Webinar Celebrates the Conclusion of the Second Edition of the Women in Leadership Exchange Program

On February 27, the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) concluded the second edition of the Exchange Program on Public Governance and Management (ProInter-TCU): Women in Leadership. This program, which saw the participation of 39 women from 12 different countries, reinforces the Court's commitment to promoting gender equality and enhancing female leadership within Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs)

Ana Cristina Siqueira, the Director-General of the Serzedello Corrêa Institute (ISC) for Capacity Building, highlighted the program's impact on promoting gender equity. “The exchange of ideas and diverse cultures is always enriching. Initiatives like this transcend personal development and mark a significant step toward gender equality. Investing in women is an investment in a better future for everyone.” Ana Cristina further encouraged participants to apply the insights gained during the program, stating, “We are agents of change, and we can contribute to transforming the world around us within our institutions.”

The Head of the Cooperation Program Management Unit for Portuguese-Speaking African Countries and Timor-Leste (Pro PALOP-TL), Ricardo Godinho, emphasized the support provided to auditors from different nationalities. “We have consistently viewed TCU’s initiative positively and have spared no effort in supporting these professionals. Our partnership goes beyond supporting isolated events; it seeks to establish permanent actions,” said Godinho. He also announced the provision of two scholarships per edition of the postgraduate program at the Department of Public Policy of the University of Lisbon, exclusively for women who participated in ProInter.

Building Networks for Change

The closing event featured a lecture by Professor Juliana Cristina Teixeira, a researcher at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES). She underscored the role of women’s networks in advocating for rights and driving social transformation. “Being part of women’s networks means forming strategic coalitions. These involve ancestral connections and extend through support networks that are essential for the survival and professional advancement of many of us.”

Quoting researcher Patricia Hill Collins, Juliana explained that women’s struggles are divided into two fronts: the fight for survival and the fight for institutional transformation. “The fight for survival refers to strategies used to resist daily oppression and ensure dignity and existence. The fight for transformation involves efforts to change social, political, and economic structures in pursuit of a more just and equitable society,” she stated.

Referring to Professor Dr. Linda Hill, Juliana emphasized the necessity of building both internal and external networks for leadership success. “Political environments are inevitable, and leaders must know how to navigate factors they do not formally manage but that directly impact their ability to achieve their goals,” she noted. She also stressed the importance of establishing strategic alliances, strengthening professional networks, and seeking mentorship to expand knowledge and professional growth opportunities.

Diverse Perspectives on Gender Equity

During the event, participants presented research projects on various topics, including government measures to promote gender equality, SAIs’ experiences in implementing equity policies, and specific issues such as the care work division and gender-responsive budgeting.

Among the studies presented, analyses included the audit conducted by the Dominican Republic on the application of the PEFA-Gender methodology in public budgeting and research on the implementation of gender equity policies by SAI Mexico. Discussions also addressed the impact of creating specialized gender units in public institutions in Uruguay and the progress of women in leadership positions within government auditing structures in Brazil.