Lack of funding seems to be one of the most important factors hindering women from running for office. Women candidates often need to raise funds for running their campaigns, with little or no support from political parties, both in the process of winning the nomination and in the electoral campaign. In some countries, political parties have adopted voluntary measures to level the field for women candidates, such as reducing or waiving nomination fees, fundraising initiatives, in-kind contributions and subsidies covering travel costs, campaign materials or childcare expenses. [1] International IDEA’s 2014 publication “Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns: A Handbook on Political Finance” offers a general overview of political finance mechanism from a compared perspective. Chapter 9 of this research, on “Women in Politics: Financing for Gender Equality”, written by Jullie Ballington a Muriel Kahane, gives account of a number of barriers that women face to finance their electoral campaigns, as well as legal framework provisions and concrete political finance mechanisms to promote their participation.

In several countries, international electoral assistance projects have supported political parties and other stakeholders in fighting gender inequalities in political and campaign finance. A 2007 study carried out by UNDP, “Electoral Financing to Advance Women’s Political Participation: A Guide for UNDP Support”, identifies entry points to enhance women’s access to electoral finance and basic guidelines for program design in this field.[2]  

Example: In the United States of America, the main political parties have launched political action committees (PACs) as partisan networks to fundraise for women candidates. This is the main goal of the Democratic EMILY’s List and the Republican WISH List. These platforms can channel large amounts of money to candidates, which is important in candidate-centered systems where both nomination and campaigning require substantial funding. Through both initiatives, women candidates have benefited from contributions from individuals and the private sector. EMILY’s List (Early Money is Like Yeast) was created in 1985 to support Democratic women candidates running for office by helping them raise funds through donation bundling. The WISH List was created in 1992 to support Republican women candidates.[3] 

Example: In Japan, the non-partisan organization Women in New World International Network (WINWIN) raises funds to support first-time women candidates running for office, mainly at the national level. This initiative has drawn inspiration from the experience of the EMILY’s List in the United States of America.[4] 

Example: In Canada, the Liberal Party established the Judy LaMarsh Fund to raise money for women candidates and help them get elected to parliament, through fundraising events, direct mailing and the Internet. The Liberal Party also provides subsidies for women candidates, including childcare expenses and travel costs.[5]

Example: In Ghana, a statement made after a multi-party meeting in 2011 proposed to directly allocate 10 percent of public funds to political parties for women candidates and reduce significantly the fees for women candidates.[6]

Example: In Cambodia, the SRP provides women candidates with basic materials for their campaign, including clothing and a bicycle.[7]