On 28 June 2023, ISET Policy Institute organized a regional policy event entitled Gender Equality in the South Caucasus: New Tools for Policy Research in Yerevan, Armenia. Our research team introduced regional stakeholders to the latest ISET-PI gender economics research platform for the South Caucasus, featuring the South Caucasus Gender Equality Index (SCGEI), generously sponsored by the Swiss Development Cooperation. The event also included new policy research presentations from the ISET-PI team on gender dimensions within education, health (funded by Sweden under Free Network), and gender-based violence (funded by the Mercy Corps WISE program) in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. 

The event was opened by the ISET Director, Dr. Tamar Sulukhia, Mr. Thut-Shimo Werner, Deputy Regional Director for Cooperation of the Swiss Development Cooperation Office, and Ms. Tatevik Stephanyan, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia. Among the attendees were the Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Giorgi Sharvashidze; the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia Mr. Nerses Yeritsyan; representatives of regional NGOs, alongside members of academia.

The Gender Research Portal is a unique online platform that aims to consolidate gender economics research in the South Caucasus, including original ISET-PI publications, as well as region-relevant gender research conducted by various partners, think tanks, and organizations.

Creating original, informative policy and research tools is an important step for the region because improving gender equity leads to greater economic inclusion and development. As such, ISET Policy Institute’s regional work contributes to evidence-based policymaking in the countries of the South Caucasus.