Gender-responsive recovery: How Ukrainian hromadas learn to take into account the needs of everyone
Date:
The training aims to prepare male and female trainers to implement a gender-sensitive approach to recovery, planning, and budgeting in regions and communities.
Photo: UN Women/Andrii Krepkykh
How to integrate a gender perspective into local and regional budgets, development strategies, and recovery plans was the focus of training provided to civil servants and hromada representatives during a three-day event held from August 27 to 29 in the Kyiv region.
24 participants from six eastern regions of Ukraine attended the training. Most were civil servants of categories B and C, representatives of local self-government bodies, and members of non-governmental organizations.
The training was organized by the High School of Public Governance in cooperation with the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, as part of the annual educational initiative titled "Summer School of Training Mastery." It was held in partnership with UN Women in Ukraine, supported by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the Apparatus of the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, and funded by the Government of Sweden.
Purpose of the Event
The goal of the training was to provide in-depth preparation for qualified trainers who will be able to disseminate knowledge and practical skills on integrating a gender approach into recovery processes, strategic planning, and budgeting at various levels.
Key Topics and Practices
The training program included both theoretical modules and practical case studies. Specifically, participants gained knowledge and skills in the following areas:
- Gender analysis and policy impact assessment
- Development of gender profiles of hromadas
- Integration of a gender approach into development strategies
- Application of the SMART methodology to programs with a gender component
- Formation of local budgets that consider the needs of both women and men
Special attention was paid to Ukraine's international commitments in the field of gender equality, analysis of gender statistics, and the role of institutional mechanisms at the local level.
Next Steps
Most participants noted the high practical value of the training but highlighted its limited duration. Among the proposed suggestions were additional training modules, mentorship support, and selection of pilot communities to serve as platforms for implementing gender-responsive recovery tools. There was also a suggestion to raise awareness among local leaders, as they are the ones making key decisions regarding resources, budgets, and recovery strategies.
Developing the human resources of public service in the context of gender-responsive recovery is an important step toward creating inclusive policies that ensure equal access for women and men to resources, services, and opportunities in the process of community recovery.