"...Women?s participation in the political life of Myanmar is gaining attention from policy makers and researchers but systematic data remains lacking. Analytical work done in other parts the world has shown that increased women?s participation in political, social and economic life of a country can lead to significant improvements in equity and effectiveness of policies to the benefits of all stakeholders. As greater authority is being transferred to subnational governments in Myanmar leading to an expansion of roles of local authorities and decisionmaking, understanding the nature of women?s participation in subnational governance institutions and processes is essential. This paper outlines women?s participation in the various forms of subnational governance in Myanmar, discuss why women?s participation matters, and identifies the barriers and enabling factors to their participation. The findings are intended to inform discussion on this issue among the government, civil society, political parties, and development partners. The paper also highlights avenues for future research..."