Federation of Canadian Municipalities Concluded PMI-WILL Project
The six-year initiative supported thousands of women councillors in Sri Lanka to improve local government services.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Women’s Issues
Live Poll
Do you believe gender-focused leadership training improves the quality of local government in your area?
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has wrapped up the USD 27.61 million PMI-WILL project in Sri Lanka. This multi-year initiative focused on strengthening women's leadership and creating more gender-responsive local governance.
Why it matters
The program aimed to increase the representation and effectiveness of women in local leadership roles while improving essential municipal infrastructure. By fostering institutional support, the project sought to make government services more accessible and inclusive for local communities.
The initiative supported 3,100 women councillors and established 25 district-level networks. Additionally, four local authorities received CAD 81,000 each to fund critical service initiatives.
The players
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
This national organization represents municipal governments in Canada and leads international programs focused on sustainable development.
Global Affairs Canada
This is the department of the Government of Canada that manages the country's diplomatic and consular relations and international development.
The details
The project implemented comprehensive training programs and established women's caucuses to amplify leadership voices. Direct funding supported infrastructure projects including sanitary facilities, water supply upgrades in Iranawila-Samindugama, and bus stand improvements in Gampola.
Timeline
The PMI-WILL project began its operations in 2021.
A formal closing event for the project was held on September 25, 2026.
The full six-year project duration concludes in 2027.
Culture Shift
This project reflects a broader global shift toward integrating gender-responsive policies into local government structures. By decentralizing power to district-level networks, the program mirrors movements aimed at dismantling traditional barriers to female political leadership.
Residents in the participating local authorities will experience improved access to essential services like clean water and safe public transit facilities. These upgrades directly translate to better daily living conditions for families in the Central Province and other target regions.
The takeaway
The project highlights the success of targeted international development in bolstering female representation within local government. Implementing small-scale infrastructure grants proves that direct funding can provide immediate, tangible improvements to community welfare.
Further reading
For more context on international gender advocacy, visit Women’s Issues.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Mirror.
Live Poll
Do you believe gender-focused leadership training improves the quality of local government in your area?
