Description
The project objective is to analyse strategic documents, local programs and public spending in Konin in the context of gender, so that it is shown in what proportion men and women benefit from them. Review of the budget performed under the project will take into account the perspective of women as the group underrepresented in public space and decision-making processes. The needs of female inhabitants of Konin will be analysed along with the modalities to meet them within the social and financial policy implemented by local government. As a result of the project, methods to review the budget in the context of gender will be developed, and a report and recommendations for city hall will be prepared, indicating solutions leading to implementation of equal opportunities policy.
Summary of project results
Women living in Konin have a scarce representation in local government -only 13% of women are in the City Council, 10% on the boards of municipal companies. The key document under the title of “Development Strategy for the City of Konin for the years 2007-2015" adopted by the City Hall, which lists priorities of social policy, fails to include the gender perspective. In the effect of this the needs of women are not taken into consideration in municipal policy nor in the city's budget. The project aimed to raise City Hall's awareness with regards to gender equality and to check to what degree the city's policy answers varying needs of men and women. The project enabled to carry out a diagnosis of the situation of women in the city and point to the most important needs and barriers shaping the quality of life of the women citizens of Konin. It also helped to promote this knowledge among decision makers, NGOs and people living in Konin. A research, consisting of an analysis of the city's strategic documents and budget expenditure, was carried out within the frames of the project in order to check if the needs of women were being considered. The findings showed that the most neglected areas within gender equality are: employment, economic status, leisure time and unpaid work (household duties, caring responsibilities). 30 in-depth interviews with city leaders, and quantitative surveys on women needs among 530 randomly selected women-citizens of Konin were performed. The results were published in the form of an electronic report, which has been forwarded to the city's authorities. The problems related to the city's equal opportunities policy were also tackled during three seminars with the participation of people representing the City Hall, NGOs and citizens of Konin. Project beneficiaries were 71 people who participated in the seminars.
Summary of bilateral results