Regional audit findings on empowering rural women through their inclusion in the labour market unveiled

The Supreme Audit Institutions of North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo*, presented the results of their collaborative effort to conduct the first performance audit focused on the empowerment of women from rural areas through their Inclusion in the labour market. 
Auditor General at the State Audit Office of North Macedonia, Maksim Acevski, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in auditing gender equality, highlighting the need to ensure equal access to “childcare, education, and public services in rural same as in urban areas.” He shared the goal of this cooperation is to empower women from rural areas in becoming main actors in achieving their own economic independence.

Chief Auditor of the National Audit Office of Kosovo, Vlora Spanca, noted that “the audit findings serve as a valuable roadmap for policy shaping, reinforcing that gender equality is a fundamental human right.”
“The results of this audit help us better understand where we are, identify the main challenges and entry point for improving the approach to achieve sustainable and real empowerment in the rural communities,” stated Alfred Zylfi, Director of Performance Audit at the Supreme Audit Institution of Albania.

Our Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Elisa Fernandez Saenz, underlined the “critical role of Supreme Audit Institutions in strengthening governmental accountability towards gender equality commitments and their unique position to advance gender equality through state audits.”
The event identified common challenges in the region and policy recommendations for empowering women from rural areas, creating a platform for sharing best practices and experiences, thanks to the support from UN Women and funding from Sweden and Switzerland.

*All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999). For the European Union, this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.