Project Overview

In the wake of Bangladesh's historic youth-led socio-political transition of 2024, a wave of democratic optimism swept the nation, with over 76% of the youth expressing a fierce desire to shape the future through their votes. Yet, beneath this optimism lies an urgent structural crisis: a widening gender gap in public governance and political leadership.

While women constitute nearly half of the national electorate (49.25%), their substantive representation remains severely marginalized. Women make up a mere 4.09% of parliamentary candidates, and hold just 2.33% of directly elected seats. Furthermore, the removal of the historic 10% gender quota safety net in July 2024, paired with systemic masculine political cultures and targeted online and offline gender-based violence (GBV), has led to a worrying 14% complete civic retraction of existing female leaders.

To shift this reality, "Her Vote, Her Seat" emerges as a transformative initiative. Supported by the Democratic Reforms through Inclusive Participation in Bangladesh (DRIP) project and BALLOT, and jointly implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust and WADA, this project is a strategic movement. It operates across 8 highly diverse, vulnerable districts (Jamalpur, Patuakhali, Khulna, Bogura, Kurigram, Satkhira, Mymensingh, and Cox's Bazar) where zero directly elected women MPs emerged in the last parliament. We work to break down the social, institutional, and cultural walls that dictate where a woman belongs, turning traditional male gatekeepers into active enablers of change.

Project Objective

The overarching objective of "Her Vote, Her Seat" is to leverage Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), community-led action, and strategic public relations to foster an inclusive democratic ecosystem in Bangladesh.

Specifically, the project aims to:

• Dismantle Domestic Gatekeeping: Shift the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Norms (KAPN) of male family decision-makers (fathers, husbands, brothers) from restricting women's public visibility to actively supporting their political aspirations.
• Transform Community Perceptions: Sensitize local influencers, youth networks, and faith leaders to publicly champion inclusive governance and celebrate female political actors as essential role models.
• Drive Institutional Reform: Advocate within political parties, media houses, and local governance bodies to implement structured mentorship pipelines, equitable campaign financing, and strict internal anti-harassment mechanisms.
• Empower Grassroots Aspirants: Cultivate the leadership capacities, digital resilience, and civic literacy of potential grassroots female leaders, enabling them to move decisively from the household to the decision-making table.

Core Activity & Expected Impact

Using the multi-layered Socio-Ecological Model (SEM), the project simultaneously drives grassroots mobilization and national policy advocacy through interconnected activities:

1. Feminist Storytelling & Localized Media

The Activity: Production and distribution of relatable, high-impact narrative tools—such as the journey of Mitu, a young woman who navigates and overcomes family restrictions to become a local leader with her family's backing. These tools are adapted into interactive community flipbooks, courtyard theaters, and widespread digital social media content.

Expected Impact: Normalization of female leadership within traditional households and the inspiration of thousands of potential female candidates across rural Bangladesh to claim their space in civic life.

2. Community Engagement & Male Allyship Forums

The Activity: Hosting localized dialogue forums and civic awareness workshops directly engaging husbands, fathers, male youth voters, and influential faith leaders across the 45 targeted parliamentary constituencies.

Expected Impact: The shifting of deep-seated conservative social norms. Traditional gatekeepers transition into active allies who ensure women can attend civic consultations, join political platforms, and vote completely independently without fear of social backlash.

3. Institutional Advocacy & Safety Frameworks

The Activity: Conducting multi-stakeholder national roundtables, capacity-building workshops, and media advocacy with political party committees, local government institutions, and media executives.

Expected Impact: Adoption of gender-responsive internal codes of conduct, institutional safe-participation spaces, and a reduction in character assassination and gender-based violence (GBV) against women in political spheres.

A true democracy cannot function on partial representation; it requires every voice to be heard and every vote to carry the weight of potential leadership. "Her Vote, Her Seat" is not just about placing a ballot in a box—it is about securing a permanent, rightful seat at the decision-making table for the women of Bangladesh.

By restructuring social expectations from the kitchen to the parliament, this project ensures that supporting a woman's right to lead is recognized as responsible, progressive, and absolutely vital for national stability. When we secure her vote and ensure her seat, we strengthen the democratic fabric of the entire nation.