Guide for Civil Society Organizations: Mainstreaming the Gender Perspective in the Work of the Sector Working Groups

Gender equality is a fundamental value of the European Union and a key requirement for countries seeking membership. In North Macedonia, gender equality forms part of Chapter 23 under Cluster 1 – Fundamentals of the Accession Process – which sets the overall pace of EU negotiations. At the same time, gender equality is a cross-cutting issue that should be integrated across all policy areas and negotiation clusters. However, national progress reports and civil society monitoring show that gender perspectives are still only partially included in the work of institutions involved in the EU accession process. The Guide for Civil Society Organizations: Mainstreaming the Gender Perspective in the Work of the Working Sector Groups was developed to strengthen the role of civil society in this process. It recognizes that EU integration is not only a technical and political process, but also a social transformation that requires broad participation, including from civil society organizations (CSOs). The guide provides practical advice and tools to help CSOs monitor and advocate for the integration of gender equality within Sector Working Groups and across the EU accession framework, including IPA III programming. It explains key concepts, outlines relevant EU and national standards, and offers concrete steps for engaging in policy discussions, reviewing documents, and promoting accountability. Designed for organizations with varying levels of experience in gender equality, the guide supports CSOs in becoming active contributors to a more inclusive and gender-responsive EU integration process.