Six Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian activists were trained on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) for Social Protection Services, as part of the project “Improving the Capacities of Civil Society to Increase Access to Quality Social Protection for Diverse Women and Men,” supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

Organised by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), in cooperation with the Network of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Women’s Organisations of Kosovo (RROGRAEK), the training held on 14 July 2025 aimed to strengthen local capacities to monitor and advocate for inclusive social protection reforms. Facilitated by Elirjeta Beka, Officer for Women’s Economic Empowerment and GRB, the training equipped participants with tools and knowledge to continue advocacy efforts within their communities.

More specifically, participants learned about GRB, the Law on Gender Equality, and how to analyse local annual and medium-term budget frameworks from a gender perspective. The training also addressed good and bad practices regarding citizen participation in the budgeting process, with a specific focus on budget allocations for social services. Participants discussed the importance of public consultations and how to submit effective recommendations during these processes. The group emphasized the need for all communities to be involved in local decision-making, especially during budget planning, to ensure their needs are reflected in policies.