We wanted to create a top-notch innovative curriculum, test it with a pilot-group and give training and support to the pilot group made of diverse women leaders coming from different sectors, backgrounds, religions, nationalities, regions - to help promote gender equality in North Macedonia. By doing so we wanted to create a group of strong women leaders who will then act in their fields of work and impact, as a cascading effort, while we can scale the program. Additionally, we wanted to develop key competences - ours and of our participants and create a community of strong women who will jointly impact change in various sectors of society. Our intention was to broaden our network and provide to us and to the women participants outreach to new partners, new practices and new support. We achieved this by sharing know how on 1) integral leadership; 2) management of EU-funded projects; 3) design and delivery of leadership programs for women leaders; 4) visibility and outreach and 5) insights and knowledge on the socioeconomic situation and needs of women leaders in the Western Balkans.
Our main intention for applying for this project was strengthening of capacities - of the partner organisations and women leaders coming from the governmental, non-governmental and academic sectors. We applied for this project because of the need for a quality leadership program for women leaders. As data shows, women are under-represented in decision making structures, in politics, in leadership of state and public institutions. They have less access to training for improving their leadership skills, thus showing a clear need to be addressed. We wanted to create a tailored program for strengthening the leadership capacities of women leaders, and also the capacities of our three organizations through a strategic partners' exchange of knowledge, good practices, new skills, working styles and application of digital tools to strengthen our contribution in the areas we work and effectively and practically promote the EU values.