Gender equality is a fundamental human right, a core value of the EU and a cross-cutting issue of Slovenia's development cooperation. The  Guidelines set out, among other things, how to integrate Slovenian foreign policy priorities, including human and women’s rights and gender equality, in development projects. They also define the internationally recognised methodological approaches to the planning, implementation and evaluation of development projects, which are mandatory as they increase the effectiveness of activities in the field of gender equality and promote the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

By adopting the Guidelines, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs undertakes to ensure that by 2030 at least 85% of development projects will include activities in support of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a principal or significant objective, according to the methodology of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

In order to better understand the objectives and raise awareness of the Guidelines, the Ministry plans to organise winter workshops for Slovenian development cooperation providers, Slovenian NGOs and institutions as well as their partners in the countries where they carry out development and humanitarian projects.