Strong European competitiveness and social cohesion can be effectively achieved only when men and women become the stakeholders to this strategy on an equal basis and at all levels. In this regard, local development is considered as the profound component, as long as its prerogatives are equally shared among men and women in local societies.

Moreover the incorporation of the gender perspective into local development is a concern that touches nowadays almost all European countries developmental strategies. For this reason, the Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) implements the Programme titled "Localising Gender Equality through Development" in order to substantially contribute to the developmental aims of each country involved. The Programme is implemented in the framework of the 5th Community Action Programme relating to the Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality and is funded by the European Commission and the General Secretariat for Gender Equality of the Hellenic Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation.