A roundtable discussion on gender aspects of implementing community development projects in Ukraine was held in Kyiv on August 27, 2010. It was initiated by the Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralization Support to Ukraine Project DESPRO. The main goal of the roundtable was to identify effective approaches to the implementation of local projects in decentralized service provision that would obligatory take into account ensuring equal opportunities for men and women.

This round table discussion among leading experts on gender issues in Ukraine and DESPRO partners was a logical conclusion of the visit to Ukraine of an international expert in gender issues, Erica Shlappi (Switzerland), who in collaboration with Ukrainian colleagues studied the issue using the example of Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralization Support to Ukraine Project (DESPRO) activities in two pilot regions — the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Vinnytsya oblast. The participants exchanged opinions on the available opportunities for decision-making by men and women in rural areas (the DESPRO project works with rural communities) and at the level of rayon authorities, as well as ideas on integrating gender approaches into DESPRO project activities.

The conclusions and recommendations of Ms. Shlappi and her Ukrainian colleagues will provide the basis for a concrete Action Plan for the Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralization Support Project in Ukraine for 2010–2012