Skopje, 3 May 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska, who is heading a delegation of the Republic of North Macedonia on a study visit in Stockholm, Sweden, met Wednesday with representative of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) - the principal supporters of the project “Gender mainstreaming advisory services to North Macedonia’s administration at central level” – Gender Equality Facility (GEF).   

Talks focused on the cooperation so far with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and with the Secretariat for European Affairs in the Republic of North Macedonia. 

"Trenchevska stressed the importance of the SIDA-funded project, which is aimed at supporting the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia in transposing the
EU Gender Equality acquis as part of the EU accession agenda," the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy said in a press release.

Participants in the meeting also promoted the work of the Equal Access Opportunities Department within the Labor Ministry, which opened a Resource Center for Gender Responsive Policy Making and Budgeting through the project “Promoting gender responsive policies and budgets: Towards transparent, inclusive and accountable governance in the Republic of North Macedonia”, with the support from SIDA in cooperation with UN Women.  

The goal of the center is to build and strengthen the capacities of administrative officers to create strategic documents that include the gender perspective in policies and budgets.

In addition, interlocutors highlighted the importance of the project on Gender Responsive Budgeting in the Western Balkans, and the component of mutual cooperation, exchange of experience and creating joint strategies to promote gender equality in the region. 

Participants in the meeting stressed the vision for further support and cooperation with SIDA in terms of the Western Balkan countries. 

Photo: Labor Ministry