Gender equality inclusion in local development strategies in Serbia
-
Upload
united-nations-development-programme -
Category
Documents
-
view
234 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Gender equality inclusion in local development strategies in Serbia
- 1 -
GENDER EQUALITY INCLUSION IN
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES OF
19 MUNICIPALITIES IN SERBIA
FEBRUARY 2011
- 2 -
The report on Gender Equality Inclusion in Local Development Strategies of 19 Municipalities in
Serbia has been completed within the Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development UN Joint
Programme, which is funded by the Spanish Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund
(MDGF).
Author: Aleksandra Vladisavljevid
November 2010
XAOSolutions d.o.o.
www.xaosolutions.com
The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the United Nations or its Member
States
- 3 -
Contents
Introduction
1. Gender Aspect to Local Development
1.1. Importance of Gender Aspect to Local Development
1.2. Importance of Gender Aspect to Rural Economy Including Rural Tourism
2. Analysis of Gender Aspect Inclusion in Local Development Strategies
2.1. Selected Municipalities/Cities
2.2. Types of Analysed Strategic Documents
2.3. Methodology
2.4. Key Findings by Selected Regions
2.5. Central Serbia (Ljig, Valjevo, Kosjerid, Gornji Milanovac and Mionica)
2.6. Lower Podunavlje (Golubac, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Požarevac and Veliko Gradište)
2.7. Southern Banat (Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovin and Vršac)
2.8. Eastern Serbia (Knjaževac, Zaječar, Pirot, Dimitrovgrad and Negotin)
3. Conclusions and Recommendations
3.1. Methodologies for Local Development Strategies’ Drafting
3.2. Gender Statistics, Data Usage and Indicators
3.3. Knowledge of Gender Equality
3.4. Rural Tourism and Gender Aspect
- 4 -
Introduction
Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development UN Programme and Gender Aspect
An review of local development strategies from gender perspective is a part of the activities
within the Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development Programme, which is being
implemented as part of the joint programme by UN agencies (UNDP, UNEP, FAO, UNWTO
and UNICEF) in cooperation with national partners: Ministry of Economy and Regional
Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, and the National
Tourism Organisation of Serbia. The joint programme started in December 2009 and it will
last until May 2012.
The Sustainable Tourism Development Programme is carried out in the following regions:
Central Serbia (Ljig, Valjevo, Kosjerid, Mionica and Gornji Milanovac), Eastern Serbia
(Golubac, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Požarevac, Veliko Gradište), Southern Banat along the
Danube river (Alibunar, Vršac and Kovin), and Lower Podunavlje (Knjaževac, Zaječar,
Dimitrovgrad and Negotin).
The expectation is that the Programme results in a development of a regulatory framework
at the national level for support to diversification of economy of rural areas through support
for tourism development and contribution to achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals, while improving networking and organisational level of rural tourism economy along
with all the associated activities at the local and regional level as well as advancing
capacities of local stakeholders for the production and provision of services in accordance
with the state’s strategies.
The objective of local development strategies review from gender perspective is to
determine to what an extent the gender aspect is included in local development strategies,
and, based on the findings, to define specific recommendations for the inclusion of gender
aspect in local and regional strategies for sustainable rural tourism development in target
areas of the joint UN Programme.
- 5 -
Methodology
Methodology of work in the analysis of local development strategies from gender
equality perspective included the following:
a. Gathering local development strategies in 19 target cities/municipalities followed up
by an analysis as to whether the gender aspect was included in these documents,
and identification of shortcomings in this respect.
b. Preparation of reports featuring key findings and recommendations in regards to the
manner in which gender perspective should be included in local development
strategies as well as rural tourism development strategies/plans.
Report Structure
The first part of the report contains introductory remarks pertaining to the importance
of gender aspect in the process of planning, drafting and implementation of local
development strategies, as well as the importance of gender aspect to rural areas’
economic development, including rural tourism.
The second part of the report presents an overview of local development plans of
selected municipalities and is intended to determine the degree and manner in which
gender perspective has been included in the strategies themselves. In addition, the
report appraises if local development strategies have included both goals and activities
focusing on rural tourism development, as well as if gender perspective has been
acknowledged/included in this segment, and if so, in which way.
The third and last part of the report features conclusions and recommendations.
- 6 -
1. The importance of the Gender Aspect to Local Development
1.1. Institutional Framework for Achieving Gender Equality at the Local level
Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, as the basic and supreme law of the legal system, contains several provisions that are important for the establishment and operation of institutional mechanisms (different bodies, bodies in the Assembly or the bodies of executive power) for gender equality at the local (municipal) level. The following provisions of the Constitution talk about the need to establish local gender equality mechanisms1;
a. Municipalities and other local governments have prescribed obligation to take care of the realization, protection and promotion of human and minority rights including the right to gender equality and all rights on that basis as well as the prohibition of discrimination based on of sex (Article 190, paragraph 3)2;
b. The Constitution expressly provides for access to the local community at the local level, within the jurisdiction of a municipality to adopt special measures at the local level, its meaning and purpose is precisely to achieve equality of individuals or groups that are substantially in an unequal position, and determines the non-discriminatory nature of these measures (Article 21 paragraph 4)3.
