OSCE-organized training courses build skills and knowledge of the State Emergency Services in Ukraine

The war against Ukraine is having a devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructures, with widespread destruction of housing, schools, medical facilities, and health care centers. In a series of three training courses, the OSCE, through the WIN Project, trained 76 employees of the State Emergency Services on gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive humanitarian response and women's leadership in humanitarian action.

Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, said: "I strongly believe that these trainings will contribute to making a difference in the lives of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as the work of State Emergency Services is making a difference every day."

Forty-six gender focal points (36 women, 10 men) from the State Emergency Services of Ukraine were trained as trainers on gender-responsive and disability-inclusive humanitarian action. In the practical training course, they honed their facilitation skills, practiced different scenarios, and learned from international and national experts on approaches for enhancing the inclusion of the gender perspective and addressing the demand-driven needs of people with disabilities.

Furthermore, 30 women in managerial positions in the SESU were trained on leadership. This was the first ever such training course conducted for this target group. They had a chance to re-think women's role in the security sector and learn innovative techniques and strategies for modern leadership. They also had the opportunity to learn practical exercises for resilience-building and stress management.

Yulia Maligonova, head of the Gender Unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, stressed that "Women leaders in the SESU can do anything, but after the workshop organized by the WIN Project, they know how to do it smarter, not harder.”

The training courses for the State Emergency Services of Ukraine were part of the WIN Project efforts to support Ukraine in implementing its gender commitments, including the National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The training courses  were organized by the OSCE Gender Issues Programme WIN Project and enabled through the funding of the government of Japan.