The first webinar on “Gender Equality at the Local Level and Women Councillor Networks”, which was held on 9 April, helped build the LSG staff’s knowledge and capacity to design and monitor the implementation of local gender equality policies. The webinar was also devoted to deepening their understanding of the process of mainstreaming gender equality in local policies and the importance of advocating gender equality policies, as well as of the importance of gender equality at the local level for local community development. The participants also had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the main tools and approaches to mainstreaming the gender perspective and the role of Women Councillor Networks in improving gender equality at the local level. 

The second webinar on “Establishment and Activities of Women Councillor Networks”, which was held on 23 April, provided LSG representatives with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the steps towards establishing  Women Councillor Networks and the goals and outcomes of the work of such mechanisms. The lively discussion and exchange of opinions and experiences among the participants provided a value added to the webinar during the presentation about public advocacy and participation from the perspective of public outreach and the implementation of promotional and assembly activities. 

The webinars were attended by 73 participants, three quarters of whom were councilwomen. The Swiss PRO Programme has been extending technical support in improving gender equality to the following local self-governments: Arilje, Babušnica, Bela Palanka, Bogatić, Bor, Čajetina, Crna Trava, Ćuprija, Dimitrovgrad, Golubac, Kladovo, Knić, Ljubovija, Loznica, Majdanpek, Mionica, Nova Varoš, Pirot, Priboj, Prijepolje, Rača, Raška, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Surdulica, Topola, Tutin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradište, Vrnjačka Banja i Zaječar.

The webinars are part of the Programme “Enhancing Good Governance and Social Inclusion for Municipal Development – Swiss PRO“, supported by the Government of Switzerland in cooperation with the Government of Serbia, and implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in partnership with the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM).