Co-operation Ireland #45in45 – Women’s Leadership Programme Certificate
In 2024 we are marking Co-operation Ireland’s 45th anniversary by exploring our history through 45 items.
Item 8: Women’s Leadership Programme Certificate
Co-operation Ireland has a long track record through our programmes of working to empower women and on this International Women’s Day, we look at the Women’s Leadership Programme and how it is having a valuable impact across the island.
The programme developed from Co-operation Ireland’s All-Island Local Authority Forum which successfully delivered it firstly as a pilot programme.
Women in Leadership is a bespoke development programme aimed at female officers working in local government in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
It was developed with the following core aims.
- To build confidence among future female leaders within the sector by developing effective leadership styles and resilience in the workplace
- To establish a supportive all-island local government sectoral learning community
- To assist the local government sector to foster and develop diverse leadership teams for the future across all levels of local authorities.
Designed in conjunction with female Chief Executives and Directors of local authorities, the programme focuses on the specific issues faced by female leaders within this sector, assisting them in the development of leadership capability which is key to the women taking part in this training.
Feedback from the programme has been very positive and through word-of-mouth applications have doubled since the programme’s foundation. In 2023 we welcomed 129 participants.