Integrating Gender into Sexual and Reproductive Health

Southern AfricaHIV/AIDS Information Dissemination Service

SAfAIDS - P O Box A509,Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe, Tel: 263 4 336193/4, Fax: 263 4 336195, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.safaids.org.zw

Bringing “equality” Bringing “equality” A Visible Step A Visible Step

Closer!Closer!

Integrating Gender Integrating Gender into Sexual and into Sexual and

Reproductive Health Reproductive Health InterventionsInterventions

Rouzeh Eghtessadi (MPH)

SAfAIDS Regional Office479 Sappers Contour, LynnwoodPretoria, South AfricaTel: +27 76 381 2425

Website: http://www.safaids.net Email: [email protected]

Overview

• Definitions:– Sexual and Reproductive Health: a recap & link to the MPoA– Gender : including LGBTI dimensions

• Linking SRH and Gender and Human Rights • How to Mainstream/Integrate gender into SRH, HIV and other developmental

programmes– Step one: gender audit (needs, gaps, knowledge, policy and programme frames,

resources - budget, human capacity , tools etc)– Step two: entry points (build capacity, break S&D)– Step three: integration vs vertical programming

• Special Considerations: role of men, role of traditional/cultural structures, role of parliamentarians, role of media

• Documenting, Sharing, Advocacy, Learning and Scale-up • Sample generic tools • Reflection and Relevance Questions

SAfAIDS Regional Office : 479 Sappers Contour, Lynnwood, Pretoria 0081, South Africa. Tel: +27-12-361-0889 Fax: +27-12-361-0899 E-mail: [email protected]

Country Office - Zimbabwe : 17 Beveridge Road, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. Tel: +263-4-336193/4 Fax: +263-4-336195 E-mail: [email protected] Office - Zambia : Plot No. 4, Rhodes Park, Lusaka, Zambia.

Tel: +260-125-7609 Fax: +260-125-7652 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.safaids.net

Recap on SRH&R Refer to the Maputo Plan of Action: Nine Pillars of SRH

SRH closely linked to ‘rights’: rights to services, information, supporting structures (policy, infrastructure, resource allocations)




Unpacking Gender

Gender ‘is’ …….

Gender ‘is not’…….




Gender versus Sex• Gender refers to what a society believes about the

appropriate roles, duties, rights, responsibilities, accepted behaviours, opportunities and status of women and men in relation to one another

• Sex refers to the different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females (e.g. reproductive organs, hormones, chromosomes).




Gender Terms….

Gender strategic needs

Gender practical needs

Gender equality

Gender sensitive

Gender neutral

Gender transformative

Stereotyping

Other?




Where does gender inequality occur?

• Health services and access

• Education

• Employment opportunities

• Legal domain

• Other?




Links between Gender and SRH (1)

• Gender–based violence: reciprocal influence on sexual and reproductive health (unwanted pregnancies, poor FP adherence, HIV/STI infection, etc)

• Limited Access to, and Control over information and services: increases risk and vulnerability to HIV/STIs

• Burden of Care: less time and opportunity to access SRH services and adhere to SRH

• “Silence”: poor communication, influence family planning, safe sex practices, reporting and preventing GBV




Links between Gender and SRH (2)

• Partner Dependence: controls access and informed decision-making

• Socio-economic factors creating gender inequality

• Cultural Practices and Norms: adverse practices eg dry sex, unsterile MC, partner counseling, seeking health care services for the ‘weak’

• Service barriers: male-unfriendly, adolescent unfriendly, stigma & discrimination for PLHIV women




Gender Management System

• What is a GMS? – A network of structures, mechanisms and processes within

existing organisational framework established at all levels

– Guides, plans, monitors and evaluates mainstreaming process while working to achieve gender equality/equity in sustainable development

– Advances gender equality and equity through promoting political will, capacity building, sharing of good practices and forging stakeholders partnerships

* ldeal for larger bodies e.g. governmentsSAfAIDS Regional Office : 479 Sappers Contour, Lynnwood, Pretoria 0081, South Africa.

Tel: +27-12-361-0889 Fax: +27-12-361-0899 E-mail: [email protected] Office - Zimbabwe : 17 Beveridge Road, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Tel: +263-4-336193/4 Fax: +263-4-336195 E-mail: [email protected] Office - Zambia : Plot No. 4, Rhodes Park, Lusaka, Zambia.





