GTF - Initiative for Sustainable Growth

1. Gender equality mechanisms at the national, regional and local level from its inception the GTF pushed for the establishment and/or upgrading of accountable, efficient gender equality mechanisms at national, regional & and local levels.  Objective: to contribute to the strengthening of their efficiency and ability to set up and lead the process of gender mainstreaming. 2. Parliamentary Cooperation The GTF has used parliamentary cooperation for advancing gender equality and democracy since its beginnings in 1999; numerous benefits have been obtained from the GTF parliamentary cooperation methodologies.  Objectives: Contribute to more accountability in parliamentary governance and increased women’s political participation through capacity building of Gender Parliamentary Mechanisms and SEE Women MP’s. 3. Political Party Gender Mainstreaming As a result of the political environment in SEE, women and gender equality have been a low priority for most SEE political parties, albeit some positive trends are visible. The GTF’s work in this field since 2002, including its unique database of some 60 SEE Parliamentary Political Parties will continue, focusing on the issues best dealt with through cross-party and cross-border cooperation.  Objective: SEE Parliamentary Political Parties improved gender balance in decision-making and overall gender awareness. 4. Social Dialogue and Trade Unions The GTF has completed its fifth Social Dialogue project in 2010, with joint working groups of trade unionists, employer associations and government officials working together from the onset to identify common ground on gender issues in three SEE countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. The experience gained in the past seven years of work in this field were put to good use in the last project, which addressed the importance of consensus building in tripartite social dialogue at a crucial time in these particularly challenging socioeconomic conditions.  Objectives: Systematic work with tripartite bodies and social partners in all interested SEE countries for engendering and improving social dialogue. 5. Women’s Entrepreneurship and Women’s Employment GTF plans to be a partner in the RCC/UNECE project Women’s Entrepreneurship: a Job Creation Engine for South-East Europe in the times of economic crisis. The project aims to encourage and support women that intend to develop their businesses and therefore create new job opportunities. This approach is unique since all the other initiatives in the region deal with business startup and not expansion. The project is in line with the key priorities of the Bucharest process promoting economic growth, employment, job creation and social cohesion. By tackling the main obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs in SEE, the project will strengthen women’s economic position and enhance the contribution of women to the economy. In a broader sense it will also contribute to promoting economic cooperation and stability in South-East Europe.  Objectives: GTF’s specific role will be in networking of women entrepreneurs in SEE and enhancing national policymaking based on exchange of best practice. And improved conditions for women in the workforce, including policy level and practical job creation programs. 6. Rural Women’s Development One common characteristic of the SEE Region is its underdeveloped rural areas, which has its obvious implications from a gender perspective. The GTF will work on exchange of best practices in rural development and education for sustainable development in close cooperation with Government Gender Machinery and the Civil and Business sectors.  Objective: The GTF aims to improve social cohesion through interventions that support rural women’s empowerment, organizing and networking, including the LEADER framework for rural development.