KtK- Att främja kvinnors roll som agenter för fred och utveckling - Fas II

During 2023, KtK har continued the partherships with 7 Syrian Partner Organisations (POs). The support provided by KtK has improved the quality of program and strengthened the POs capacity to adapt to contextual or organizational changes. It has enabled the POs to deliver educational and protection services for women and girls in Syria, despite the contextual challenges such as the earthquake in February. The programme has contributed to advancing women's and girls' rights, empowerment, and participation in the Syrian society, and facilitated the publication of research, advocacy for justice, and the documentation of women's experiences during the conflict through oral history. During 2023, the POs work directly reached 1 684 rights holds (89% women/girls and 11% men) in 23 communities in 8 governates across Syria. KtK has increased their POs capacity to operate effectively and sustainably by enhancing their organizational capacities and thematic knowledge. Capacity building activities are based on PO's individual needs as identifies by MANGO assessments (Management Accounting for NGOs, including assessments on financial management and planning, transparency, and internal control). KtK provides flexible funding to their seven POs through two-year program agreements (in line with the initial agreement period). Each PO received between 1 to 2,2 MSEK each during 2023. In response to the earthquake, KtK provided an Emergency Fund for the affected POs, providing space for them to respond to the crisis and adjust their plans. All POs rate the flexible and context sensitive support very high and accounts that KtKs is instrumental in addressing financial shortfalls and underfunded areas important for sustaining initiatives. During 2023, KtK has supported POs to further improve their internal policies, procedures, and organizational structure. The institutional capacity and systems in place vary a lot between the POs and KtK tailor their support, often by using external consultants. KtKs Senior Finance Officer conducts ongoing MANGO assessments and follow-up processes tailored to the needs of the POs, ensuring the POs have sound financial routines and control. To improve the skills and thematic knowledge of the POs to implement their programmes and advance their feminist agenda, in 2023 KtK together with a PO, organized a series of webinars on the intersections of environmental issues and gender. The webinars highlighted women's perspectives and experiences regarding environmental issues, environmental justice, and the impact of environmental degradation on marginalized groups in Syria. The webinars were open to the public and has a total of 130 attendees including researchers, representatives from local and international organizations, journalists, experts, and scholars. The integration of an environment and climate perspective in the operations and analysis has been a dialogue issue brought forward by the Embassy. As part of increasing the access of the POs to relevant networking and advocacy arenas, KtK organized two sessions with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to discuss the IIIMs Gender Strategy, aiming to foster collaboration between CSOs addressing justice challenges in Syria and promoting gender-inclusive approaches in transitional justice efforts. Together with the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, KtK convened representatives from Syrian women's organisations based in Southern Turkey and Syria, to identify the gendered impacts of the earthquake and the response needed. The conclusions were developed into a policy brief and have been used to advocate for gender-sensitive crisis response to several bilateral donors and UN agencies, and the process contributes to movement building. KtK measures how POs have contributed to increased women's participation in terms of increased participation in local processes and peace building efforts, combated and prevented gender-based violence and improved access to protection services, increased access to economic empowerment opportunities and improved livelihood conditions, and knowledge production and a strengthened gender discourse in Syria. 98% of women participating in an activity offered by KtK POs, reported that the activity(ies) had a positive influence in their personal life, and 93-94% that their participation and influence in their families and communities increased.

The overall objective of the intervention is to Strengthen Kvinna till Kvinna Partner Organisations (POs) organisational and technical capacities to increase womens political and economic participation, protect women and girls from GBV, and strengthening of gender discourse in Syria. The specific objectives of the intervention that are intended to be achieved at the end of the intervention are the following: - Partner Organizations have increased capacity to operate effectively and sustainability. - Partner Organizations have contributed to increase women's participation as actors of change in the targeted geographic areas in Syria.