CEPIA was invited by the Women’s Secretariat of the City of Niterói, to teach two classes of the SDG5 course: gender perspectives for public and social management organized by this Secretariat. The Course aimed to train civil servants in the cities of the Mercocidades Network, an important regional platform made up of 380 cities in 11 countries in Latin America.

The classes Generating income promoting autonomy: women who transform their realities and Women leaders: transforming our realities through leadership were facilitated by Andrea Romani and Mariana Barsted who combined expository moments and debates with reading sessions from the Women’s Learning Partnership Manuals: Leading for action: a political participation handbook for women  and Leading to choices: a  leadership training handbook for women.

The classes brought reflections on productive work and reproductive work, the barriers that women face both in the private space, such as invisible care work, and in the public space, such as harassment in the work space, to achieve greater economic autonomy. It also addressed the importance of greater representation of women in decision-making and leadership spaces. To share concrete experiences of how the exercise of leadership and economic autonomy go hand in hand, CEPIA invited Amanda Amorim Lopez from Panama to share her experience of empowering women from marginalized communities in Panama City, and Daniela Lopes bringing experience with women from Baixada Fluminense, in Rio de Janeiro, of mobilization and strengthening based on territorial agendas and popular social technologies developed by women, including solidarity kitchens.

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