Building Women Leaders: Portugal’s Commitment to the UN’s Future

Portugal hosted an initiative dedicated to the Senior Women Talent Pipeline (SWTP), a program managed by the Department of Operational Support (DOS). Portugal has been a consistent supporter of the SWTP, recognizing its contribution to advancing gender parity in leadership positions across the UN system, as well as its alignment with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, Action for Peacekeeping (A4P), and the New Agenda for Peace.

The initiative brought together SWTP participants, Member States and institutional partners for an informal training session followed by a networking reception. Participants included professionals from leading institutions such as the World Bank, PepsiCo and Harvard University, alongside representatives from a diverse group of Member States. The event provided a valuable platform to strengthen support for the SWTP and to foster direct engagement with senior UN officials.

Portugal’s engagement with the program has been both sustained and substantive. In December 2024, Portugal hosted in Lisbon a dedicated training course for 25 new SWTP participants, focusing on key aspects of leadership in UN field settings. The initiative aimed to prepare external candidates for senior-level (D1–D2) positions, thereby strengthening the pool of qualified women for leadership roles.