UN Women Celebrates First Leadership Academy Graduates

Feminist leadership is about creating societies where equality, justice and inclusion are shared values. Guided by this vision and a shared commitment to advancing gender equality, 25 women came together for five days to participate in the first UN Women Leadership Academy in Georgia.

Grounded in the principles of feminist leadership, the Academy brought together representatives from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society, including participants from across Georgia’s regions. Developed by UN Women in collaboration with national and international experts, the programme was held in Tbilisi from 8 to 12 June.

Throughout the Academy, participants explored diverse dimensions of feminist leadership while exchanging national and international experiences. The programme covered a wide range of topics, including the history of women’s rights movements, feminist economics, strategic communication and narrative-building, the impact of disinformation, and contemporary challenges to gender equality. Participants also reflected on the achievements of successive waves of women’s movements and discussed the growing global backlash against women’s rights and gender equality.

The Academy combined expert presentations, panel discussions, interactive group work and practical exercises, creating opportunities for participants to exchange experiences, build professional networks and foster collaboration across sectors.

“I consider myself a feminist, so I applied as soon as I heard about the Academy. Every day was incredibly engaging. What I found particularly valuable was gaining a deeper theoretical understanding of gender equality and connecting it to different areas of life. I am confident that I will be able to apply this knowledge effectively in my work,” said Maka Machavariani, Communications and Marketing Consultant.

Despite progress, women in Georgia continue to face significant barriers to leadership and equal participation. Women make up 52 per cent of the population, yet 55 per cent remain economically inactive. Women hold only 17 per cent of parliamentary seats and account for just 3 per cent of mayors nationwide. Persistent gender stereotypes related to employment, political participation, family roles and gender-based violence continue to limit women’s opportunities and hinder progress towards gender equality.

Strengthening the knowledge, skills and networks of motivated individuals is essential for advancing meaningful and sustainable change. The Leadership Academy was established with this objective, equipping participants to become advocates for gender equality, promote inclusive leadership within their professional fields and contribute to democratic development.

“The diverse experiences shared by participants, together with the practical examples and insights presented throughout the Academy, should not remain only with me. I plan to share this knowledge with students and academic staff so that more people reflect on the importance of gender equality,” said Eka Kavelidze, Doctor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the European University.

The Leadership Academy was organized by UN Women within the framework of the project “Women’s Leadership for Democracy in Georgia” which is implemented with the financial support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The initiative was also financially supported by the European Union within the framework of the programme “Gender Equality for Georgia”, jointly implemented by UN Women and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).