Doing good deeds using a gender approach: Zaporuka Foundation invites you to a free online course

The full-scale war has ambivalently changed the situation of gender equality in Ukraine. According to Global Gender Gap Report 2023, an international index that measures the dynamics of gender equality, Ukraine this year ranked 66th out of 146, up from 81st place last year, and ahead of some European countries such as Hungary, Greece, Romania, etc. Despite the full-scale war, Ukraine is implementing initiatives that help overcome gender inequality thanks to the active involvement of civil society. But at the same time, new challenges are emerging. Many of them are related to the increase in cases of gender-based violence or, for example, the deterioration of access to economic and social opportunities for vulnerable categories. According to the "Humanitarian response plan", through war, about 17.6 million people are in need of humanitarian aid and support, most of whom are women and children. That is why it is important to take gender into account in humanitarian work - it allows us to help vulnerable populations more effectively by understanding their needs. 

The Zaporuka Charitable Foundation, which has many years of experience in caring for families, initiated the creation of the course "Gender approach in project management"to ensure that other NGOs, volunteer and activist communities have all the necessary tools to effectively implement their social initiatives. The course is free of charge. You can start and complete it at any time until December 31, 2023. To do this, just register here: zaporuka-learning.online.

The course was created in cooperation between Ukrainian and international civil society organizations within the framework of the "We Can Do It" project with the technical support of UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). The WPHF is a flexible and rapid funding instrument that supports quality interventions aimed at increasing the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities. The views and content expressed in this course are not officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.

"The war has caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Now civil society is doing a very important job to help Ukrainians withstand and overcome all the challenges. Often, people in the public sector are "putting out fires" because state resources are not always enough to respond to a critical situation. Especially now, during the war. But at the same time, we, the Zaporuka Charitable Foundation, see great value in implementing systemic solutions with a lasting effect. Most of our projects are focused on changing the state of affairs. That is why we have created this course and are pleased that it will be helpful not only for project teams in the public sector, but also for Ukrainian families going through difficult times. First and foremost, we are doing this for them," says the founder and president of the foundation "Pledge" Natalia Onipko.   

The course program was developed by Martina Fontana, an expert on combating gender-based violence, and Tamara Zlobina, head of the Gender in Detail expert resource.

Now on the platform zaporuka-learning.online The first 3 webinars are available, with a total of 9 webinars in the course, each of which deepens knowledge and broadens the vision of what gender is and why it is important to consider it in project development and implementation. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an electronic certificate.

The course "Gender Approach in Project Management" is designed primarily for representatives of civil society, teams of charitable foundations, volunteer and activist organizations. However, the program will also be of interest and use to socially responsible businesses, government agencies, and anyone who wants to implement initiatives aimed at engaging with different groups of people and overcoming gender inequality.

"The goal of the course is to help you use a gender approach at all stages of the project cycle, from context analysis and project idea formulation to its successful implementation and completion. In this course, we will talk in detail about what gender is and what gender risks are. During the webinars, we will consider what stages the project cycle consists of and learn practical gender tools that should be used at each stage of the project cycle", - says gender expert Tamara Zlobina in her introduction to the course.