Gender-sensitive strategies, action plans and budgets for 2022 developed by communities from Cahul and Ungheni

For the first time, 23 communities from Cahul and Ungheni developed gender-sensitive strategies, action plans and budgets for 2022. Twenty of them were approved by Local Councils in December 2021. Thus, 19 rural communities and 3 urban communities from Cahul and Ungheni, partners of EVA Project – Strengthened gender action in Cahul and Ungheni districts, will benefit of gender-sensible local programmes, based on the needs of community’s women and men. The local development strategy is the document that establishes the medium and long-term development directions and areas, focusing in particular on “what needs to change” in the community. 

The strategies and action plans developed in the 23 communities (Cucoara twp, Alexanderfeld v., Vadul lui Isac v., Alexandru Ioan Cuza v., Baurci Moldoveni v., Slobozia Mare v., Văleni v.,  Andrușul de Jos v., Larga Nouă twp, Zîrneşti twp, Măcărești v., Mănoilești v., Pîrlița v., Zagarancea v., Rădenii Vechi v., Costuleni v., Cornești t.; Cahul mun., Ungheni mun., Pelinei, Valea Mare, Cornești v., Teșcureni v.) contain activities that support women/girls in various areas, such as: accessible and inclusive infrastructure, entrepreneurial environment attractive for young people, women and girls; mainstreaming gender equality in education and in the decision-making processes of Local Public Authorities (LPAs), increased participation of citizens in community’s sustainable development and in fighting violence against women and children. These efforts at policy and strategic levels were coupled with the budgetary planning process. 

In this regard, 22 communities from Cahul and Ungheni districts allocated 2% of their budget for gender-based prevention and response and mainstreamed gender in their local budgets. These communities use for the first-time budget indicators and budget subprogramme objectives that take into account the needs of community’s women and girls. Culture, sports, street lighting, road infrastructure and education are some of the areas addressed. For the first time the local strategies and programmes reflect the needs and priorities expressed by women and men during the participatory processes (women and men from the community participated in public consultations) and incorporate data disaggregated by sexes and gender indicators to measure progress in gender equality promotion. 

These achievements were possible thanks to the commitment of local public authorities in generating gender-sensible budgets, action plans and strategies, by engaging actively in the mentoring offered by UN Women and its partners (such as Contact Cahul, IVC CALM, ONG AXA and Gender Centre), with the financial support of the European Union.