The training programme for Women-Friendly Cities began at the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye

Participants of the training programme within the scope of the Women-Friendly Cities Program are at the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye.

As part of the third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities Programme, the Phase 1 Training Programme for the staff of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye was completed on 15–16 January with the opening remarks of Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT). Carried out under the coordination of the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the financial support of the European Union, the leadership of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the partnership of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), the training prepared within the scope of the programme launched at the end of 2024 to empower women in all areas of life aims to strengthen knowledge and skills regarding participatory local governance, service delivery focused on equality, and the institutionalization of gender equality in local governments.

Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), Şengül Altan Arslan, delivers the opening speech at the training.

“Strong women, Strong cities, Strong societies is our ultimate goal”

Expressing her happiness in being an implementation partner in the program conducted under the slogan “Strong women, Strong cities, Strong societies,” UMT Deputy Secretary General Şengül Altan Arslan stated, “We are committed to continuing our work with UNFPA and our other partners to ensure that gender equality is adopted as a fundamental approach in all policies and practices of local governments.”

Our Women-Friendly Cities Programme Manager, Özlem Çalışkan, delivers the opening speech at the training.

Training sessions for Women-Friendly Cities will Continue

In the first phase of the training programme, the concept of the Women-Friendly City, the integration of gender equality into municipal services, and the fundamental principles of equality-oriented transformation at the local level were addressed. Key approaches to participatory local governance and equality-based service delivery were introduced.

Furthermore, the responsibilities imposed on municipalities by international agreements, global policy frameworks, and national legislation were conveyed within the scope of the programme.

In the session on Local Equality Mechanisms and Municipality-NGO cooperation, one of the prominent topics of the training, the role of civil society in local decision-making processes and sustainable partnership models were discussed through examples of best practices.

Following the Phase 1 training sessions conducted within the framework of the Women-Friendly Cities Program, Phase 2 training sessions will continue as of February 2026, focusing on gender-sensitive data and data analysis, strategic planning, and gender-responsive budgeting (GRB).

Long-Term Cooperation for Equal, Safe, and Inclusive Cities

Within the scope of the programme coordinated by the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, with 5 million Euros of financial support from the European Union, and implemented by UNFPA Türkiye in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, 25 municipalities from 7 regions of Türkiye will work together to ensure gender equality at the local level by November 2027.