Step Forward Global Initiative (SFGI)

A large crowd of women dressed in colorful traditional Indian clothing, sitting on the ground in a close arrangement, captured from above.

Thank you for answering this call with us.

Let’s step forward.

“Step Forward” is a call to action for women to step forward for public office. Too frequently, competent women step back, step aside, or never step. SFGI seeks to address why.

“Step Forward” is a call to action for citizens to raise their own awareness and consciously reduce the visibility gap that disadvantages women who step forward for higher office. Women and men candidates are often valued and evaluated differently. SFGI aims to remedy this status quo.

“Global” indicates the scope of SFGI’s activities. The visibility gap pervades countries worldwide. At the United Nations 80th General Assembly in September 2025, 194 world leaders attended. 25 (13%) were women. SFGI strives to ensure more women world leaders in the future.

“Initiative” signals SFGI’s role as a first-mover in women’s leadership civic-tech. Excellent resources capturing women’s representation and participation in politics do exist. What does not exist is a candidate-level analysis of how who steps forward shapes who governs worldwide. SFGI will profile the individual women and their countries behind the data and statistics.