Ensuring meaningful engagement through reform for gender equality

This project aims to improve Ukraine’s institutional legal and political environment to address harmful embedded gender norms stereotypes and practices. It aims to break down barriers such as discrimination and exclusion that prevent women and marginalized groups from running for political and institutional leadership. The project also directly supports the participation of women as civic and institutional leaders politicians and voters. It works to raise public awareness about the importance of inclusivity and gender equality at both the societal and individual levels. The project works with Civil society groups including women’s organizations media outlets members of Verkhovna Rada (the Parliament of Ukraine) and the Central Election Commission of Ukraine. It does so to empower and build their capacity to advocate for sustainable inclusivity and gender equality. Project activities include: (1) conducting short and long-term training sessions and providing technical and advisory services to the Central Election Commission of Ukraine; (2) capacity-building for civil society organizations advocating for inclusive recovery programs; and (3) providing sub-grants advocacy technology solutions research professional development and technical leadership support to professional networks and communities of practice. In response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 They adapted certain project activities to address new immediate needs and protect previous development gains. Canada’s development partners in Ukraine pivoted project activities to respond to the evolving context in several ways such as providing emergency supplies equipment and services along with support for mental health transportation and accommodation. The beneficiaries scope expected results and geographic location of project activities may have changed from the original description.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased participation of women and other marginalised groups in civic political and electoral activities in Ukraine; and (2) strengthened participation of marginalised groups and of women in Ukraine's civic and political processes.