Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung@ 40 in Ghana In all of this, the experience of other countries show that temporary special measures such as quotas are useful in overcoming barriers and resistance to women's leadership. In some countries such affirmative measures have been applied in electoral politics, institutions and boards of corporation. Such measures can be backed by strong constituencies that actively demand gender equality, while institutional capacity is also built to ensure effective implementation of gender equality policies. It is in this connection that the FES has to continue strengthening its work with women's groups particularly in terms of building coalitions and partnerships around critical gender issues such as women's political participation. 6.0 The Way Forward It has been established that at the present rate of increase, women's political representation in developing countries will not reach the“parity zone” of between 40% and 60% until 2047(Progress of the World's Women, 2009). As stated earlier therefore, the FES has to strengthen its commitment to working with women's groups and gender equality advocates. It must do this through allocating more resources to women's rights promotion. It must also deepen its support for affirmative action measures that will accelerate the increase in women's political participation. It can also support women's groups to strengthen their active participation in other processes currently going on in the country such as the democratisation and public funding of political parties, as well as constitutional and electoral reforms. It should also work towards supporting women's groups to influence gender committees and caucuses in Parliament, and advocate for governance reforms. Finally, it should continue to support women interested in politics and public affairs through strengthening their knowledge and capacities. 35