Further, in December of 2009 the Law on Gender Equality4 was adopted which in the Article 39 defines the task of the local government as follows5:
a. Institutional bodies of local self-government, within its competence, ensure gender equality and achieving equal opportunities.
b. Institutional bodies of local self-government encourage and promote gender equality within its authority and duties related to gender equality.
c. In the process of adopting development plans and other documents, local self-government discuses measures and activities to contribute to the realization of gender equality and equal opportunities.
In addition, in March of 2009 Government of Serbia has adopted the National Strategy for Improvement of Women’s position and Promotion of Gender Equality6, which defines objectives and concrete activities in the areas of: decision making, health, economic status, and violence against women, education and the media. The Strategy represents a good starting point for the inclusion of gender aspects into preparation of local development strategies.
1 Prof Dr Marijana Pajvančid, jurisdiction and local gender equality mechanisms presentation 2 Ibid 3 Ibid 4 http://www.parlament.gov.rs/content/lat/akta/akta_detalji.asp?Id=724&t=Z# 5Ibid 6 http://www.minrzs.gov.rs/cir/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=27&Itemid=233&lang=sr
- 7 -
1.2. Importance of Gender Aspect to Local Development
The main goal of local socio-economic development is improvement of the quality of
everyday life for people in local communities. Therefore, the people with and for whom
development is being planned are crucial for development as such.
Women’s resources are necessary for development, but their mobilisation largely depends
on the level of established gender equality. Various international experiences and surveys
point to a close correlation between development and gender equality. Wherever there is a
higher level of equality in place, there is also a higher level of development, and vice
versa. Moreover, the introduction of gender perspective inevitably entails an increase in the
participation of not only women but various other stakeholders, i.e. an increase in the level
of ownership over development, which is effectively translated into an increase of the
general level of democratisation of a society, being at the same time a guarantee for quality
development7 (Blagojevid M., 2008).
In order to be able to work on improvement of the quality of people’s everyday lives in local
communities through development strategies, in addition to an assessment of natural and
infrastructure resources as well as gathering of relevant statistical data, it is necessary,
above all, to determine how people’s everyday life looks like, who are all the individuals
living in a given local community, population age structure, education, gender,
qualifications, their economic activities, what they live off, what their revenues are, which
are the biggest problems that they are coming across in their everyday life, what their needs
are, what their potential and interests are as well as possibilities for and obstacles to
realisation of this potential in the given local context.
Understanding of everyday life of women and men in a specific local environment allows
recognising the needs that they have, but also their real potential which may mobilised for
the sake of development.
In this context, the introduction of gender aspect into local development entails a process
which would ensure that women and men equally decide on development, i.e. that they
have an equal access to resources, equal control over resources, and to enjoy equal
benefits from development (Blagojevid, 2008).
The introduction of gender aspect also constitutes a strategic approach whereby, through
specific policies (measures and programmes), multiple potentials of both women and men
7 Blagojević M. and Vladisavljević A. (2008) A Guide for Gender-Based Budgeting at Municipal Level – Vojvodina’s Model (Vodič za
rodno budžetiranje na opštinskom nivou – Vojvođanski model).
- 8 -
are strengthened, and where a benefit for an individual is
translated into a benefit for the entire community.
1.3. Importance of Gender Aspect to Rural Economy Including Rural Tourism
Rural economy in Serbia is insufficiently diversified and predominantly reliant on agriculture.
According to a study on social exclusion8 in rural areas, those households which are
predominantly relying on agriculture as a source of income run the highest risk of poverty.
Women represent a significant resource of the rural economy. However, their socio-
economic status is highly unfavourable. On one hand it is conditioned by general
development opportunities in the given environment, and on the other hand by the
unfavourable socio-economic position itself of women in our society, particularly the
position of women in villages.
Women and men in rural areas have limited employment opportunities outside the
agricultural households. This is due to the fact that industrial systems that once employed
many workers (for example food processing and/or textile industries) have collapsed, and
new companies established in the sector have no need for the same number of
people. There is a lack of new jobs created, entrepreneurship is not sufficiently developed
nor investments in the development and diversification of the local rural
economy. Programs to support entrepreneurship in services or other non-agricultural
activities are not developed. Infrastructure is either underdeveloped (roads, water supply,
sewerage, telephone and internet connections), limited or entirely absent. Access to various
services such as health care, nurseries and kindergartens is limited. Opportunities for
informal education and lifelong learning are limited. Educational level of men and women in
rural areas is very unfavorable. Among those without education in Serbia 65, 5% lives in
rural areas9. According to information issued by Republic of Serbia Treasury in September
2010, 71, 37% agricultural households are registered on men, and 28,63% on women.
While men are often employed in agriculture women are for the most part the so-called
“helping members”10 of agricultural households. They are involved in a variety of activities
in agricultural households, above all, in terms of their labour contribution. This does not
necessarily mean that they receive equal compensation. Most often they are not owners of
the arable land, nor is the house registered in their name. Hence, their participation in
decision-making concerning economic activities is minor. A survey of women’s position on
8 Cvejid S., Babovid M., Petrovid M., Bogdanov N., Vukovid O., Study on Social Exclusion in Serbia’s Rural Areas 2010 (Studija o društvenoj isključenosti u ruralnim područjima Srbije 2010), UNDP, Serbia. 9 Source: 2002 census, book 4, page 14, Statistical office of Republic of Serbia 10 According to the Labour Force Survey (Anketa o radnoj snazi, ARS) definition, the term ‘helping members of households’ refers to “persons who were helping in a given period another family member run family business or agricultural holding, but were not paid for their work.” (Serbian Statistical Office, Labour Force Survey (RSZ, ARS), 2006:8).
