Despite the growing awareness among development experts of the importance of adopting gender sensitive approach to development planning, when it comes to professionals and technical staff dealing with spatial and urban planning issues the answer usually is: “we plan for people”. This is intended to mean that spatial planning is gender-neutral. However, in reality this only reflects the fact, that current planning doesn’t distinguish between the different needs of women and men and – often – neglects the specific needs of women. Therefore understanding basic gender concepts and their reference to local development planning, also in its spatial aspect, is essential for the incorporation of gender approach both at the organisational and programmatic level.