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Building Collective Power
from the Margins
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Dear << Test First Name >>,
This quarter, we’ve witnessed just how powerful collective feminist political leadership can be when nurtured across borders, across movements, and across the many layers of exclusion that women face in politics.
From the launch of our podcast Resist, Persist and Reimagine to convenings that brought together women leaders from places like Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Syria, Nicaragua, and beyond, the past few months have been a vivid reflection of what it means to reshape politics from the margins.
In Madrid, we gathered with over 40 women leaders working for justice and peace in contexts of conflict and transition. Their insights grounded deep conversations about flexible funding, trauma-informed protection, and feminist cross-border networks for lasting impact.
Meanwhile, at the Nalafem Summit, we co-hosted Investing in Pan-African Leadership, a side event focused on strengthening feminist political leadership across the continent—another step toward building durable power in a key region of the Global South.
Our partners continue to inspire:
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Futurelect (project implemented in South and East Africa) launched their Cost of Politics report and opened a new cohort for their Women in Public Office program.
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The Progressive Movement Foundation (project implemented in Thailand) made major strides with their Women’s Empowerment and Political Leadership Academy (WEPLA), rooted in healing, empowerment, and real-world action.
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VoteLGBT (project implemented in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina) expanded queer political power through publications, events, and the debut of Votinho, their 2026 election mascot, unveiled during São Paulo Pride.
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The Center of Afro Costa-Rican Women and Afrocaracolas (project implemented in Costa Rica, Mexico and Dominican Republic) co-organized two powerful events in April: a gathering of 60+ Afropolitical women to advance the political power of women of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean; and a workshop focused on strengthening Afromexican women’s leadership and visibility in politics.
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Karama Network (project implemented in Jordan and Tunisia) carried out a series of strategic activities —including high-level meetings with women MPs, media planning, expert-led training design, and stakeholder engagement— as part of their initiative to strengthen women’s political leadership in the MENA region.
Together, these moments are part of a much larger story: diverse women from marginalized backgrounds resisting, persisting, and reimagining what democracy can look like when it’s truly inclusive.
We invite you to read on and discover the many ways we are collectively working towards a more inclusive and equitable political landscape.
Thank you for being a part of our #ColmenaHive!
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🎧 New Podcast Series: Resist, Persist and Reimagine
This June, we launched Resist, Persist and Reimagine—a podcast by the Colmena Fund that amplifies the voices of feminist leaders reshaping politics across the Global South.
Since our premiere episode with Suyen Barahona, Executive Director of the Colmena Fund, we’ve published six powerful weekly conversations exploring resilience, collective leadership, and reimagined democracies from the margins.
🎙️ Guests so far include:
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Suyen Barahona
Executive Director at Colmena Fund, feminist leader, and former president of the Nicaraguan Unión Democrática Renovadora (UNAMOS).
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Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Steering Committee member of Colmena Fund, and former UN Women Executive Director and Deputy President of South Africa.
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Epsy Campbell
Steering Committee member at Colmena Fund and former Vice President of Costa Rica.
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Symmy Larrat
National Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of the Rights of LGBTQIA+ People.
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Laleh Ispahani
Managing Director of Programs at Open Society Foundations.
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Kunthida Rungruengkiat
Former MP and Director of our partner organization Progressive Movement Foundation in Thailand.
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Adela Raz
Director of the Afghanistan Policy Lab at Princeton University and former Afghan Ambassador to the US and the UN.
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Hibaaq Osman
Founder and CEO at our partner organization Karama, based in Egypt, working in the MENA region.
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May convening: Weaving Collaboration of Women Political Leaders in Contexts of Conflict and Transitions
In late May, we gathered in Madrid, Spain, for a powerful convening that brought together more than 40 women political leaders, activists, funders, and allies committed to advancing justice and liberation in contexts of conflict and transition.
Participants included leaders from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar, Syria, and Nicaragua, who shared firsthand insights into the challenges they face—ranging from exclusion in decision-making spaces to limited access to resources and lack of coordination.
The convening offered a rare and vital space to move beyond dominant narratives and center the voices of those working on the ground. Together, we explored strategies to support their leadership, including the need for sustained, flexible funding, trauma-informed protection mechanisms, capacity-building, and stronger cross-border feminist networks. We also discussed the importance of shaping narratives that resist erasure and amplify feminist policy advocacy for lasting peace and inclusive governance.
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African Diaspora Network’s 10th Anniversary Community Celebration Dinner
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We were honored by the invitation extended to our Executive Director, Suyen Barahona, to join the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the African Diaspora Network. It was a meaningful opportunity to recognize and uplift the Network’s decade-long work as an ecosystem catalyzing positive change and growth across Africa, its diaspora, and global communities. We’re grateful to be part of this inspiring community of changemakers.
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OECD DAC Civil Society Days: Interlinkages between Civic Space and Gender Equality
On June 19, our Executive Director, Suyen Barahona, took part in the session Interlinkages between Civic Space and Gender Equality through the Lens of Development Co-operation, during the DAC Civil Society Days hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In her remarks, Suyen shared her personal political journey, including the repression, torture, and forced exile she endured under Nicaragua’s authoritarian regime. She underscored the urgency of protecting civic space and creating safe environments where feminist leaders can organize, strategize, and lead.