- 9 -
Serbia’s labour market, which was conducted on the basis
of data collected as part of the Labour Force Survey, has shown that 72.3% of “helping”
members of households are women as well as that most of them – 92.3% – are involved in
agriculture (Babovid, 2007:40)11.
What crucially distinguishes the “helping” members of households from the main
protagonists of agricultural production at the family holding is not only unpaid work, and
consequently no pension benefits but also other important components: decision-making
power as regards the agricultural production (designating types, quantities, production
technologies, division of labour, schedule of work-related activities) as well as the decision-
making pertaining to distribution of revenues generated by joint work effort. In fact, unpaid
work in the context of making decisions on production and revenue distribution actually
points to the measure of exploitation of the “helping” members of the household.12
Women are also engaged in a non-monetary manner (time budget) since they carry out
activities which directly assist to sustainability of families. Namely, they are preparing food
for household members, look after children, the elderly and the household.13
The burden of “care economy” (above all, the care of children, the sick and the elderly) is
predominantly on women. Apart from insufficient opportunities for employment outside
agricultural holdings, the lack of access to social care services further diminish their
opportunities for employment outside the household, even when such a chance comes up.
To illustrate the point, a survey14 of economic activities of unemployed women in rural
areas, conducted in the villages of Bački Petrovac municipality in 2009, has shown that one
of the important reasons for unemployment of young women with children outside
agricultural holdings is precisely the lack of nurseries and kindergartens. Similar situation is
to be found in other villages throughout Serbia. Inadequate public transport and health care
services further aggravate everyday life in a village.
On the one hand women are predominantly involved in “care economy” and they also work
daily at agricultural holdings, but on the other hand their formal status is such that they are
unemployed (not registered, hence also without pension and disability insurance).
Consequently, it is harder for women to accomplish their personal goals and ultimately
become self-employed, i.e. if they were to start a business on their own, they would need
the support of their families to follow through with it.
11
Babović M., Vuković O., (2008), Women in Villages as “helping” Members of Agricultural Households: Position, Roles and Social
Rights (Žene na selu kao pomažući članovi poljoprivrednog domaćinstva: Položaj, uloge i socijalna prava). 12
Babović M., Vuković O., (2008), Women in Villages as “helping” Members of Agricultural Households: Position, Roles and Social
Rights (Žene na selu kao pomažući članovi poljoprivrednog domaćinstva: Položaj, uloge i socijalna prava), p. 31. 13
Blagojević M., Vladisavljević A., (2008), A Guide for Gender-Based Budgeting at Municipal Level – Vojvodina’s Model (Vodič za
rodno budžetiranje na opštinskom nivou – Vojvođanski model). 14
The survey was conducted as part of the project of gender-sensitive budgeting in Bački Petrovac municipality, 2008.
- 10 -
In order to diversify the rural economy in Serbia, rural
tourism is being promoted in Serbia, even though it is at a very early stage15 of its
development. According to one of the definitions, rural tourism is essentially an activity
taking place in villages, presenting a rural way of life, art, culture and heritage in rural areas,
and enabling interaction between tourists and local population. Typical features of rural
tourism are that it is based on experience, that it takes place in a natural environment, that
it relies on seasonal and local events and that it is based on the preservation of culture,
heritage and tradition. Rural tourism provides for interconnecting with other activities and
creates a market for other products and services in rural areas.
At the level of everyday life, rural tourism is an activity in which women are largely involved.
They prepare food, maintain and clean the household, keep up the hygiene, take part in
various other activities that are important for rural tourism (souvenir making, food
production and processing according to traditional recipes, and with geographic origin,
personal services, etc.) Rural tourism is, therefore, acknowledged as an opportunity for
women’s employment in villages. However, for the most part women that engage in tourism
perceive it as ‘an incidental or marginal chore’ in addition to their regular chores in the
household. Their resources as labour force are being additionally utilised, but the revenues
thus far are insufficient to render it a regular full-time job with all the benefits (e.g. pension
and disability insurance) on the basis of which they would be able to finally achieve
economic security. Moreover, there are examples where investment in rural tourism has
further impoverished local population as they are unable to generate sufficient revenues
and income from the existing demand for their services.16
Women are necessary resource for rural tourism, but also for rural economy’s diversification
in general. The research17 shows that women are very interested and also prefer
employment outisde agriculture. It is necessary to acknowledge them, include them in
development planning and decision-making regarding rural areas’ development, identify
limitations and possibilities for their inclusion, as well as introduce measures that will
eliminate limitations and activate their potentials in order to improve their economic
position, which would also benefit local communities in general. Gender aspect to rural
tourism development would entail, above all, gender mainstreaming of methodology for
drafting plans for rural tourism development, as well as improvement of the existing plans
by including gender aspect. It is also necessary to allocate adequate technical and financial
resources for efficient and effective implementation of development plans.
