“Our story with elections” is a research and storytelling initiative implemented by ONDES with the support of Oxfam.. Following the 2025 municipal elections, the project seeks to document and amplify the lived experiences of women candidates—both elected and non-elected—by combining personal narratives with quantitative data. Through key informant interviews, an online survey, and expert roundtable discussion, the project captures women’s motivations, challenges, successes, and structural barriers encountered throughout the electoral process.
The initiative aims not only to preserve and elevate these collective stories, but also to generate evidence-based recommendations that inform future policies and programs supporting women’s leadership. By engaging members of the Hiya Baladiyati network as contributors and co-authors, the project adopts a participatory approach that reinforces ownership, visibility, and solidarity among women leaders. Culminating in a publication and public closing event in March 2026, the project seeks to sustain momentum toward increased women’s participation in upcoming parliamentary elections and to encourage more women to run for public office.
Project funded by Oxfam.
Implementation date: November 2025 – March 2026
Budget: 15.000 USD