Financing the project

The donor involves a duty to promote gender equality

The financing of the project is naturally one of the cornerstones of the project plan. The great majority of Finnish NGOs obtain most of their project finance from the Department for Development Policy of Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Some NGOs have also applied for European Commission support for their development cooperation projects. As the “Strategy and Action Plan for Promoting Gender Equality in Finland’s Policy for Developing Countries 2003-2007” makes clear, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs requires an explanation of gender equality impacts and of the activities undertaken to promote gender equality in all applications for project finance. In that way the NGOs fulfil for their part, too, the obligations of international agreements and can at the same time improve the quality of their own work and the sustainability of development cooperation in general.

Gender aspects in budgets

Budgeting is an important part of any project plan. With regard to gender perspective it is important that cost estimations include resources reserved for all the activities that promote gender equality and empower women. Remember that if activities are to have gender-related impacts of any kind this must be reflected in the investments – and vice versa. Remember, too, that gender analysis is itself a part of the project planning and implementation costs, even if not a very big one. If your organisation or your partner organisation needs special gender equality training, that too is a significant item in the cost estimates.

With regard to project workers’ wages and salaries remember that everybody must receive the same pay for the same work, irrespective of gender. Daily expense allowances and other employee benefits must also be distributed equally to men and women both in your own organisation and in your partner’s. You should also make sure that both women and men take part in travel, training, visits, and other activities connected with the project.

Key challenges in project finance: Ensure that resources are reserved in the budget in any case for:  Gender analysis (collection and analysis of information) Particular activities for promoting gender equality Gender equality training Equal pay and coverage of expenses for women and men

>>> Project implementation and monitoring

23.04.2004