NON-PARTISAN. NOT NEUTRAL.

Power,
not permission.

We fund and protect the women rewriting politics across the Global South — and weave the hive that keeps them standing. No gatekeepers. No fine print.

The hive & the honey

Empathy  ✺  Lived experience  ✺  Feminism  ✺  Solidarity  ✺  Human rights  ✺  Democracy  ✺  Economic justice  ✺  Social justice ✺ Empathy  ✺  Lived experience  ✺  Feminism  ✺  Solidarity  ✺  Human rights  ✺  Democracy  ✺  Economic justice  ✺  Social justice ✺ Empathy  ✺  Lived experience  ✺  Feminism  ✺  Solidarity  ✺  Human rights  ✺  Democracy  ✺  Economic justice  ✺  Social justice ✺ Empathy  ✺  Lived experience  ✺  Feminism  ✺  Solidarity  ✺  Human rights  ✺  Democracy  ✺  Economic justice  ✺  Social justice ✺

WHY WE EXIST

When diverse women lead, societies can thrive.

We center the leaders the old systems tried to lock out — racialized women, Indigenous leaders, disabled women, queer and gender-nonbinary people. They drive the real change in formal politics: inclusive policy, economic power, a livable planet, and peace that lasts.
THE REPRESENTATION GAP

The system isn’t broken.
It was built this way.

Women are proven effective in office — and still locked out, especially women facing layered barriers. As of 2025:

%

of parliamentary seats worldwide held by women

%

of government ministers are women

%

of Heads of State are women — just 18 of 151

%

of countries have a woman Head of Government

At this rate, the UN says equality at the top is 130 years away.

Three moves. No fine print.

We catalyze and move funding to partners, then strengthen everything around the leaders so their power endures.

Fund

We move money to the women already doing the work — directly, flexibly, fast.

Protect

We keep leaders safe when they are targeted — building mental-health, legal and safety infrastructure.

Connect

We weave forums, networks and convenings so no one leads alone.

Our hive’s impact, in numbers.

During 2025 · inaugural cohort

33

countries reached

1,400+

stepped into leadership

100+

declared to run for office

7

new political networks

17

partner organizations

THE HIVE & THE HONEY

Meet the champions.

The women we back — councilors, organisers, candidates and movement-builders rewriting power across Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the MENA region. 1,400+ strong, across 33 countries.
Councilwoman
Mexico · Latin America
Movement organiser
Kenya · East Africa
Parliament candidate
Philippines · SE Asia
Rights activist
Tunisia · MENA
City mayor
Colombia · Latin America
Youth leader
Nigeria · West Africa
Assembly member
Indonesia · SE Asia
Coalition builder
Lebanon · MENA
BEHIND THE HIVE

The Colmena crew.

Colmena means hive in Spanish. The crew keeps it humming — moving resources, holding the line, and standing behind every champion in the network.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Suyen Barahona
President
Sumaiya Islam
Vice-President
Ostalinda Maya
Director of Programs
STEERING COMMITTEE
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Former Deputy President of 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

“Whatever you’re doing right now to pursue justice is worth it.”

We are not waiting for permission to build a fairer future. We fund it, protect it, and refuse to be quiet about it.

Ways in

Step into politics

Thinking of running, organising or leading? Start here.

Fund the hive

Move resources to the women rewriting power. Directly.

Find your people

Join a network of leaders who have got your back.

Colmena fund

A non-partisan fund accelerating the power of women political leaders across the Global South.

Get the dispatch

Plain-spoken news from the hive. No jargon.