Who we are
A Ponte Network is a network of women experts in various public policy topics, created with the purpose of strengthening women's careers in politics and increasing the representation of Brazilian democracy.
Why we exist
Brazil ranks among the countries with the worst gender parity in politics in Latin America. In 2024, 790 Brazilian municipalities elected no female councilors (TSE data, compiled by Rede A Ponte), which means about 15.3 million Brazilian women lack political representation at the municipal level. When considering race, the situation becomes even more challenging: 2,870 municipalities have no Black women elected, amounting to 20.1 million black women without local representation.
Even after being elected, women face numerous barriers to advancing in their political careers. Political isolation, lack of familiarity with institutional language, and insufficient support teams to address technical challenges are issues that primarily affect newly elected women, such as city councilors and state representatives.
Our actions
Since 2020, Rede A Ponte has been working to change this reality by increasing the representation within Brazilian democracy through the following areas of focus:
Strengthening Mandates: we offer continuous support to elected women in the legislature through individual consultancy services, courses, and data tools.
Knowledge: impulsionamos políticas públicas desenhadas com base em dados e referenciadas nos saberes dos territórios, criando metodologias inovadoras para promover novas formas de construir um sistema democrático sensível às desigualdades de gênero e de raça.
Climate and Change: We advocate for the climate and care agenda, empowering city councilors and state representatives to take on the leadership vacuum that exists at the local level. By consolidating a subnational network of parliamentarians as key players in the development of assertive climate policies, we promote civil society engagement in creating effective responses.
Have you heard of mycorrhiza?
In nature, an underground network of fungi connects trees, allowing them to exchange nutrients and messages to strengthen one another. Rede A Ponte was created with the same inspiration: to build connections that boost the growth and impact of women in Brazilian politics. In the context of democracy, we act like mycorrhizas, strengthening the actions of elected women and driving structural changes.
Working in networks is at the core of our organization. We believe that large-scale changes that impact the population can only be achieved through the exchange, connection, and active participation of women from diverse backgrounds, education, race, age, and territories. We serve as a bridge (A Ponte), connecting the technical and practical knowledge of our specialists to the power of action of women in institutional politics.
Our network of experts include women economists, sociologists, lawyers, public administrators, communicators, political scientists, and others committed to strengthening democracy. These women, with experience in academia, public service, the legislature and the third sector, believe in the mission of Rede A Ponte and volunteer their time to support parliamentarians with their technical expertise.
Change Theory
Supporting the continued presence of elected women (cis and trans) in institutional politics is our strategy to increase real representation in spaces of power, contributing to the consolidation of Brazilian democracy.Supporting the continued presence of elected women (cis and trans) in institutional politics is our strategy to increase real representation in spaces of power, contributing to the consolidation of Brazilian democracy.
Team
Amanda de Albuquerque
Executive Director
With a Ph.D. and Master's in Economics from PUC-Rio and a degree in International Relations from UnB, Amanda worked at the Ministry of Social Development and coordinated research with the Ministry of Health of Mozambique. She also taught public policy courses and facilitated the creation of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at the Economics Department of PUC-Rio.
Rhaysa Ruas
Strategy Director
Ph.D. and Master in Legal Theory from UERJ, grassroots lawyer, and mother of Luiza Niara and Dandara Manuela. She was a professor at ESS/UFRJ (2022–2023), a visiting researcher at the University of California/UCSB through the Fulbright Program (2020–2021), a legislative advisor at the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (2019), and an advocacy assistant at Amnesty International Brazil (2017–2019). She has experience in issues related to violence against Human Rights Defenders and Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Her main research interests are gender and race studies and state regulation.
Maria Mercadante
Project Manager
With a Master's in International Relations from PPGRI San Tiago Dantas (UNESP, PUC-SP, UNICAMP), Maria specializes in Contemporary International Relations from UNILA and holds a degree in International Relations from UNISINOS.
Lauana Chantal
Mobilization and Political Articulation Coordinator
Social Worker, postgraduate in Strategic Management in Public Policies. Worked as a Legislative Assistant in the shared mandate "Gabinetona" and in the mandate of Federal Deputy Áurea Carolina. Is a reference in human rights violations, ethnic-racial and gender relations, and coordination with public agencies, civil society organizations, and social movements. She is part of the Antiprohibitionist National Feminist Network (RENFA).
Cláucia Faganello
Strengthening Mandates Coordinator
Ph.D. in Business Administration from PUC-RS with a Master's in Sociology from UFRGS, Cláucia is also a Specialist in Municipal Public Management from UFRGS and holds a degree in Law from UniRitter. She worked as a university lecturer, multidisciplinary consultant, and advisor to social movements.
