municipal or community political leadership, or already be part of this network.

Senior women leaders: A consolidated track record in political or community processes, with proven capacity to make an impact in their communities, municipalities or local areas. Proof of membership in a network, programme, organisation or institution is required, together with a letter of support endorsing their experience. These participants must have experience in territorial political leadership, whether from municipal governments, councils or community boards, or through high-impact social and community initiatives. They are expected to actively engage in the preparatory modules, the in-person meeting in Panama and the follow-up activities, as well as to share the knowledge gained from their experience in order to enrich collective processes with women leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Their participation will be marked by an active link to the EU-LAC WIN Network or an interest in joining it, and by a commitment to continue promoting gender equality and transforming their contexts from a feminist, intersectional and human rights-based perspective.

Required Application Documents

The application documentation required to be considered for this call must be written in Spanish or English and consist of the following:
• Signed application form
• Proof of membership in a network, programme, organisation or institution
• Letter of support/endorsement for this application from a person or from a network/organisation/institution
The documentation must be submitted in PDF or MS Word format.
Applications submitted after the deadline, incomplete applications, and, in general, those that do not comply with the conditions set out in these Terms of Reference will not be accepted. Applications received after the established deadline will not receive acknowledgement of receipt or any other type of communication.

Format of the Leadership School

The programme will follow a blended format.

The programme will combine preparatory virtual sessions with an intensive in-person meeting, fostering both accessibility and depth of exchange among participants.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, 24 July 2026 (23:59 CEST – Germany time).

Applications should be sent to the attention of Dr Anna Barrera (EU-LAC Foundation).
Email: eulacwin@eulacfoundation.org
Subject line: EU-LAC Women’s Political Leadership School 2026 + Applicant’s Name

Applications received within the deadline and meeting the eligibility requirements will be considered for evaluation in accordance with the rules of this Call.

Communication of Results

The EU-LAC Foundation foresees a response period of approximately three (3) weeks for an internal selection committee to systematise and evaluate the applications received under this Call. Applicants are kindly requested not to contact the EU-LAC Foundation regarding their application during this period. The EU-LAC Foundation will communicate with all applicants exclusively by email.

Scholarships

For selected participants who indicate in their application form that they are unable to cover their travel, accommodation, subsistence and local transport costs through third-party funding, the EU-LAC Foundation will cover these expenses through the direct purchase of travel tickets, hotel reservations and a stipend to cover meals and local transport during the days in which the in-person component of the Leadership School in Panama takes place.

Interested applicants are invited to consult the attached Terms of Reference.