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She also spoke about the mission of the Colmena Fund: to accelerate the power of women in formal politics in the Global South, especially those most marginalized. Suyen emphasized the importance of expanding resources for inclusive women’s political leadership so that feminist movements can scale their impact and deepen connections with their communities.
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Investing in Pan-African Leadership: A Strategy Convening of African Women Politicians at Nalafem Summit
In early July, in partnership with the Better Politics Foundation, we co-hosted Investing in Pan-African Leadership: A Strategy Convening of African Women Politicians as a side event during the 4th edition of the Nalafem Summit, which focused on the theme “From Representation to Power: Women Leading in Crisis & Peace”.
The workshop served as a space for deep reflection, dialogue, and collective agenda-setting. Through facilitated, consensus-based exercises, participants—African women in politics and allied leaders—identified priority issues, informed funding strategies, and offered insights on collaborative, scalable solutions to strengthen feminist political leadership across the continent.
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Futurelect (project implemented in South and East Africa)
– Flagship “Cost of Politics: South Africa (2025)” Report Launched: Futurelect successfully launched its flagship report, unpacking the real financial costs of running for political office in South Africa, specifically focusing on the disproportionate barriers for women and youth. Futurelect alumni significantly contributed through interviews and storytelling, offering firsthand insights into challenges like fundraising and gatekeeping, and featured prominently at the public launch event, sharing lived experiences. Key alumni insights included the importance of family support in women’s political leadership, personal sacrifices for political movements, and crowdfunding as a tool for women candidates.
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– “Women in Public Office, South Africa Programme” (WIPO) Applications Opened:
Applications for the next WIPO cohort officially opened. Extensive social media efforts, including Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, promoted the program and announced an extended application deadline to encourage more eligible women to apply.
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Progressive Movement Foundation (project implemented in Thailand)
Women’s Empowerment and Political Leadership Academy (WEPLA) Programme Progress: The WEPLA in Thailand made significant progress in developing future women political leaders. The program, designed to transform women’s political participation, uses a unique HERS framework (HERSTORY & Healing, EMPOWERING, REIMAGINING, STRATEGIZING) and requires participants to implement real community projects for practical experience.
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Modules Completed: Module 1 (“HERSTORY & Healing”) focused on women’s historical contributions and personal empowerment (completed March 27-30, 2025), and Module 2 (“EMPOWERING”) covered policy analysis and advocacy strategies (completed May 16-18, 2025). International experts, including Heidi Hautala, contributed to Module 1.
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Upcoming & Unique Features: Module 3 (“REIMAGINING”) is upcoming in July, featuring field trips with incumbent women politicians. The program provides a comprehensive support system, including psychological counseling, and features international expert speakers.
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VoteLGBT (project implemented in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina)
– WebSummit Rio 2025 Participation
We were among the main speakers at WebSummit Rio 2025, a major international event, and hosted a gathering with queer folks in tech.
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– Votinho, our 2026 Election Mascot Debuted
Our 2-meter tall inflatable mascot, Votinho, launched during São Paulo Pride to boost voter participation, garnering significant media coverage.
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– Podcast Feature:
Our work and perspectives were recently featured in the podcast Política se Discute? by RW Cast.
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– First Encounter of LGBTI+
Elected Officials:
We co-organized the first encounter of LGBTI elected officials from the State of São Paulo, participating in the opening and leading a workshop on political violence.
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Center of Afro Costa-Rican Women in partnership with Afro Caracolas (project implemented in Costa Rica, Mexico and Dominican Republic)
On April 10, our partners—the Center of Afro-Costa Rican Women and Afrocaracolas—in collaboration with the Mexican Senate, the UN Antiracism Coalition, and the Petra Morga Afromexican Foundation, co-organized the Panel Internacional de Mujeres Afropolíticas de América Latina y el Caribe.
This landmark gathering brought together more than 60 influential Afropolitical women from across the region—including Colmena’s Steering Committee member Epsy Campbell and Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez—to reflect on the progress, challenges, and strategies for advancing the political power of women of African descent and the diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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On April 11, Dr. Campbell also facilitated a workshop on Strategic Planning for the Strengthening of Afromexican Women, in partnership with Afrocaracolas. The session offered practical tools and collective strategies to enhance the leadership, visibility, and impact of Afromexican women in formal politics.
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Karama Network (project implemented in Jordan and Tunisia)
Karama is advancing a regional initiative to strengthen the leadership and legislative influence of women MPs. Early groundwork has included:
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A high-level meeting with women MPs and local leaders to align priorities.
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Media strategy sessions to shape public messaging and visibility.
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Consultations with legal expert Monia Ammar Feki to co-design training content.
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Engagements with government, civil society, and religious leaders to build support.
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Selection of experienced trainers to lead sessions on legislative work and public engagement.
These efforts will support knowledge-building, intergenerational alliances, and outreach to youth and marginalized groups—laying a foundation for more inclusive, accountable, and feminist political leadership across the region.
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