Management Response

: Serbia
: 2019 - 2021 , Serbia (PP)
: Final Evaluation of the Project Support to Priority Actions for Gender Equality in Serbia (2018-2020)
:
: Serbia
:

The final evaluation of the Project “Support to Priority Actions for Gender Equality in Serbia” implemented in the period from March 2018 – February 2021 by UN Women Programme Office in Serbia in close cooperation with the Coordination Body for Gender Equality (CBGE) and the Ministry of European Integration (MEI) provided a good assessment of the progress made by UN Women and its key Government partners. The findings of the evaluation should contribute to organizational learning, future decision-making and effective programming and accountability. The findings of the evaluation will moreover be used by UN Women and its partners in CBGE to engage policy makers and other stakeholders at national and local levels in evidence-based dialogues and to advocate for gender-responsive strategies to promote inclusive local and national economic development with a particular focus on rural women.
: Approved
Recommendation: Dialogue with the Government on strengthening the role of the CBGE, its institutionalisation and resourcing should be renewed, as well as on strengthening its horizontal and vertical coordination of gender mainstreaming. Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue should be also involved in order to define and delineate responsibilities between these two entities.
Management Response: UN Women will further support the national gender machinery, mainly Coordination Body for Gender Equality and Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue to effectively and efficiently lead and implement the national and international obligations. Through the second phase of the GEF project, UN women will provide technical assistance to building and widening pool of gender equality experts, both within the government institutions and outside, at the state level as well as at municipal and local levels to support and advise on implementation of the newly established laws and strategies. Furthermore, UN Women will moderate the discussion between different stakeholders on priority areas of future Strategy for Gender Equality and on specific measures in NAP for the most vulnerable groups of people.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Provide technical support to the Government in developing new National Strategy for Gender Equality with following Action Plan. UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2022/01 Completed National Strategy for Gender Equality for the period 2021-2030 and Action Plan for the period 2022-2023 adopted by the Government.
2. Provide technical assistance to the Coordination Body for Gender Equality and Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue to implement, monitor and report on the new Strategy and NAP for GE. UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2024/02 Completed
3. Provide technical support to the Government in consultation process and moderate the discussion between different stakeholders on priority areas of future Strategy and NAP for GE and on specific measures in NAP for the most vulnerable groups of people. UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2022/01 Completed
4. Improve vertical coordination between GEMs at national, provincial and local level, in order to enrich coordination activities. UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality 2023/01 Completed Database of local GEMS Annual GEMs conference CBGE Annual Award for local GEMs
Recommendation: UN Women should engage in dialogue with MEI and EU Delegation to discuss how to safeguard the gender measures and indicators introduced at programming stage, up to the stage of implementation that usually comes several years later.
Management Response: In order to ensure gender mainstreaming of EU accession process and IPA programming, along with guidelines produced during the GEF first phase, the process should be further supported and IPA units in relevant institutions should be strengthened.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Conduct Gender Country Profile UN Women, DEU 2021/12 Completed
2. Provide support to IPA bodies in introducing gender mainstreaming tools and principles into the procedures for IPA III implementation (e.g. gender-specific or sex-disaggregated indicators). UN Women, Ministry of European Integration 2024/02 Completed
3. Introduce gender and gender mainstreaming tools in the general professional training programme for civil servants engaged in IPA funds management UN Women, Ministry of European Integration, National Academy for Public Administration 2024/02 Completed
Recommendation: Gender mainstreaming capacity building of GEMs at all levels, MEI and other institutions should be continued and involve learnings from GEF phase 1, particularly in terms of addressing women’s human rights in general and rights of women belonging to vulnerable groups. This should be coordinated with and the trainings should be accredited by the Academy for Public Administration.
