Lesley Abdela has 30 years’ experience working in Gender Equality, gender mainstreaming, gender analysis and a rights-based approach.

Her main expert areas are: Women’s political participation and influence, Gender mainstreaming, Gender Peace and Security, Gender responsive planning, Gender and Media and social norms change, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Gender Equality, Environment and Climate Change, Gender based violence. She has worked on these issues as an expert advisor and Consultant to international organisations, private sector companies, Government Departments, and Civil Society in in 50 countries in Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, The Balkans, Central/South Asia including in post conflict transition situations. Also provided evaluations and assessments, and guidance. Lead Trainer/Facilitator for hundreds of workshops.

She is member of EBRD Gender Advisory Services Expert Panel.

Lesley has conducted 26 assignments for Sida Gender Help-Desk (2015-19), advice for integrating gender and women’s rights into project/programme cycles: methodology, tools, training, talking points for dialogues; gender analysis, gender indicators, monitoring and evaluation, capacity-building, risk assessment.

Hon D.Litt. Degree – Advancement of Women, Nottingham Trent University.

Awards: ZONTA Centennial Anniversary Recognition Award for ‘Outstanding Commitment to empowering women through Service and Advocacy in the United Kingdom’ 2019.

‘UK 1996, Woman of Europe Award’ for work helping develop women leaders’ participation in politics in the transition to democracy in Central and Eastern European countries