15
Rural Development in the Republic of Serbia (Ruralni razvoj u Republici Srbiji), p. 16,
http://www2.exchange.org.rs/upload/documents/podrska/sr/Ruralni%20razvoj.pdf . 16
Đundić Branković M., Božanić D., Baćanović V. (PAŽ – 2009) Irig Municipality – Gender Responsive Budgeting – Possibilities for
Solving Women’s Unemployment Problem through Tourism Development (Opština Irig - Rodno budžetiranje – Mogućnosti
rešavanja problema nezaposlenosti žena kroz razvoj turizma). 17
Blagojevic M., Women in villages in Vojvodina, everyday life and rural development, 2010 / Results of research survey
- 11 -
2. Analysis of Gender Aspect’s Inclusion in Selected Local Development
Strategies
2.1. Objective
The main objective of this gender analysis is to determine to what an extent gender
aspect is included in local development strategies, as well as those segments of
strategies dealing with rural tourism development, and based on the findings, to define
specific recommendations for the inclusion of gender aspect in local and regional
strategies for sustainable rural tourism development in target areas of the joint UN
Programme
2.2. Selected Municipalities/Cities
Municipalities and cities selected for gender analysis were those covered by the UN Joint
Program Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development18:
- Central Serbia (Ljig, Valjevo, Kosjerid, Mionica and Gornji Milanovac)
- Eastern Serbia (Golubac, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Požarevac and Veliko Gradište),
- Southern Banat along the Danube river (Alibunar, Vršac and Kovin), and
- Lower Podunavlje (Knjaževac, Zaječar, Dimitrovgrad and Negotin).
2.3. Types of Analysed Documents
The subject matter of the analysis of gender aspect inclusion in local development strategies
are strategic development documents of municipalities and cities. The strategies and
development plans, which were current and up-to-date at the time when the analysis was
being carried out, were analysed, i.e. those strategies and development plans whose
objectives, activities and measures cover the period from 2010 and after. Bearing in mind
that the gender aspect inclusion analysis is carried out as part of the Sustainable Tourism for
Rural Development Programme, when identifying development documents, the criterion
also was the measure in which tourism and rural tourism components were represented in
the documents themselves.
18
Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development UN Joint Programme implemented by five UN agencies (UNDP,
UNEP, FAO, UNWTO and UNICEF) in cooperation with national partners: Ministry of Economy and Regional Development,
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, and the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia. The joint
programme has started in December 2009 and it will last until May 2012.
- 12 -
These documents were either downloaded from official
web sites of the municipalities and cities or received in direct communication with
municipalities’ representatives. Some documents were provided by the manager of the joint
UN programme. A total of 22 strategic documents were collected from 19
municipalities/cities, and these are as follows: local economic development strategies (8)19,
sustainable development strategies (7)20, rural development strategies (3)21, tourism
development strategies – interim report (1)22, tourism development and promotion
programmes (1)23, and municipality development programmes (2)24. For three municipalities
(Dimitrovgrad, Pirot and Knjaževac), two documents each were identified and included into
analysis. A list of all the collected strategic documents is enclosed in Appendix 1.
2.4. Methodology
While performing the analysis of the measure in which gender perspective is included in
local development strategies, our goal was to determine if the issue of gender equality had
been recognised and acknowledged, whether local development strategies set out
objectives and activities as well as earmark funds to be directed towards the advancement
of gender equality, and if the designated activities in development plans would benefit
women and men equally, i.e. whether their needs and potentials for participation in local
development had been recognised and acknowledged.
The purpose of the local strategic documents gender analysis was to determine the
following:
i. Does the analysis of the situation in a municipality contain sex disaggregated data?
Does it contain information on socio-economic position of women in the given
municipality/city?
ii. Has the importance of gender equality been recognised?
iii. Are the objectives geared towards an improvement of the women’s position and
advancement of gender equality?
iv. Are designated activities focused on an improvement of the women’s position and
advancement of gender equality?
v. Which are the areas where the activities directed towards an improvement of the
women’s position and advancement of gender equality have been designated?
vi. Issues/problems of importance for gender equality have been recognised.
vii. Is the field of rural tourism further elaborated in the strategies?
viii. Has the gender aspect to rural tourism been recognised?
19 Kosjerid, Mionica,Golubac, Majdanpek, Požarevac, Vršac, Zaječar and Pirot. 20 Valjevo, Kladovo, Požarevac, Veliko Gradište, Kovin, Knjaževac and Dimitrovgrad. 21 Knjaževac, Ljig and Alibunar. 22 Dimitrovgrad. 23 Pirot. 24 Gornji Miilanovac and Negotin.
- 13 -
ix. Have gender indicators for strategy
implementation monitoring also been defined (e.g. when implementing projects)?
x. Have the issues that are defined in the National Strategy for Improvement of the
Position of Women and Advancement of Gender Equality of the Republic of Serbia,
2009-2015 (decision-making, education, economic position, health, violence against
women and media) been recognised?
xi. Has the Law on Gender Equality as well as the obligations arising from this Law and
pertaining to the work of local self-governments and gender equality in any way
been mentioned or recognised ?
xii. Have the strategies earmarked funds for the implementation of activities intended to
improve the position of women and advance gender equality
In addition, the attention has been given to the process in which local strategies were
developed, whether it was participatory, and whether it included a variety of local
stakeholders. This indicator, however, could not be included as a separate criterion for
analysis, because the analysis was performed only on the basis of examination of
documents, no additional contacts with representatives of local governments where this
information could also be checked. Where the process was described in text of analyzed
documents, we have included it into findings.
