In times of crisis, the role of local authorities becomes even more critical—especially when it comes to ensuring that no one is left behind. With this in mind, the project “Strengthening the Accountability and Gender-Sensitive Responses of Local Authorities to Crises in 3 Countries” was launched to promote inclusive and equitable responses at the local level.
Implemented by three civil society organizations—Priroda Women’s Association from Bratunac (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the Bečej Youth Association from Bečej (Republic of Serbia), and Journalists for Human Rights – JHR from Skopje (North Macedonia)—the project spanned 24 municipalities, engaging eight communities in each participating country.
Supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the initiative is part of the broader Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN) program. The Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) in Skopje serves as the lead implementer.
Local Action, Regional Impact
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Priroda Women’s Association worked in collaboration with eight grassroots partner organizations across the municipalities of Višegrad, Nevesinje, Srebrenica, Teslić, Ključ, Bosansko Grahovo, Doboj Istok, and Jablanica. These partners played a vital role in conducting research at the local level, focusing on how the economic crisis has impacted gender equality and access to opportunities.
From Research to Action
The insights gathered from all three countries informed the development of a regional action platform. This platform outlines key findings and proposes concrete, context-specific steps for advocacy and gender-sensitive campaigns. Its goal is to empower local communities and ensure that crisis responses are fair, inclusive, and accountable to all—especially to women and marginalized groups who are often disproportionately affected.
A Model for Regional Cooperation
This project is a testament to the power of cross-border collaboration, community-driven research, and gender-responsive budgeting as tools for social change. It demonstrates how locally rooted civil society organizations can contribute meaningfully to stronger governance and more inclusive crisis recovery efforts.
We are proud to be part of a growing movement that ensures gender equality is not sidelined during times of crisis—but rather, placed at the heart of the response.
Analysis from 24 local communities spotlighting how accountable and gender-sensitive local authorities’ crisis response is in the three Western Balkans countries.
