Tbilisi Municipality Discusses Participatory Gender Audit Results

A 'Participatory Gender Audit' is a tool that supports entities to improve gender mainstreaming within their structures and operations. In 2015, Tbilisi Municipality voluntarily underwent such a Participatory Gender Audit, with technical and financial support from UN Women.

On 1 July 2016, findings and recommendations from the Audit were discussed at the highest-level, with Mayor Mr. David Narmania, Deputy Mayor Ms. Nina Khatiskatsi and the Mayor’s Advisor on Gender Equality Issues, Ms. Nineli Putkaradze and UN Women team. Mayor Narmania stressed, “The Audit proved to be a useful exercise, as it has made areas for improvement, from a gender mainstreaming perspective, very clear to the Municipality; and we will certainly follow-up on its recommendations.”

The methodology of the Participatory Gender Audit was developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in the early 2000s. According to the ILO, “…the Participatory Gender Audit is a tool that supports an organization’s commitment to gender equality by examining the extent to which equality is being institutionalized; helping to identify good practices in technical work; and pointing to effective and efficient ways of moving forward in mainstreaming gender in all work activities.”

In light of the above definition, the Audit of Tbilisi Municipality identified an example of good practice the Municipality’s engagement in the government programme for cervical and breast cancer screening. However, the Audit also made a number of recommendations to improve employees’ awareness of gender equality and women’s rights issues; the need to enhance women’s access to, and participation in, decision-making processes; as well as the need to improve sex-segregated data collection and analysis.

Commitments were voiced by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to address, as soon as possible, the recommendations made in the Audit. They also have expressed interest to continue cooperation with UN Women focusing on ending violence against women and domestic violence, and to support women’s economic empowerment.

Between 2013 and 2015, in addition to Tbilisi Municipality, UN Women supported Participatory Gender Audits in the Parliament of Georgia, Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure. These audits have been accompanied by technical support to follow-up on findings and recommendations.