From evidence to action: designing inclusive social services through a gender lens
The publication “From Evidence to Action: How to Design Social Services for Vulnerable Groups Through a Gender Lens” was developed by our partner NALAS and its members within the framework of the project “Regional Cooperation for Better Social Inclusion at Local Level.”
Implemented by the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) together with Local Government Associations (LGAs), the project created a platform for identifying practical, locally driven solutions to make social services more inclusive across selected municipalities. It was carried out in close cooperation with the regional project “Social Inclusion of Disadvantaged Groups in the Western Balkans” (SoRi), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
This publication presents a collection of local practices that make social services more gender transformative. It demonstrates that when attention is focused on those most often left behind, entire communities benefit.
Each example shares a story of meaningful transformation:
- from mapping community needs through participatory approaches,
- to designing new or improved social services with a clear focus on women and girls,
- and finally, to implementing these services on the ground to deliver tangible change.
Across municipalities, these initiatives have revitalized communities — from empowering mothers of children with disabilities and creating safe spaces for elderly women, to addressing cyberbullying among youth and supporting the reintegration of returnee families.
Equality is not about treating everyone the same. Real progress is achieved through transformative approaches that respond to people’s actual needs and actively involve them in shaping solutions.
Discover how municipalities across the Western Balkans transformed evidence into action, inspiring a new generation of inclusive, gender-responsive social services.
Read the publication now: From Evidence to Action – Inclusive Social Services