Within “Women in Focus” project, almost entirely funded by the EU, last weekend saw the training on the topic “Gender budgeting at local level” in Sokobanja. The training was participated in by representatives of local administration from the Municipality of Aleksinac, civil organisations, institutions and members of the Commission for gender equality.
During the two-day training participants had an opportunity to get acquainted with basic terms and positive effects of gender budgeting, normative and strategic framework of the Republic of Serbia on achieving gender budgeting, both theoretically and practically. Second part of the training was aimed at roles of various actors in the process of gender budgeting, programmes of local self-governments, indicators and stages of gender budgeting.
Gender equality and issues of improving the status of women are key development process launched at all levels in the Republic of Serbia. Goal of the training was achieved just by establishing contacts among representatives of civil organisations and decision-makers regarding future cooperation – strategic partnership for joint drafting of Local Action Plan for Gender Equality and Improvement of the status of Women in the Municipality of Aleksinac.
“Women in Focus“ is an EU-supported 15-month project of the Association for the Development of Creativity and the Municipality of Aleksinac, due to end in August 2015.
Within project, survey on issues and needs of women in Aleksinac has been conducted as well as two trainings. Forthcoming activities will be focused on the improvement of local policies and establishment of mechanisms for gender equality aimed at improving the position of women in Aleksinac through their greater participation and presence in public and political life.
“Women in Focus“ is a follow-up of the previous project of Association for Creativity Development from Aleksinac (titled “Rural Women on the Move”, also EU-supported) that saw Aleksinac municipality making the very first step towards improving gender equality at local level.
General goal of the project, running until 20 August 2015, is to improve the status of women in Aleksinac through their greater participation and presence in public and political life.
Specific goals include creation of local policies that would improve the position of women by strengthening capacities of both civil society and Commission for Gender Equality, as well as strengthening for participation of women in public life and decision-making processes by increasing their communication skills, advocacy and negotiation, and by raising public awareness on the importance of gender equality.
The project included 25 women from Aleksinac in training, 100 in campaign and 250 in the survey, as well as 20 from Aleksinac administration.
The total value of the project is EUR37,028.42, out of which the EU Delegation finances 93,05 per cent.
