Gender Training and Research Center is a non-profit organization, established in 2000 according to Law Nr. 04/L-57 On Freedom of Association in Non-Governmental Organizations in the Republic of Kosovo. We realize this goal through advocacy, lobbying and training. With advocacy and lobbying we aim to improve the gender balance in decision making and prevent the discrimination against women. Through
training we spread our knowledge on gender and empower women. We are an experienced organization; we've been working for almost 12 years. During this time we've successfully implemented more than 70 projects. Every project we do is monitored and evaluated using specific indicators. This ensures that our projects are carried out to the highest professional standards. It also makes the work we do continuously measurable. We work mainly in the fields of gender mainstreaming, EU integration, economic empowerment, governance, gender budgeting, violence against women, education, media. The experiences gained from our work has enabled us to fine tune our organization and find routines and methodologies that work and produce real results for the women of Kosovo. We have through the years conducted gender trainings in many different levels. We have conducted trainings in areas ranging from governance to education, from budgeting to the empowerment of young women. We have also published a wide range of training manuals ,informative leaflets, books, and reports. We work extensively with outside experts and other organizations. This increases our outreach and at the same time brings our gender knowledge to other organizations. Most of our work is done in collaboration with other actors. We have among others collaborated with UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNDP, European Commission, OSCE, University of Prishtina. We also have a large network of experts and trainers in universities, government institutes and NGOs; in Prishtina as well as in other districts. When realizing projects we draw upon the experiences and knowledge of these experts and trainers. GTRC is part of some networks. GTRC plays an important role in the Kosovar Network Against Gender Violence and Trafficking, which includes a series of partner organizations, such as: Kosova Women's Network, Qeliza Network, Women's Lobby, The Counselling Centre for Abused Women and Girls, the Center for Legal Civic Initiatives. Since 2003 the GTRC has been evaluated twice by external evaluators. We continuously review our work and draw upon our experiences. Though we are professionally staffed some aspects of the GTRC's work is carried out by our well-motivated volunteers. Most of our volunteers are university students, and we benefit greatly from their knowledge and motivation. Since 2000 GTRC has been audited regularly every year from external auditors based on the organizational auditing. Since 2003 GTRC is registered to the TAX office of Prishtina and Department of Registration and Liaison of NGO-s and submitted every year financial statements to this office. We maintain a library focused on gender. The library currently holds loots of volumes on gender issues in psychology, sociology, political sciences and social work; to name a few. The library is open to the public and is the only one of its kind in Kosova. Our work brings real benefits to the people we work with and to society as a whole. Our work empowers women and brings about positive change in society. We believe that equal opportunity is essential for Kosovo's further development.
