The trainings, in which examples of international applications of gender-responsive planning and budgeting are evaluated, aim to support the systematic and sustainable integration of the equality perspective at all stages of the development processes. policy and budgeting at national and local levels. The trainings took place within the framework of the Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting project led by the United Nations Women’s Unit and co-funded by the European Union.
With the project worth 3 million 300 thousand euros carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Strategy and Budget Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, it aims to make the plans and budgets public sensitive to equality between women and men at central and local levels, and supports the empowerment of women.
Equal budgeting
Gülser Ustaoğlu, Director General of Women’s Status of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, who attended the trainings, spoke about the trainings as follows:
“The formulation of policies, plans and budgets taking into account the equality of women and men is very important for us in order to radically solve social problems and inequalities. Public budgeting has different effects on men and women. Our goal with these trainings is to discuss these effects and ensure that equitable budgeting is mainstreamed by establishing cooperation between public institutions on gender sensitive planning and budgeting. »
Gülşah Uran, Head of the Department of Health, Labor and Social Services of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, said that the trainings bring together public institutions at the central level and that the perspective of gender equality in planning and budgeting is integrated. work to ensure its sustainability.
An important political tool
Mentioning the importance of gender-responsive planning and budgeting, UN Women Director of Programs Zeliha Ünaldı said, “We have been working in cooperation with public institutions since 2012 on planning and gender-responsive budgeting, which is one of our flagship areas of intervention. Gender responsive budgeting is an important policy tool for achieving permanent and transformational results, empowering women and addressing the root causes of inequality.
How is budgeting sensitive to gender equality?
Gender responsive budgeting; A strategy that takes into account the different priorities and needs of women and men and reflects this approach at all stages of planning and budgeting. The ultimate goal of gender responsive budgeting is “a society where women and men have equal rights, opportunities and possibilities”.
The goal is to reach 700,000 women
The My Sister project, carried out in partnership with the Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the Habitat Association and Coca-Cola Turkey, to support the participation of women in economic life, is in its seventh year.
My Sister Project has been running continuously since 2015, with the aim of supporting the strengthening of the social and economic positions of women between the ages of 15 and 55, equipped with the knowledge and skills to participate in economic life throughout Turkey. As part of the project, which provides women with training opportunities to properly manage their personal financial resources, increase their awareness of entrepreneurship and use IT services correctly, women entrepreneurs are also supported through grant programs. Teachers and hundreds of thousands of pupils have been affected by the “My Sister My Tomorrow” studies, which are carried out in cooperation with the Teachers Academy Foundation (ÖRAV) and the Ministry of National Education. In cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, training has been provided to women’s cooperatives.
New collaborations
The project entered its seventh year with new collaborations. Akbank and TOBB University of Economics and Technology (ETU) have also joined supporters of the My Sister project. Akbank will provide benefits in transaction banking and lending to businesses eligible to participate in the grant program. In addition, it will provide support in areas such as financial counseling services, the use of loans with favorable interest rates, the use of outlets at appropriate rates and special budget salary offers.
The achievements of female entrepreneurs who have completed the training program under the project will be registered with the certificate issued by TOBB ETÜ. Cooperation with TOBB ETU, which was established by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, will be established in order to update the content of the training, as well as to train more women.
We have expanded our sphere of influence
Evguenia Stoichkova, Head of Coca-Cola Eurasia and Middle East Operations Unit, said the My Sister project is a great example of what women can achieve when given the necessary support, and said: “Turkish women are determined, hardworking and open. development in all areas. Over the past seven years, we have met women in 81 provinces of Turkey. In cooperation with our stakeholders, we have further expanded our sphere of influence. This year, we will continue to support the business development processes of our women entrepreneurs through our grant program. With our project, we have supported the participation of 429,000 women in economic life today. Our sisters inspire new sisters to achieve their dreams every day. Our goal is to increase this number to 700,000 by the end of the year.
PREPARED BY PINAR AKTAŞ pinar.aktas@milliyet.com.tr