- 14 -
2.5. Key Findings by Regions In the following chapter the key findings are presented by regions.
2.5.1. Central Serbia (Ljig, Valjevo, Kosjerić, Gornji Milanovac and Mionica)
Local development strategies of selected municipalities and cities in Central Serbia have no
gender aspect included in a systemic manner, nor have the issues of gender equality been
recognised as important for local community development.
In some municipalities, the statistics collected in the analysis of the situation has not been
gender-disaggregated, which is why one cannot gain an insight into basic information about
the population (population size by gender, educational structure, age, employment,
unemployment, ethnic background, vulnerable groups such as Roma women or persons
with disability). Social problems have been recognised like violence against women and high
unemployment rate among women. Rural tourism is highlighted as a possibility for women
employment, but without defined objectives and activities to achieve it. When a local
strategy acknowledges some of the problems, which women come across in local
communities, this is because civil society organisations and local nongovernmental
organisations (NGOs) have been involved in the strategy drafting process, which could be
seen from descriptions of participatory processes in some of analysed strategies.
Among selected municipalities/cities, Valjevo is the only one where the importance of
institutionalisation of gender equality has been highlighted through the formation of an
institutional gender equality mechanism, hence one may assume that this might serve as a
starting point for launching subsequent activities intended for, amongst other things,
gender mainstreaming25 of development strategies.
Answers to key questions are presented in tables for each municipality. Fields which are empty denote that there are no data in the documents for the given indicator.
Indicator Ljig Valjevo Kosjerić G.Milanovac Mionica
Analysis of situation in the local strategies
contains data at the level of local community
and households classified by gender
population population unemployment
Analysis of situation contains information on
socio-economic situation of women in target
municipality/city
In the analysed local strategies importance of
gender equality has been recognized
Analysed local strategies feature objectives
25 Gender mainstreaming (introduction of gender perspective to programmes and policies).
- 15 -
(projects) focused on improvement of women’s
position and advancement of gender equality
Analysed local strategies feature activities
(projects) focused on improvement of women’s
position and advancement of gender equality
X
Areas in which projects focusing on
improvement of women’s position and
advancement of gender equality are defined in
analysed local strategies
violence against
women,
institutionalisation of
gender equality issue
support for
victims of
violence26
Issues/problems of importance for achieving
gender equality are recognised in analysed
local strategies
unemployment violence against
women, insufficient
care of women and
their rights
The Strategy recognises the sector of rural tourism X X X X X
Strategy contains gender aspect to rural
tourism
rural tourism is
seen as an
opportunity for
employment of
women
In the local strategies gender indicators for
monitoring of strategy and projects
implementation are defined
Recognised issues defined in National
Strategy27 (decision-making, education,
economic position, health, violence against
women and media)
unemployment violence against
women
Recognised Gender Equality Act and
obligations stemming from this Act pertaining
to the work of local self-government and
gender equality
indirectly through
establishing of local
gender equality
commission
Designated funds for implementation of
projects intended to improve the position of
women and advance gender equality
X
2.5.2. Lower Podunavlje (Golubac, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Požarevac and Veliko Gradište)
Local development strategies of selected municipalities and cities in Lower Podunavlje have
no gender aspect included in a systemic manner.
In four out of five municipalities, the gender equality issues have been recognised as
important for local community development and the activities intended to improve the
position of women and advance gender equality have been defined and funds designated
for the purpose. The methodology of drafting the strategy itself has not incorporated
gender aspects. Instead, it has been “appended” to it later on. The Sustainable Development
Strategy for the city of Požarevac features a paragraph emphasising the importance of
26
It has not been defined who are the victims and which violence. 27
National Strategy for Improvement of the Position of Women and Advancement of Gender Equality of the Government of the
Republic of Serbia for 2009-2015.
- 16 -
achieving gender equality. However, the data presented in
this strategy were from the Poverty Reduction Strategy, hence gender aspect as such
(without citing the source). Neither objectives, nor activities and situation analysis bear any
correlation with the situation in Požarevac. Nonetheless, this leaves some room for revising
and defining the activities at a later stage while drafting other development documents.
In the municipalities of Golubac and Majdanpek, gender aspect has not been integrated in
the methodology itself. Instead, at the initiative of a donor providing support for the
strategy drafting28 a segment pertaining to the importance of gender aspect for local
development was included at the very end of the document drafting process, when it was
almost completed. In addition, the importance of defining gender indicators while
monitoring strategy implementation and ensuring equal participation and distribution of
benefits for women and men in the local community have also been stated.
Regarding the issues of importance for gender equality, the strategies in this region
acknowledge poverty among women, particularly in marginalised groups (Roma, single
mothers, women with disabilities), violence against women, entrepreneurship, employment
and infrastructure. The Local Sustainable Development Strategy for the municipality of
Veliko Gradište (2010 – 2014) also recognises the importance of gender equality by way of
designating, in addition to objectives/activities/projects, if there is an impact on gender
equality, however, without additional explanation what this may mean for the actual
implementation process.
Even when a strategy only formally acknowledges the importance of gender equality,
without defined objectives and activities, this may serve as a starting point for further work
on this over the course of implementation, and while drafting annual implementation plans,
these flaws may be corrected.
Answers to key questions are presented in tables for each municipality. Fields which are empty denote that there are no data in the documents for the given indicator.
Indicator Golubac Kladovo Majdanpek Požarevac V. Gradište
Analysis of situation in the
municipality contains data at
the level of local community
and households classified by
gender
population,
education and
employment
population,
educational
structure,
employment,
unemployment
population,
education and
employment
unemployment unemployment, age
groups,
participation in
agriculture
Analysis of situation contains
information on socio-economic
situation of women in target
There is a separate
section
emphasising the
28
Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ_, Municipal Economic Development in the Danube Region
- 17 -
municipality/city importance of
gender equality,
however – it is
copied from the
Poverty Reduction
Strategy of the
Serbian
government.
There is no a link
with the position
of women in
Požarevac
Strategy recognises importance
of gender equality X X X X
Strategy features objectives
(projects) focused on
improvement of women’s
position and advancement of
gender equality
Strategy features activities
(projects) focused on
improvement of women’s
position and advancement of
gender equality
X X contains
defined impact
on gender
equality29
Areas in which projects
focusing on improvement of
women’s position and
advancement of gender
equality are defined
entrepreneurship entrepreneurship
Issues/problems of importance
for achieving gender equality
are recognised in the Strategy
entrepreneurship violence entrepreneurship poverty, women
from marginalised
groups (Roma,
single mothers,
women with
disabilities)
employment,
agrarian policy,
business
development, water
supply, social
protection
The Strategy recognises the
sector of rural tourism
X X X X
Strategy contains gender
aspect to rural tourism
Defined gender indicators for
monitoring of strategy and
projects implementation
proposed to be
included in
project
monitoring30
proposed to be
included in
project
monitoring31
Recognised issues that are
defined in the National
Strategy32 (decision-making,
education, economic position,
health, violence against
women, and media)
entrepreneurship
violence
against women
entrepreneurship
Recognised Gender Equality
Act and obligations stemming
from this Act pertaining to the
29 Impact of proposed measures as part of priorities concerning gender, equality and poverty reduction is presented in a table, but without any further explanation 30 Gender aspect was subsequently incorporated in the text of the strategy at the intervention by GTZ. However, given that there had been no methodological planning from the beginning, it was noted that gender indicators should be defined for all the projects during implementation and that data should be gender-disaggregated. 31 Ibid. 32 National Strategy for Improvement of the Position of Women and Advancement of Gender Equality of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for 2009-2015.
- 18 -
work of local self-government
and gender equality
Designated funds for
implementation of projects
intended to improve the
position of women and
advance gender equality
X
X
2.5.3. Southern Banat (Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovin and Vršac)
Local development strategies of selected municipalities and cities in Southern Banat have
not included gender aspect in a systemic manner, nor have the issues of gender equality
been recognised as important for local community development.
In two out of four municipalities (Vršac and Alibunar), some issues of importance for gender
equality have been acknowledged: poverty, women unemployment, violence against
women, as well as lack of strategies for women employment in rural areas. However, there
are no defined objectives or activities that would be focused on solving the problems which
have been identified.
Answers to key questions are presented in tables for each municipality. Fields which are empty denote that there are no data in the documents for the given indicator.
Indicator Alibunar Bela Crkva Kovin Vršac
Analysis of situation in the municipality contains data at
the level of local community and households classified by
gender
population,
education,
unemployment
population,
unemployment
population,
unemployment
Analysis of situation contains information on socio-
economic situation of women in target municipality/city
Strategy recognises importance of gender equality
Strategy features objectives (projects) focused on
improvement of women’s position and advancement of
gender equality
X
Strategy features activities (projects) focused on
improvement of women’s position and advancement of
gender equality
X
Areas in which projects focusing on improvement of
women’s position and advancement of gender equality
are defined
violence against
women
Issues/problems of importance for achieving gender
equality are recognised in the analysed documents
violence
against
women,
unemployment
lack of strategy for
self-employment of
women in rural
areas, violence
against women,
women poverty
Strategy recognises the area of rural tourism X X X
Strategy contains gender aspect to rural tourism
Defined gender indicators for monitoring of strategy and
- 19 -
projects implementation
Recognised issues defined in the National Strategy33
(decision-making, education, economic position, health,
violence against women, and media)
violence
against women
economic position
of women, violence
Recognised Gender Equality Act and obligations
stemming from this Act pertaining to the work of local
self-government and gender equality
Designated funds for implementation of projects
intended to improve the position of women and advance
gender equality
2.5.4. Eastern Serbia (Knjaževac, Zaječar, Pirot, Dimitrovgrad and Negotin)
Local development strategies of selected municipalities and cities in Eastern Serbia have not
included gender aspect in a systemic manner, but the issues of gender equality have been
recognised to a degree as important for local community development.
In the Local Development Strategy for Zaječar (the same applies to the municipalities of
Majdanpek and Golubac), gender aspect has not been integrated in the methodology itself.
Instead, at the initiative of a donor providing support for the strategy drafting34, a segment
pertaining to the importance of gender aspect was included at the very end of the
document drafting process. It was then that a remark about the importance of defining
gender indicators – while monitoring strategy implementation and ensuring equal
distribution of benefits for both women and men in the local community – was added. The
following issues have been recognised as being important for gender equality in the region
of Eastern Serbia: economic position of women, violence against women, social care of
children, and access to various services.
