Local government can advance gender equality and women’s well-being in many ways. Through the provision of local social and physical infrastructure that reduces the amount of unpaid work that women have to do, by the creation of good quality employment directly and indirectly, through local government contracts with suppliers, and by advancing women’s role in decision-making as elected representatives and in advisory bodies.
However, the status quo is left unchanged when local governments fail to prioritise gender equality and the well-being of women. If local government cuts funding for social and physical infrastructure in ways that add to women’s unpaid work and reduce women’s good quality employment, it has an adverse effect on well-being and gender equality.