In Kyiv, the second school of experts on gender-responsive budgeting was held for the representatives of the Kyiv City State Administration
Date:
Photo: UN Women in Ukraine
From October 1 to 9, 2025, Kyiv hosted the educational program "School of experts for gender-responsive budgeting – GRB LAB.2", aimed at developing practical skills for applying a gender-responsive approach in the budgeting process. The initiative was implemented by the Kyiv City State Administration in partnership with the High School of Public Governance, with the support of UN Women in Ukraine.
The training was held in two stages on October 1–2 and 8–9 and brought together representatives of various structural divisions of the Kyiv City State Administration responsible for shaping and implementing local budget policy.
During the opening of the program, Yuliia Lykhach, Director of the High School of Public Governance, emphasized the importance of continuing systematic training in gender-responsive budgeting. This is the second year the training has been implemented as part of the Strategy for Reforming the Public Finance Management System and Ukraine's commitments to OECD/SIGMA.
The opening of GRB LAB 2 was also attended by:
- Maryna Khonda, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration
- Yaroslav Tyshchenko, Head of the Department of Health and Social Protection Finance at the Kyiv City State Administration Finance Department
- Halyna Meshcheriakova, Program Manager at UN Women in Ukraine
- Tetyana Huzenko, Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Gender Equality Department
Speakers emphasized that integrating a gender-responsive approach into budgeting is not only about fulfilling international obligations but also a powerful tool for distributing public finances effectively. It ensures equal opportunities for all citizens and increases transparency in resource management.
Program Content
The GRB LAB.2 program combined theoretical lectures with practical exercises. Participants worked on:
- Analyzing budget programs with gender aspects in mind
- Studying international experiences of OECD member countries
- Reviewing innovations in Ukrainian legislation
- Preparing practical recommendations based on their analyses.
Training sessions were led by UN Women national consultants in Ukraine, Nataliia Sviderska and Myroslava Babak, both of whom have extensive experience in gender-responsive budgeting and public governance.
Results of the Collaboration
The partnership between the High School of Public Governance and UN Women in gender-responsive budgeting has already shown significant results:
- In 2024, 26 public servants completed the training.
- Training sessions were held for 134 representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
- 20 trainers were trained through the Summer School of Trainers' Excellence.
These efforts strengthen the capacity of state institutions to integrate gender equality principles into budget planning, implement effective gender policy during times of crisis and recovery, and meet Ukraine's obligations in the European integration process.
GRB LAB.2 was conducted as part of the UN Women project "Transformative Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine," funded by the Government of Sweden, and implemented in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.