Development policy: mainstreaming of gender equality in development cooperation, action programme 2001-2006

In adopting its conclusions on the Action Programme, the Council agrees that a three-part strategy to mainstream gender equality in EC Development cooperation needs to be forcefully put in place and monitored at all levels. The Council: - underlines the need to strengthen gender mainstreaming within projects and programmes at regional and country and emphasises the importance of taking into account gender mainstreaming and equality in national poverty reduction policies and the Country Strategy Papers; - asks the Commission and the Member States and the other major donors to strengthen coherence, coordination and complementarity in order to achieve sustainable results, through information sharing and join actions in the framework of country programmes. �