Objectives: Previous workpackages will have identified the sites of women's under-representation, and the absence of women's voices and interests from governance. This workpackage seeks to understand why this has occurred.

Critical Questions:

• What are the reasons for women's absence from governance in significant numbers?
• What are the institutional barriers to women's presence, and the inclusion of women's interests in governance?
• If women are present in substantial numbers, does their presence make a difference to the agenda? Do they work together to bring about greater gender equality?
• If so, how can this difference be recognised?
• Are women's interests, needs and perspectives included in the decision making process?
• If so, how? Do women in decision-making positions have links with women's NGOs? Are women's NGOs part of the negotiating process around decision-making?

Methodology: Each partner will identify a range of relevant people (including politicians, civil servants, NGOs and other civic organizations) with an insight into one or more of the above questions. Partners will conduct one-hour interviews with the identified individuals to explore the questions listed above.

Deliverables: Each partner will produce a country report, which will be published as journal articles, disseminated to relevant NGOs and government organizations, and feature in the final country report. The co-ordinator will produce a comparative report, which will be disseminated and appear as a chapter in the final book.