Advancing Gender Equality Through Decentralization

The project aims to reduce inequalities between men and women, particularly those facing multiple forms of discrimination, in Ukraine. It aims to help the Government of Ukraine enhance the delivery of its gender-responsive services to all citizens by institutionalizing effective gender equality policy making, implementation, monitoring and reporting within national, regional and local governments. The project helps Ukraine develop specific policies, capacities, tools, processes and practices for the implementation of the requirements of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international bill of rights for women. The project collaborates with the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Housing, local authorities, amalgamated territorial communities, women’s groups and civil society organizations. This collaboration works to implement the decentralization reform, a critical and comprehensive reform delivering national gender equality priorities at all levels of government. This collaboration increases the identification of the differentiated needs of women, girls, men and boys, and government response to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. The project also supports human rights-based social advocacy groups to address deep-rooted causes of discrimination.