Management Response: UN Women has an important and strong role in enhancing gender equality in Serbia. UN Women was constantly advocated for gender equality mechanisms (at all levels, national, provincial and local) and supported gender mainstreaming capacity building of gender focal points In relevant ministries, IPA units focal points, local GEMs. On the other hand, UN Women provide technical support to gender equality machinery and coordination mechanism. Having in mind that the newly adopted Law on Gender Equality stipulates the establishment of local GEMs in every local self-government and establishment of GFP in all relevant institutions. UN Women will further support the capacity building of civil servants, GFP, GEMs, IPA units and other relevant partners.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Organise capacity development activities for the National Gender Machinery (Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, gender focal points from line ministries, local GEMs) on gender mainstreaming and gender responsive policy development. UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2024/02 Completed
2. Support National Academy for Public Administration for accreditation and implementation of gender equality into the IPA training curricula. UN Women 2022/12 Completed
3. Organize Training of Trainers for gender equality and other human rights related issues to create a pool of local experts and ensure continuity in delivering trainings for civil servants. UN Women 2024/02 Completed
Recommendation: Trainings for empowerment of women should be further supported. Learnings from the first cycle of economic empowerment support should be used to further sharpen the approach. Mentoring as a capacity building method should be introduced particularly in running and developing newly established economic activities.
Management Response: Trough GEF second phase of project implementation, the project activities will support active engagement of women and women’s CSO in identifying main issues and priorities related to gender equality and developing watchdog reports, thus influencing the development, implementation and monitoring of gender related programmes and policies at national and local level. Furthermore, trainings and capacity building events will be organized for women CSOs.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Organise trainings and mentoring support to women CSOs for project development, implementation and reporting. UN Women 2024/02 Completed
2. Support CSOs projects to implement targeted initiatives and participate in community development in general. UN Women 2024/02 Completed
3. Provide support for establishing cooperation between women’s CSOs and local GEMs. UN Women 2024/02 Completed
Recommendation: UN Women should support initiatives related to the strengthening legal framework for gender equality and anti-discrimination, particularly drafting and adoption of the new Law on Gender Equality and new Strategy for Gender Equality. Strengthening of institutional and financial position of GEMs and should be taken into account.
Management Response: UN Women Office in Serbia continues to support the National Mechanisms for Gender Equality - Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue and other institutions involved in the implementation of national commitments for gender equality, to provide recommendations and advocate for inclusion of gender equality considerations. UN Women supported the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue in development of three law in the area of human and women’s rights: Gender Equality Law, Law on same sex partnerships; and the Law amending the law on prohibition of discrimination. The laws are developed with the aim to improve the quality of life of citizens in Serbia and ensure fulfilment of international human and women’s rights standards. Under the scope of the project, UN Women support the Government’s efforts in drafting new National Strategy for Gender Equality for the period 2021-2030 with following Action Plan, in line with the Law on Planning System.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: Normative Support
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Provide support to the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue as leading institution for developing Law on Gender equality (supporting experts for developing situation analysis and drafting the text of the Law on GE, organizing dialogues with key stakeholders, experts, CSOs and with public in general) UN Women, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2021/06 Completed
2. Provide support to the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue for development of by laws for implementation of the Law on gender equality. UN Women, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2023/01 Completed The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue developed bylaws for implementation of the Law on gender equality without support. UN Women supported sharing information and knowledge on implementation of the adopted bylaws.
3. Moderate the discussion between different stakeholders in developing phase of Law on Gender Equality, based on Law on Planning System. UN Women, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2021/06 Completed
4. Provide technical assistance to the Coordination Body for Gender Equality and Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue for developing draft Strategy for GE 2021-2030 with following NAP. UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2022/01 Completed
5. Moderate the discussion between different stakeholders on priority areas of future Strategy for GE and NAP, and on specific measures for the most vulnerable groups of people. UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2022/01 Completed
6. Provide support to the Republic Secretariat for Public Policies for systematic introduction of gender perspective in drafting new regulations. UN Women, Republic Secretariat for Public Policies 2023/01 Completed
7. Provide support to relevant ministries in implementation of Gender Equality Test, as mandatory tool established by RSPP. UN Women, Republic Secretariat for Public Policies 2023/01 Completed
Recommendation: UN Women Programme Office in Serbia and UN Women ECA RO should support more dynamic exchange and discussion on possible ways to achieve more regional coherence and synergy in future GEF activities, or through other opportunities as well as exchange through EU Delegations in the Western Balkans and UN Women in order to consistently support advancement of GEEW in EU accession process.
