Accelerating Women’s
Political Leadership
When diverse women lead, societies thrive. They are crucial for driving transformational change in formal politics; promoting inclusive policies, advancing economic empowerment, fostering environmental sustainability, and securing lasting peace and stability.
When diverse women lead, societies thrive
The Representation Gap
Despite their proven effectiveness, women remain underrepresented in politics—especially those from marginalized backgrounds. As of 2025:
As of 2025:
27.2%
of parliamentary seats worldwide are held by women.
22.9%
of ministers
are women.
11.9%
with women Heads
of State (18/151).
8.3%
government with women Heads of Government (16/193).
At the current rate, the UN estimates it will take 130 years to reach gender equality in the highest positions of power.
Systemic Barriers
Women are singled out and persecuted for their participation in and promoting politics. These challenges disproportionally affect racialized women, people with disabilities, indigenous, queer, and gender nonbinary people:
These barriers hinder women and diverse identities from entering politics and limit their ability to sustain power and drive meaningful change. Despite the adversity, they continue to defy the status quo, playing a vital role in dismantling long-standing systems of oppression.
Limited access to funding and resources.
High levels of violence and harassment, online and offline.
Exclusion from influential networks and decision-making spaces.
Lack of specialized training and protection mechanisms.
Accelerating Women’s
Political Leadership
A Hive for Political
Transformation
Colmena means “hive”a symbol of community, connection, and collective strength. The Colmena Fund celebrates the power of its network of diverse women political leaders.
It is a non-partisan fund dedicated to bring critical resources and infrastructure to advance feminist and democratic women’s leadership in formal political spaces across the Global South.
Our Mission
We focus on leaders marginalized by oppressive systems including racialized women, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, queer and gender-nonbinary people.
Our Vision
We envision a world where diverse women political leaders are the norm —building societies that are democratic and equitable.
Our Values
• Empathy: Listening deeply and acting with understanding.
• Lived Experience: Offering authentic, informed support rooted in the realities of women in politics.
• Feminism: Transforming power structures, advancing equality, and challenging the status quo.
• Solidarity Networks: Building communities of support, belonging, and shared vision among women leaders.
Our leadership
Suyen Barahona
President
Sumaiya Islam
Vice-President
Ostalinda Maya
Director of Programs
Steering Committee
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Former deputy President of the South Africa
Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo
Former Vice President of the Philippines
Epsy Campbell Barr
Former Vice President of Costa Rica
Binaifer Nowrojee
President of OSF
Latanya Mapp
Former President and CEO, RPA
Brian Kagoro
Managing Director of Programs, OSF
Elizabeth Drogittis
Vice President of Sponsored Projects & Funds, RPA
How Colmena supports leaders – and our vision for the future
We catalyze funding, provide funding to partner organizations and strengthen the enabling environment to accelerate the power of women political leaders, who are deeply connected to broader social movements.
Our hive’s impact in numbers
Colmena Fund’s inaugural cohort of grantees focused on sustaining hard-won gains and strengthening the feminist political ecosystem.
Their achievements show meaningful progress in building leadership pipelines, expanding mental health and safety infrastructures, advancing legal protections, and deepening the vital support networks essential for women’s leadership to truly endure and grow.
During 2025
100+ women declared their intention
to run for office after engaging with
our partners.
7 new political support networks emerged.
1,400+ women stepped into leadership pathways through the work of our partners.
17 partners reached 33 countries.
Of the 1,400+
people engaged:
407 were LGBTQIA+ leaders.
263 were youth leaders.
202 were political actors.
5 have a disability.