Answers to key questions are presented in tables for each municipality. Fields which are empty denote that there are no data in the documents for the given indicator.
Indicator Knjaževac Zaječar Pirot Dimitrovgrad Negotin
Analysis of situation in the municipality
contains data at the level of local community
and households classified by gender
population,
employment and
education
population,
employment
population,
employment
population,
employment
Analysis of situation contains information on
socio-economic situation of women in target
municipality/city
Strategy recognises importance of gender
equality
X
Strategy features objectives (projects)
focused on improvement of women’s
position and advancement of gender
equality
X X
33 National Strategy for Improvement of the Position of Women and Advancement of Gender Equality of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for 2009-2015. 34 GTZ, Municipal Economic Development in the Danube Region
- 20 -
Strategy features activities (projects) focused
on improvement of women’s position and
advancement of gender equality
X X
Areas in which projects focusing on
improvement of women’s position and
advancement of gender equality are defined
violence against
women
entrepreneurship employment,
equal
opportunities
violence against
women,
employment
Issues/problems of importance for gender
equality as recognised in the Strategy
violence against
women,
unemployment,
poor access to
services
entrepreneurship employment violence against
women,
employment
The Strategy recognises the sector of rural
tourism
X X X X X
Strategy contains gender aspect to rural
tourism
Crafting of
traditional
kilims
Defined gender indicators for monitoring of
strategy and projects implementation
proposed to be
included for
project
monitoring35
X
Recognised issues defined in National
Strategy36 (decision-making, education,
economic position, health, violence against
women and media)
violence against
women
economic
position
Recognised Gender Equality Act and
obligations stemming from this Act
pertaining to the work of local self-
government and gender equality
Designated funds for implementation of
projects intended to improve the position of
women and advance gender equality
35 Gender aspect was subsequently incorporated in the text of the strategy at the intervention by GTZ. However, given that there had been no methodological planning from the beginning, it was noted that gender indicators should be defined for all the projects during implementation and that data should be gender-disaggregated. 36 National Strategy for Improvement of the Position of Women and Advancement of Gender Equality of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for 2009-2015.
- 21 -
3. Conclusions and Recommendations
The conclusions are structured around four main gaps identified (i) undefined common
methodology for drafting local development plans including methods for inclusion of gender
aspect; (ii) practise of data collection and data usage including gender statistics, (iii)
knowledge on gender equality, and (iv) gender aspect of the rural tourism development.
Each conclusion is followed by set of recommendations.
3.1. Methodology for Drafting Local Development Strategies –
By reviewing strategies for 19 municipalities and cities it can be concluded that there is no
common methodology for drafting local development strategies, be it local economic
development, sustainable or rural development strategies. They differ depending on who
financed the drafting of a given strategy, which teams were involved, and what the
capacities of local groups and the institutions themselves were to offer necessary
information and answers to challenges were as well as what the level of participation of all
stakeholders locally was.
All strategies have the following in common:
- lack of analytical approach when assessing the position of women and men living in
local communities and their problems, needs and resources, and lack of strategic and
realistic solution to those problems, as well as the way in which the existing resources
may be mobilised to foster development
- human resources development (which is the crucial development-related issue),
identified as a necessity, has not been encompassed to a sufficient degree by priority
strategic objectives and strategies’ activities
- methodology for strategy drafting in all the municipalities did not entail (except
verbally) the inclusion of gender aspect, nor were necessary funds for this activity
earmarked (time, tools, experts, means)
- lack of private sector involvement in the actual drafting process as well as lack of
perspectives and contribution of the private sector to the local development concept;
- The process of developing local strategies was in some municipalities highly
participatory (Golubac Majdanpek, Zajecar, Valjevo, for example). The value of a
participatory process is in the ownership over document and development process,
which represents a significant capital for the implementation.
Recommendations:
- 22 -
- Support defining a common methodology37 for local
development strategy drafting, which would ensure participatory approach, ownership
over the document and quality of the final document that would observe the interests
of both men and women locally. This entails the defining of tools and specific
instructions to be followed in the drafting process. Additionally, it would be possible to
train a sufficient number of experts/consultants to use the common methodology who
would then be a resource for local communities in and outside their municipalities. A
common methodology would ensure the inclusion of all important development issues
and it would not depend solely on a team which is drafting the strategy and its
understanding of individual issues.
- Use examples of good practices in the process of drafting of local development plans
and other strategic documents in other municipalities with integrated gender
dimension. One of good examples is the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Stara
Pazova adopted in December 2009 where gender equality was defined as one of
objectives, and measures and means to achieve this goal are planned38. Gender
aspect was added during the consultative process by the Commission for Equality of
Stara Pazova Municipality.
- Gender mainstreaming should be applied to the common methodology, i.e. gender
aspect should be integrated in it through accurate defining of all the steps and tools in
planning. Gender mainstreaming of the methodology should be entrusted to gender
equality experts who understand the local context in which the development in Serbia
is being planned. In addition to the creation of the tools, methodology should include
information from adopted state strategies which are relevant to gender equality such
as: National Strategy for Improvement of the Position of Women and Advancement of
Gender Equality, Gender Equality Act, Millennium Development Goals, and other
national documents where gender aspect has been integrated and that are important
for rural and rural tourism development, as well as the development of various surveys
and studies.
