Banyan Global implemented the Gender Integration Technical Assistance (GITA) task order under the Advancing the Agenda of Gender Equality (ADVANTAGE) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. GITA provided on-demand, rapid response short-term technical assistance (STTA) to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Missions and Bureaus across sectors.

Under GITA, Banyan Global conducted a gender analysis for USAID/North Macedonia from April through July 2019 to inform the Mission’s 2020-2025 Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). The Gender Analysis identified advances, gaps and opportunities on gender equality and women’s empowerment in three sectors/thematic areas: increased private sector growth; citizen-responsive governance; and improved social cohesion. Using Banyan Global’s tested gender analysis research tools, the three-person research team also proposed strategic and programmatic recommendations across the three thematic areas to inform the CDCS. Following this, Banyan Global staff traveled to North Macedonia ahead of International Women’s Day (March 8, 2020) to present findings from Banyan Global’s country-level gender analysis and a gender integration training to the U.S. Embassy and implementing partners. While there, the team also led a discussion with young people from five American Corners in Skopje, Struga, Tetovo, Stip, and Bitola on gender equality challenges and opportunities in the North Macedonian context.