EU-supported study visit strengthens capacities to advance gender equality in Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine 

Civil servants from public institutions in Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine strengthened their capacities to advance gender equality through a study visit to Sweden on 2-4 June 2026, organised by the EU4Gender Equality Reform Helpdesk project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Niras. 

By enabling the exchange of expertise and experience, the visit enhanced participants’ knowledge of gender equality legislation, policies and best practices in the European Union. A total of 16 representatives from various sectors – including national gender machinery, defence and security, statistics, and labour and social protection – took part in the visit.

Sweden was chosen as the host country for the study visit due to its leading role in advancing gender equality and consistently high ranking in the European Union. The Swedish model is characterised by a comprehensive approach to gender mainstreaming across public policies. These include policies related to budgeting and service delivery, alongside strong labour market measures, work-life balance initiatives, high levels of women’s representation in decision-making, a systemic approach to preventing violence against women, and promoting gender equality as part of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Sweden also utilises robust gender-disaggregated data to monitor progress, making it a relevant case study for long-term structural approaches to advancing gender equality.

The visiting delegation met with staff from ten organisations that play significant roles in promoting gender equality in Sweden. These include the Gender Equality Agency, the Equality Ombudsman, the Government Offices’ Gender Equality Unit, Statistics Sweden, the Swedish Civil Defence Agency, and the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations. 

Participants had the opportunity to examine how the Government of Sweden coordinates and implements gender mainstreaming across different agencies at both the central and local levels. They gained insights into managing gender statistics to inform policy priorities, the Swedish approach to closing the gender pay gap and ensuring equal pay, and the impact of gender-sensitive paid parental leave policies on economic equality. They also investigated the strategic priority of gender equality within the Swedish Armed Forces and its application in military operations.

Participants welcomed the knowledge, good practices and insights gained from the study visit.

“The variety of topics has broadened my understanding of policy and decision-making processes,” said a participant from Armenia. “Currently, I am working on a gender data dashboard and plan to incorporate some of the elements I learned into that project.” 

A public servant from Ukraine said that “The insights gained from this study visit will enhance our institution’s gender equality policy by providing practical examples, effective tools and best practices for gender mainstreaming. This knowledge will help improve staff awareness, support evidence-based decision-making, and contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable working environment.”

“The knowledge acquired from the study visit will help strengthen the use of gender-disaggregated data for monitoring and policy development,” said a participant from Moldova. “It will facilitate the use of gender-sensitive indicators in programme evaluation and enhance inter-institutional cooperation mechanisms. It will also provide insights on how to ensure that gender perspectives are systematically integrated into planning and decision-making processes.”

This study visit is part of the EU4Gender Equality Reform Helpdesk Project’s support for gender equality and women’s empowerment across the Eastern Neighbourhood region by supporting gender mainstreaming across key reforms and sectors. 

Learn more about the EU’s support for gender equality in the Eastern Neighbourhood region

Factsheet on the EU4Gender Reform Helpdesk Phase II

EU4Gender Equality Reform Helpdesk Phase II project page

Gender Equality Library

EU4Gender Equality Reform Helpdesk Phase I project page