7th General Assembly: Reaffirming the strength of OWSD's global community

The 7th OWSD General Assembly, held in Bogotá, 3-7 November 2025, brought together participants from across regions and disciplines. It combined reflection, renewal and forward planning at a time of major transition for the organization and the wider international science and development landscape.

Hosted by EAN University and organised alongside OBREAL’s Third Interregional Dialogue on Education and Development, the Assembly took place within a broader Week of Synergies and Impact that linked OWSD members directly with policymakers, university leaders and regional bodies from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. This positioning underscored OWSD’s growing role not only as a scientific network, but as a contributor to international policy conversations on sustainable development and gender equality in science.

Global participation
Participation was one of the defining strengths of the week. Of the over 400 participants, at least 195 OWSD members and partners attended activities over the course of the Assembly, representing 59 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Arab States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe, 19 in Africa, 18 in LAC, 6 in the Arab region and 12 in Asia and the Pacific.

Participants included Executive Board members, National Chapter representatives, fellows and alumnae from OWSD programmes, awardees, researchers, partners and observers. While women scientists formed the clear majority of participants, the presence of representatives from governments, universities, donors and international organisations added depth to discussions and opened new avenues for collaboration.

A focus on governance and a place to network
For many participants, the Bogotá Assembly was both a governance forum and a space for reconnection. Fully dedicated OWSD sessions enabled members to review progress since the previous General Assembly, engage with the Secretariat, welcome the newly elected Executive Board and discuss priorities for the 2025–2030 period. Regional meetings and community weaving sessions strengthened ties between National Chapters and highlighted shared challenges and opportunities across regions.

Outcomes and partnerships
A key outcome of the Assembly was the articulation of a shared strategic direction for the years ahead, captured in the Bogotá Statement adopted by members, and presented by OWSD's newly elected President, Luisa Echeverría-King. Discussions highlighted the need to strengthen partnerships and expand capacity building for scientific leadership, particularly in areas such as science policy engagement and institutional leadership. These priorities reflect a collective commitment to ensuring that women scientists from the Global South are present, and more importantly influential, within national and regional research systems.

The Assembly also significantly raised OWSD’s visibility beyond its own membership. Through active participation in the Third Interregional Dialogue, OWSD members contributed to high level discussions on numerous topics including higher education reform, gender inequities in science and interregional cooperation. The involvement of the Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation further reinforced recognition of OWSD’s mission and impact.

Expanding OWSD’s collaborative support networks
Importantly, the Bogotá Assembly was the first OWSD General Assembly held in Latin America. This milestone expanded the organisation’s geographic footprint and enabled strong engagement with institutions and partners in the region, while maintaining balanced global representation. For many participants, it reinforced the value of holding the General Assembly as a physical, in person gathering that allows for trust building, and promotes informal exchange and collective momentum.

As OWSD looks ahead, the impact of the 7th General Assembly will resonate way beyond Bogotá. Strengthened governance structures and the renewed engagement engendered among National Chapters was matched by the new collaborations that emerged and that are continuing to emerge across regions and programmes. At a moment of change for the organisation, the Bogotá Assembly reaffirmed the strength of the OWSD community and its continued and powerful relevance as a global voice for women in science in the developing world.