What is Gender Mainstreaming (GM)

In development work, it means strengthening both women and men’s active involvement in capacity and contribution

Its goal is to empower women and men as equal partners by creating a ‘win-win’ scenario in development

It involves active and equipped gender equity promotion into policies/programs/projects and institutions

It is holistic integration of gender issues into all aspects of a given structure

The Process….not an event!

For an organisation, it means collective impact of efforts:

• Conducting a Gender Audit • Development of Gender Policy• Capacity building of staff at all levels• Development (or adoption)of tools/guidelines for gender

analysis and mainstreaming• Development of gender disaggregated data collection,

analysis and monitoring systems• Gender sensitive budgeting/budget allocation• Political commitment by senior management







Capacity Strengthening

(Skills/Awareness) & Mentoring

Experience Sharing on Mainstreaming

efforts and Advocacy

Material Production

Mainstreaming Model

Situation AnalysisPartner Identification and

Needs Assessment

Documentation Dissemination &

Feedback Monitoring, Evaluation and

Reporting

EXTERNAL Beneficiaries

Partners

INTERNALManagementEmployees

PoliciesProgrammes

Step 1. When Conducting a Gender Audit

Consider…..• Baseline evidence and Mapping

• Identifying gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP survey of staff) and structural & environmental challenges

• Internal (organisational culture, policies, staffing, capacity) and external (partners, programmes, budgets, M&E systems) factors

• Determine resources (externally) to support GMSAfAIDS Regional Office : 479 Sappers Contour, Lynnwood, Pretoria 0081, South Africa.




Step 2. Entry strategies will Step 2. Entry strategies will be informed by Audit Findingsbe informed by Audit Findings




Gender Gender Mainstreaming Mainstreaming

ProcessProcess

Develop Gender Policy

Identify key entry points

E.g.-Build Capacity of staff, partners and affiliates-Break stigma and discrimination-Place ‘gender’ on all job descriptions vs focal point

Link with GM expert or mentoring body

Develop gender sensitive M&E and reporting system

Develop gender sensitive budgets

Step 3. Gender Mainstreaming into

Policies • Types of Policies from a Gender Perspective:– Gender Neutral/Blind– Gender Specific– Gender Transformative/ Redistributive/ Responsive

• Basic Components of a Policy– Contextual Background– Policy Goals and Objectives– Policy Environment– Policy Thematic Areas– Policy Implementing Strategy




Step 3 (cont). Integration versus

Vertical ProgammingWhat are benefits of integrating gender into

SRH programmes rather than having two separate programme running parallel ?

What are your experiences in these processes?




Keep the Process Alive & Share!

• Document

• Share and exchange

• Advocate

• Learn and Scale-up

Use ICTs - be creative – get technical support




Special Considerations• Roles

– Men– Traditional/cultural structures– Parliamentarians – Media

• Barriers – fear of unknown, misunderstood, S&D

• Varied sexual orientation & identity (LGBTI)




Sample generic tools – Mainstreaming checklist for policies– Mainstreaming checklist for programmes– Mainstreaming gender into SRH training

programmes– Mainstreaming gender into SRH M&E

systems (gender indicators)

Find out more about Gender mainstreaming:

UNESCO site, UN-OSAGI site,

SAfAIDS Regional Office : 479 Sappers Contour, Lynnwood, Pretoria 0081, South Africa.







Questions….bringing it Questions….bringing it closer to home!closer to home!




Making it a Reality

Am I willing to promote safe motherhood for female adolescent

PLHIV?

What is one potential challenge to

mainstreaming gender in my organisation ?

?

Who should drive the gender

agenda in my organisation??Is this going to

dis-empower me?

?

In-country Strategies for In-country Strategies for Sustainability of Gender Sustainability of Gender

MainstreamingMainstreaming…….. Strategy – engaging and complementing Government

and national partners • Enables Sustainability and ownership

– Facilitates national buy-in and support by other country stakeholders.

– Piggy backing on existing efforts made by Govts is critical – not ‘over-riding/impose’ rather be ‘complementary’, and support meeting national targets e.g. MDGs, UNGASS, MPoA, CEDAW

Strategy – creating dialogue and consultative platforms for sharing

• Enables cross-learning and scale-up - critical to sustainability of concerted efforts




Remember Information …..

…and has the Power to Make a Difference !

Documents

Integrating Gender into Sexual and Reproductive Health