Management Response: UN Women Serbia supports regional exchanges of practices and lessons learned of GEF projects. First regional annual exchange between GEF projects has been organized in June 2021 in Neum, BIH, where GEF Serbia project has been presented as an example of good practice in effectively supporting governmental and non-governmental institutions in implementing priorities for gender equality. This was also the opportunity to exchange information on the status of reforms in each country. A knowledge-sharing database has been established. Regarding EU support in advancement of GE and WEE, European Union has adopted dedicated strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025 and Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in External Action 2021–2025 (GAP III) ensuring continuity of supporting this area in enlargement countries.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Organise and participate in regular annual knowledge exchange and best practice experience between the GEF projects in the region UN Women 2024/02 Completed
2. Organize knowledge exchange between the gender focal points of the EU Delegations in the Western Balkans to discuss findings of the Gender Country Profile and support to gender equality measures. UN Women, EU Delegation in Serbia 2024/02 Completed
Recommendation: Findings and recommendations from analyses conducted in the GEF 1, particularly those related to development grants and grants for CSOs should be used in future design of activities.
Management Response: UN Women Office in Serbia will take into consideration all analyses conducted under GEF first phase in designing all project related activities and, in particular, when designing CfP for CSOs to award grants.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Develope Calls for Proposals for CSOs based on the available recommendations and analysis from GEF first phase and based on the GEF Evaluation findings. UN Women 2023/07 Completed
2. Support Government in developing the new National Strategy for Gender Equality based on the Evaluation of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality 2016-2018 and ex-post analysis of the National Strategy for Gender Equality 2016-2020 UN Women, CBGE, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2022/01 Completed
3. Support local self-governments and local GEMs to implement recommendations for grant support to CSOs at local level (from the analysis „Report on gender gaps in CSO support calls for proposals on local level”). UN Women, Coordination Body for Gender Equality 2024/02 Completed
Recommendation: In order to increase sustainability of new economic initiatives of women, established through GEF, new GEF project could dedicate a part of the project budget for support to beneficiaries of the previous project cycle. This could be done with small grants, precisely targeting key needs that can secure these economic initiatives, their maturation and sustainability.
Management Response: Projects supported under the GEF first phase have been assessed as relevant, with clear intervention strategy and with high sustainability. Some of the projects have been implemented in the period of COVID-19 outbreak which put additional burden to implementation. Through the new Call for Proposals UN Women will support all women CSOs that comply with the requirements of the call. This possible support will be opened to the partners from GEF I/responsible parties. Since this is defined as obligation towards donor, this is a priority. However, if the funds allow and with donor approval, several CSOs could be selected to receive tailored follow up assistance to preserve sustainability of support.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Partially Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Organize Call for Proposals, as planned in the GEF II Project Document, that will be opened for all women CSOs (including CSOs which benefited from the GEF I) UN Women 2024/02 Completed Two CfP targeting improvement of the women's position in the labor market and combating gender-based stereotypes closed. Five CSOs supported under GEF received grants for continuation of project activities/new connected initiatives.
2. Assessing the sustainability of results within the selected grants supported through GEF first phase, designing an response strategy in line with the assessment results and issuing recommendations on possible support to economic initiatives of women established through GEF UN Women 2022/12 Completed
Recommendation: Dialogue platforms of women in academia and women in CSOs and local GEMs should be further supported.
Management Response: UN Women Office in Serbia continues to support the dialogue platforms for exchange of knowledge, opinions and best practice experiences with different stakeholders, such as Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, GEMs, academia and women's organisations.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Support the open dialogues with academia, women CSOs and general public on drafting three Laws (Gender Equality Law, Law on same sex partnerships; and the Law amending the law on prohibition of discrimination) UN Women, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue 2021/06 Completed
2. Support consultations with key stakeholders, academia, women CSOs, on priority areas of future Strategy for GE and NAP, and on specific measures for the most vulnerable groups of people. UN Women 2022/01 Completed
3. Provide technical support to Annual local GEM Conference in order to share best practice experience and to open the dialogue on specific topics. UN Women, CBGE 2024/02 Completed
4. Provide technical support to academia and women CSOs for exchange of knowledge, debates, open dialogues on most relevant topics. UN Women 2024/02 Completed