Many women first engage in politics at the local or municipal level. However recent decentralization trends have not necessarily led to greater participation of women in local councils and as mayors of towns and villages. The findings of recent research by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in fact indicate that even where there are quotas, women are often treated as proxies for male family members or are simply ignored while the real decisions take place when women are not in the room. While there are shining exceptions – some women have been extremely influential at the local level – the recent international conference on decentralization, local power and women’s rights developed a series of recommendations to improve the capacity of women to participate effectively in local decision-making. This discussion circle is intended to continue the rich dialogue that began in Mexico city in November 2008, and to build on the recommendations through shared experiences.