Through women's activism and civic initiatives to gender-inclusive and responsible municipalities

Brief description of the project:

Gender equality is an issue whose answer creates an equal society, in which financial resources are distributed in a much fairer and more transparent manner. The analysis so far shows that they are still gender neutral and do not take into account the specific needs of women and men. In order to change the situation, it is necessary for civil society organizations to be recognized in their local community, to have successful cooperation with all constituents and to enjoy the trust of the community.

Proposed solutions and activities will bring about transformative changes by promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in local government structures. We will work to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms, enhance transparency in decision-making processes and encourage gender-responsive policies and practices. By mobilizing women and girls, empowering them with knowledge and skills and facilitating their active participation in decision-making processes, we aim to create a more equal and inclusive society.

Total budget: 5,558,286 MKD

Implementation period: July 1, 2024 – October 31, 2026

Specific topic: Gender equality

Contact person: Blagojche Disoski | blagojche.dishoski@glasentekstilec.mk

Partners:

EHO Association Educational-Humanitarian Organization Shtip
Association Initiative of Unemployed Intellectuals Vinica

Users and target groups:

Women and girls from the municipalities of Shtip, Vinica and Delchevo. Workers from the textile industry, women entrepreneurs, women at social risk (women victims of violence, women and girls from ethnic communities, women with disabilities); pensioners; journalists from local media - correspondents of national media, media representatives; local government - mayors; employees in public administration; representatives of civil society organizations; members of municipal councils; municipal commissions and sectors in municipalities; students and high school students.

Objectives:

General goal: Mobilization and development of critical and independent thinking among women and girls for active participation in the creation of local policies and taking an active role in solving gender-sensitive problems in municipalities.

Specificи goalи:

To assess the current needs and priorities of women and girls in the local community;
To strengthen the capacities of women leaders and civic activists for active participation in creating and advocating for gender-responsive policies in the municipality;
To exert organized influence and pressure on local authorities to resolve gender-sensitive problems in the community.

Results:

Identified needs and priorities of women and girls in the local community;
Mobilized, animated, educated and motivated women and girls to create gender-sensitive policies in the community;
3 gender budget initiatives prepared;
Prepared information materials - posters in the form of instructions with informative content on the method of researching needs, mobilizing women, including and lobbying for the realization of specific demands and initiatives;
Realized 3 local forums;
1 regional conference implemented.

Activities:

A1.1. Assessment of local needs and problems of women and girls within the jurisdiction of the municipality:

A1.1.1. Preparation of a survey questionnaire

A1.1.2. Field research (survey)

A1.1.3. Questionnaire analysis and report preparation

A2.1. Mobilization, education and creation of a core of women activists, women party leaders, and municipal leaders:

A2.1.1. Preparation of content and design for promotional information materials for the mobilization of women and girls

A2.1.2. Implementation of 3 open information days

A2.1.3. Workshop on the topic: Opportunities and forms of citizen participation in the creation of local policies; Assessment of the needs of women and girls in the municipality

A2.1.4. Workshop on the topic: Gender analysis and gender-sensitive policies; Gender responsive budgeting and gender budget initiatives

A2.1.5. Workshop on the topic: Advocacy for gender-responsive policies and gender-responsive budgeting

A3.1. Preparation, presentation and submission of 3 gender budget initiatives, through the three forums in Shtip, Vinica and Delchevo:

A3.1.1. Working meetings for the preparation of the RBI

A3.1.2. Presentation of 3 gender budget initiatives to relevant stakeholders and the media

A3.1.3. Meetings with the mayor, equal opportunities coordinator, council president, KEM, representatives of the committees of the Municipal Council

A3.1.4. 3 gender budget initiatives submitted to the Municipal Council

A4.1. Promotional and educational materials and posts on social networks:

A4.1.1. Preparation of informative and educational posters – instructions entitled „Step by step to adopting a gender-responsive local budget“

A4.1.2. Printing and distributing informative and educational posters – instructions entitled "Step by step to adopting a gender-responsive local budget"„

A4.2. Continuous media campaign through social networks and electronic media:

A5.1. Implementation of 3 local civic forums

A6.1. One regional conference (for the Eastern Region)

The project „Through women’s activism and civic initiatives to gender-inclusive and responsive municipalities“ is supported by the Swiss Government through Civica Mobilitas. Civica Mobilitas is a project of the Swiss Government to support civil society in North Macedonia, implemented by the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC), NIRAS from Denmark and FCG from Sweden. The goal of the program is social change in North Macedonia that is driven by a strong civil society sector, active citizens and good cooperation with the authorities, resulting in an expanded civic space, more sustainable civil society organizations and more transparent, accountable and socially inclusive governance at the central and local levels. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Swiss Government, Civica Mobilitas or the implementing organizations.