Equal Opportunities for Women and Men- Advocacy for Change Development

Total Budget: 97.000 euros        Total Request from Fund: 44.000euros

In the EU pre-accession and post-accession process, the situation of equal opportunities of men and women was monitored in the countries of accession and South Eastern Europe, framed by the EU legislation and policy. Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (EOWM) reports raised questions on the discrepancies between law and practice and brought to light the need to lobby and advocate at the national and EU level for implementation of legal changes and practical measures.

This project, Equal Opportunities for Women and Men – Advocacy for change, will actively engage approximately NGDOs from 25 countries, 20 IGPN members and 20 experts and trainers. In real terms, 30 NGOs will collaborate for the implementation of this project. Among the members of the IGPN, participating in this project are those from new member states, candidate states and neighbouring states. These are countries that relate to the EU Development Policy and ODA in various ways- as donors, recipients and possible recipients. This situation gives IGPN the chance of overall view of the situation and possibility to help with recommendations on this field.

Our project will first help with strengthening the capacity of NGOs in the region. Empowered NGOs will be able to participate in shaping, debating and advocacy for the EU Development Policy, they will be able more effectively dialogue with their national governments on this issue in the donor countries and those stakeholders responsible for implementation of EU Development Policy as a result of receiving EU aid.

On 8 March 2007, the European Commission proposed a European strategy to promote gender equality in development cooperation. With this strategy the Commission translates into practice the EU commitment to put gender equality at the heart of its development policy. The strategy provides guidelines on how to improve gender mainstreaming in development policy and shows the potential of budget support for the promotion of gender equality. This project will facilitate the dissemination of these guidelines.

Lastly, IGPN is poised to collaborate with partners from new regions (especially to ACP countries – sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean). This cooperation will be kicked off during the implementation of this process and will continue post-implementation.