The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has collaborated closely with the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration (KIPA), the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmBh to redraft new KIPA curricula for civil servants on gender equality. The three curricula include a two-day training on gender equality for civil servants; an additional one-day training designed specifically for gender equality officers (GEOs); and a two-day training on gender responsive budgeting. All three curricula also have handbooks for training participants to take home, including a revised version of KWN’s tried and true handbook for gender responsive budgeting.
    These curricula were developed based on a thorough needs assessment conducted by KWN, AGE and KIPA in 2015-2016, which involved consultations and a survey with 133 stakeholders at local and central levels, including KIPA, AGE, GEOs and diverse civil servants (women and men). After drafting the curricula, KWN also liaised with experts who reviewed it and provided feedback, informing revisions.
In March, KWN delivered a four-day training to 13 potential trainers, recruited by KIPA. The training methodology involved responding to trainers’ questions about the modules and then having the trainers deliver the modules to other trainers who role-played as actual participants. The training was designed to be very interactive in order to provide several opportunities for trainers to carry out the same practical work that they would later ask participants to do.
     “The training was very good,” a participant said. “I learned many new things that I did not know before, and even if I will not be selected as a trainer I will for sure use this knowledge in practice.”
     Beyond the content focusing on gender equality, trainers also learned methodologies for delivering an interactive training, as well as techniques for addressing potential issues or challenges that may arise during trainings in the future. These “challenges” were based on KWN’s real experiences in delivering gender equality workshops in the past.
     “I have attended several trainings,” a participant observed, “but never have I taken part in a training structured like this before.”
    “This training completely exceeded my expectations,” another participant agreed, complementing KWN on the training methodologies employed in conveying these new curricula to the participating gender experts.
     A commission evaluated the capacities of the trainers and their ability to deliver trainings on gender equality for KIPA in the future. KIPA now is well-prepared to use the curricula and involve qualified trainers in delivering future trainings for civil servants.
     This initiative was funded by GIZ with significant in-kind contributions provided by KWN, as part of efforts to sustainably institutionalize efforts towards furthering gender equality in Kosovo.