Stéffane Azevedo
Communications Coordinator
Independent journalist and photographer based in the municipality of Tefé, Amazonas. Her professional work focuses on covering complex issues such as socio-environmental impacts, human rights violations, matters involving Indigenous peoples, women’s rights, and environmental racism. She produced the documentary Politize e Delibera, which explores the reality of people experiencing homelessness and the phenomenon of electoral invisibility. She is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Human Rights in the Context of Public Policy at PUC Minas.
Ângela Jardim
Administrative and Financial Manager
With a Bachelor's in Tourism from UFOP and an MBA in Communication and Marketing Management from USP, Angela worked with all kinds of events for years before moving to the back office, where she continues to organize, create spreadsheets, and take care of people and internal space.
Marina Marques
Project Assistant
Master in Economics from the Center for Development and Regional Planning (Cedeplar) at UFMG. Marina holds a degree in Economics from UFJF. Her research interests include social and applied economics, with an emphasis on the labor market and social stratification. She is a Project Assistant at the Executive Board of A Ponte.
Vivi Linares
Project Assistant
Social Scientist from UFF, Viviane has extensive experience in coordinating field research and data collection. Currently, she studies UX Research, manages projects, prepares interviewers, and assists Ph.D. candidates in randomized studies.
Lilian Corôa
Research Assistant
Activist in socio-environmental, agroforestry, and agroecological struggles, advocating for the appreciation of ancestral knowledge, where Black women from traditional communities and rural areas are the protagonists of their own history. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from UNILAB, is a Specialist in Social Urbanism from INSPER, and in Rural Education from UNEB, and is currently a Master’s candidate in the Territorial Studies Program at UNEB. She is a Research Assistant at the Research Center of A Ponte.
Vitória Daier
Project Assistant
Ph.D. candidate in Public Administration at FGV-EBAPE with a Master's in Economics from UFRJ, and Bachelor's in Economics from PUC-SP, Vitória was a research assistant at the Climate Policy Initiative. Her research topics are related to education, the labor market, and gender.
Tatiana Ruediger
Art and Social Media Assistant
With a Master's in Sociology from IESP-UERJ and a degree in Economics from FGV, Tatiana worked in public policy before transitioning to Visual Arts. Since 2019, she has worked as a social media manager, designer, photographer, filmmaker, and embroiderer.
Mariana Gomes
Climate and Care Coordinator
Graduate in International Relations from the University of Brasília and holder of a postgraduate degree in Public Policy from Insper, she has been working on gender equality issues since 2021. She also has interests in public health and, more specifically, food security.
Marcela Lemos
Project Assistant
Marcela is a sociology professor and Ph.D. candidate at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Her research interests include institutional studies, climate change, and food systems.
Renata Canini
Research Assistant to the Executive Board
Ph.D. candidate in Economics at the Rome Economics Doctorate (RED), Master in Economics and Public Policy from the Barcelona School of Economics, and graduate in Economics from PUC-Rio. With experience in research applied to public policy, she has worked on the evaluation of infrastructure investments and climate finance flows. Currently, her research focuses on political economy, with an emphasis on the impact of police violence on democratic processes and institutional trust.
Cristiane Oliveira
Legal Analyst
Master in Public Policy on Human Rights from NEPP/UFRJ, specialist in Women’s Rights and Practices for Feminist Advocacy from PROORDEM, and law graduate from UFF. Popular lawyer working in networks and consultancy in the field of human rights. She has worked in NGOs such as DDH and Justiça Global.
Administrative Board
Mariana Carvalho
Debora Thome
President
Áurea Carolina
Rodrigo Fiães
Lara Barreto
Fiscal Council
Paula Pedro
Julia Fontes
Our volunteers
Adriana Franco
Aline Lopes
Aline Capparelli
Amia Spineli
Ana Beatriz M. Araújo
Ariane Andrade
Bianca Chaves
Cecília Dâmaso
Fernanda Horn
Giulia Gouveia
Isis Tomas
Janaina Ferraz
Jessica Guedes
Joara Barreto
Kristianne Veloso
Laís Assis Gonçalves
Tábata Oliveira
Luma Martins
Maria Rita Santos
Mariana Carvalho
Melissa Santos
Micaela Rocha
Patrícia Vasconcellos
Priscila Stella
Rafaella Cosenza
Ranni Soares
Renata Cirilo
Sofia Guimarães
Thais O. Guerra
