Sustainable partnerships are of vital importance for the success of this project. CWSP cooperates with the Partnership for Equality Center (PEC), Bucharest to maximize the efficiency of the project by sharing knowledge and experience on gender mainstreaming and training in its methods. The local Bulgarian partners are the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) thorugh its Committee on Women’s Participation in Local Self-Governance, the Women’s Union to the Confederation of Labor “Podkrepa”, and the Bulgarian Association of Regional Development Agencies (BARDA). The trainings were also attended by local NGOs.

The Center for Partnership and Equality, Bucharest, was established in 2002 as a not-for-profit organization, committed to mainstreaming the principle of equal opportunities for women and men into the public policies, as an integral part of democratization and creation of an open society, in order to re-define the status and to improve the condition of women in Romania. To this end, PEC advocates for rights such as: non-discrimination against women;  the right to education; the right to be free from violence;  equal opportunities for women and men; reproductive and sexual rights; a gender-inclusive approach to development; economic rights for women; women’s active involvement in public life. The main activities of CPE include research and trainings as well as information campaigns related to different aspects of the social and economic life of the country. The staff includes experts in gender studies, legal studies, sociology, psychology and psycho pedagogy, political science, philosophy, journalism and public relations.

More about CPE: www.cpe.ro

For contact: info@cpe.ro

The Bulgarian Association of Regional Development Agencies and Business Centres (BARDA) is a non-governmental organisation including independent regional development agencies and business centres in Bulgaria. It was established in 1997 by 7 Regional Development Agencies within the framework of the EU “Vocational Training and Measures for Employment Promotion” Programme and now has 21 members – agencies situated in all regions of Bulgaria. Their activities are directed predominantly towards the development of the regional economies and the SME sector. Among the rich variety of projects which BARDA implements, the organization is also involved as a partner in actions with special emphasis on gender equality issues in the sphere of business and labour market, such as the STERE/O project, financed by the EC (2004–2006), focused on gender equality in professional life.

More about BARDA: http://www.barda.bg 

Project Coordinator for BARDA: Dimitrina Todorova, Executive Director, barda@barda.info 

The Women’s Union to the Confederation of Labor Podkrepa (CLP) was established on 26 May 1995 by activists of the Confederation and since then its work has been focused on the problems of women within the structures of CLP and raising their awareness about their rights in employment. The Women’s Union is a member of the National Council on Equality between Women and Men at the Council of Ministers, as well as of the women’s networks of the International Confederation of Free Trade unions (ICFTU) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Women’s committees are established with the national federations, national unions and regional unions of CLP.

More about the Confederation of Labor “Podkrepa”: www.podkrepa.org

Coordinator for the Women’s Union to the Confederation of Labor “Podkrepa”: Maria Dimitrova, President of the Women’s Union, union_women@podkrepa.org

The National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) was established in 1996 by 94 Bulgarian municipalities, and since 1999 all 264 Bulgarian municipalities have joined the NAMRB and thus became the only nationally representative local government organization. NAMRB represents and defends the interests of local governments in Bulgaria and develops efficient partnerships with the central government and other Bulgarian and foreign organizations, works for a strong, responsible, and sustainable local self-governance and provides services for increasing the competence and capacity of the local authorities. It is a member of international and European organizations of local authorities and regions and works in partnership with a number of associations of local authorities in Bulgaria and Europe.

Gender equality is one of the aspects of the work of NAMRB. To the Association is established a Standing Committee of women in local governance which represents it in the National Council on Equality between Women and Men to the Council of Ministers. The priorities of the Commission include lobbying for legislative changes to achieve better representation of women in governance as a key factor for the development of civil society, creating a network between women MPs, mayors and chairs of Municipal Councils, information exchange of good practices for cooperation between women from municipalities, NGOs and the business.

More about the NAMBR: http://www.namrb.org

For contact: namrb@namrb.org

This page has been developed with financial contribution from the Canadian International development Agency (CIDA) through the Governance Support Program.

The opinions expressed here belong to the Center of Women’s Studies and Policies (CWSP) and do not reflect the official position of CIDA.