Training sessions begin in municipalities for Women-Friendly Cities

The Phase 1 Trainings, attended by numerous municipal staff and civil society representatives from municipalities participating in the Women-Friendly Cities Programme, have been completed.

The Women Friendly Cities 3 Programme continues its implementation across 25 provinces in Türkiye with the motto “Strong women, Strong cities, Strong societies”. Launched at the end of 2024, the programme is coordinated by the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the financial support of the European Union, and implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Türkiye in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB).

The first training session of the programme, which aims for 25 provincial municipalities and civil society organizations (CSOs) operating in these cities to work with a common understanding towards participatory local governance, equality-oriented service delivery, and the institutionalization of gender equality in local governments, have been completed. Organized by UNFPA to achieve the necessary capacity building to reach the programme's goals, the Phase 1 Online Training session took place between November 26 – December 12, 2025, with the participation of numerous staff from partner municipalities, and civil society representatives.

Participants were informed about the contributions that a participatory local governance approach can make to gender equality.

A Common Framework for Equality-Based Local Governance

In the first section of the training session, the concept of the “Women Friendly City,” how gender equality can be reflected in municipal services, and the fundamental principles of equality-based transformation at the local level were addressed. As the programme progressed, international conventions, global policy frameworks, and the responsibilities imposed on municipalities by national legislation were conveyed in detail.

One of the highlights of the training session was the culture of cooperation between municipalities and CSOs. Within the framework of Local Equality Mechanisms, discussions held over practical examples focused on how municipalities and CSOs can establish more effective and sustainable partnerships and the role of civil society in local decision-making processes.

Training Sessions Will Continue

Following the completion of the Phase 1 Online Training Session within the scope of the Women Friendly Cities Programme Phase 3, the training process for municipal and CSO representatives will continue with Phase 2 online training session starting in February 2026. These sessions will cover gender-sensitive data collection and analysis, strategic planning, and gender-responsive budgeting (GRB).

Throughout the programme, face-to-face training and one-on-one mentorship support will also be provided to partner municipalities of the programme and CSOs.

Within the framework of this comprehensive training programme, the technical support provided to municipalities aims to transform acquired knowledge into institutional practices and strengthen local equality mechanisms.

Long-Term Cooperation for Safe and Inclusive Cities

Under the Women Friendly Cities Programme, which will continue until November 2027, 25 municipalities and over 200 CSOs from Türkiye’s 7 regions will sustain their cooperation to create safe and inclusive living spaces. The goal is to ensure that the rights and needs of everyone living in the city are taken into account, and to guarantee equal access to services for all city residents, particularly women, youth, and vulnerable groups.