Resource Centres for Women

Resource Centres for Women as a modell are the most effective sources for engaging women in sustainable regional and local development.

The primary task and mission of ResourceCentres is to increase the number of women participating in economic development and growth on a regional and a local level.

Fundamental to Women's ResourceCentres is that they should develop on the basis of local needs and conditions.

The Function of a ResourceCentre is:

• To empower women
• To be a neutral meeting place for networking groups of women
• To be a centre for information and documentation
• To give women advice (counselling & mentorship) as to the way of getting on with their projects or business ideas
• To mediate contacts with women's networks

Running Women Resource Centres (WRCs) is based on five key categories of criteria which at the same time are the basis for the quality certification of WRCs:

1. Legitimacy
2. Continuity
3. Organisation
4. Competences
5. Financing

By National Resource Centre for Women is meant an organisation that
• Works in accordance with the aims set out in the section describing the Association’s mission
• Operates at a national level
• Has its basis in the demand from Regional and Local Resource Centres
• Is open to the Regional and Local Resource Centres existing in the country in question
• Forms a meeting place and support for Regional and Local Resource Centres
• Has activities that are designed by and carried out by women
• Is firmly established in or with support of national authorities and organisations
• Is governed by a plan of operations and budget, and has an annual report and follow up
• Has a board / control group, or equivalent, and an executive responsible for administration
• Is a non-profit organisation

By federal state regional and regional resource centre, or corresponding, for women is meant an organisation that
• Works in accordance with the aims set out in the section describing the Association's mission
• Operates at a federal state or regional level
• Has its basis in the demand from Regional and Local Resource Centres
• Is open to the Regional and Local Resource Centres existing in the federal state
• Forms a meeting place and support for Regional and Local Resource Centres
• Has activities that are designed by and carried out by women
• Is firmly established in or with support of federal state’s and /or regional authorities and organisations
• Is governed by a plan of operations and budget, and has an annual report and follow up
• Has a board/control group, or equivalent, and an executive responsible for administration
• Is a non-profit organisation

By Local Resource Centre for Women is meant an organisation that
• Works in accordance with the aims set out in the section describing the Association’s mission
• Works on a local level and takes part in local development
• Has its basis in the demand from women
• Is open to women and/or WRCs in its geographical area
• Forms a meeting place and support for women in the area
• Has activities that are designed by and carried out by women
• Is firmly established in or with support of local and or regional authorities and organisations
• Is governed by a plan of operations and budget, and has an annual report and follow up
• Has a board / control group or equivalent, and an executive responsible for administration.
• Is a non-profit organisation.