3.2. Gender Statistics, Use of Data and Indicators –
A lack of gender-disaggregated statistical data has been noted in all the analysed
documents, including those collected and subsequently published by official statistical
37 Good practice example is MIPRO metodology developed in Bosnia. MIPRO has been developed and later on accepted by local governments as comom mentodology when developing local socio economic development strategies.It is however important to strees that MIPRO is also lacking gender aspect. This has been recignized and it will be improved. nadoknadio. http://www.undp.ba/index.aspx?PID=36&RID=92 38 http://www.starapazova.eu/sr/strategija_or-dokumenti/strategija-odrzivog-razvoja.pdf, str.74-75
- 23 -
agencies. Except for the absence of gender-disaggregated
data, the lack of conclusions inferred on the basis of data is evident (the data are there, but
no interpretation whatsoever), hence a failure to use the information obtained from the
data for the purpose of policy-making (evidence based policies). Additionally, the data are
often outdated, or there are none, or local self-governments do not have them (e.g. the
data are being processed at the national level, but there is no feedback to local
communities). The practice of using the data and understanding their meaning is lacking
when setting local community priorities. Indicators are haphazardly and partially defined or
are absent, and in almost all the cases they are not gender mainstreamed (lack of gender
indicators).
The data have been mostly collected from the official statistics whereas the results of
various surveys have not been included even when available and correlated with
development issues.
Recommendations:
- Prepare the instructions, as a tool for introduction of gender perspective in
development strategies, explaining which data and information need to be collected
in order to advance gender equality, and define methods for collection of such
information (official statistics, additional surveys);
- Define gender indicators for all the areas covered by local strategies;
- Provide education on the importance of data gathering and processing, as well as the
interpretation and usage of data in the process of creating policies, programmes and
measures, and in the monitoring of implementation;
- Provide education on evidence-based policies for stakeholders involved in planning
and implementation of development strategies.
3.3. Knowledge of Gender Equality –
A crucial reason for the failure to include gender aspect in local development strategies is
the lack of knowledge about the tools for advancement of gender equality (gender
integration in development policies, gender-based analysis, gender-based budgeting) as well
as lack of awareness on the importance of gender equality for local development. In
addition, other reasons lie in insufficient information about relevant strategic documents,
and legal and institutional framework for dealing with the issues of gender equality. This is
obvious with regards to local self-governments but also other stakeholders: experts,
consultants, NGOs, donors and/or development partners recognise this issue, but do not
designate sufficient resources to to enable fully the introduction of gender aspects into local
development strategies. Evidence to substantiate this claim are precisely the strategies that
are developed and adopted, and which were financed from donor funds, where the gender
aspect is missing or is inadequate included.
- 24 -
Recommendations:
- In collaboration and cooperation with local and national mechanisms where they
have been created, and women’s NGOs and experts ensure the programmes for
education and awareness-raising among the employees of local self-governments
concerning the issues of gender equality, gender mainstreaming (integration of
gender issues in all the policies and benefits for the local community) and
gender-sensitive budget as well as the importance of gender for development
and improvement of quality of everyday life;
- Ensure education for expert/consultant teams on the importance of gender
aspect for development planning;
- Define a set of practical tools which would ensure a consistent inclusion of
gender aspect in planning, drafting and implementation of local development
strategy (i.e. the methodology of inclusion of gender aspect in development
planning)
- When planning projects that support the preparation of development strategies also include resources for training on gender equality, and plan involvement of gender experts in all the stages of local development strategies drafting.
3.4. Rural Tourism and Gender Aspect -
Women are an important resource for development of the rural economy, largely because
they see themselves employed also outside agriculture, which leaves room for the
development of new services, which will on one hand improve the quality of everyday life in
the rural areas for all citizens, and to enable the economic empowerment of women. Rural
tourism is one of the areas for potential employment of women. However gender aspect of
rural tourism development has not been incorporated in any of the strategies, nor has the
importance of this aspect’s inclusion been recognised. There is no proper understanding of
the benefits for the local community from this. Women are not being acknowledged as a
development resource (but for the most part are seen as a potential labour force) in rural
tourism and diversification of rural economy.
Recommendations:
To develop methodology which should ensure gender mainstreaming of plans and
programmes for rural tourism development. Specifically, at the level of a given local
community, this would entail the following:
- equal inclusion of women and women’s organisations in decision-making
processes regarding rural tourism development;
- 25 -
- recognition of their contribution to rural
economy of importance for tourism and ensuring that their potentials are
used for the purpose of economic empowerment and independence;
- ensuring their participation in all development programmes as well as that
they benefit from those programmes
- improvement of access to services providing care of children and the elderly;
- access to informal education in business and tourism;
- access to market information;
- access to IT and communications technologies;
- access to grants and financing of start-up businesses as well as development
of existing businesses;
- identification of all (profitable and non-profitable) economic activities of
women in villages relevant for tourism development; only profitable activities
should be fostered (for example, food production instead of handicraft
products);
- Identification of limitations and possibilities for development at the level of
surveyed households; for example one of the serious limitations to
development of local economy including entrepreneurship is the fact that
women as well as young women and men in rural areas are lacking property
ownership. Therefore, it is necessary to find adequate strategies for
overcoming these barriers (For example, a favorable loan and start up funds
without guarantees in property etc.)
- Technical and financial support for starting and further developing businesses
run and owned by women in rural areas, which are important for the rural
tourism development.