Gender Mainstreaming in Capacity Development - UoN Collaborative conference - Jan,2014

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Capacitating HWs of 35 Institutions within ESA with Knowledge & Skills to “Wear the

Gender Lens” in Design & Delivery of Capacity Development Programs

By

Phyllis Ombonyo [email protected])

www.africacapacityalliance.org

Through Partnership, Provide Sustainable Capacity Solutions to Improve Lives in Africa

http://www.africacapacityalliance.org/

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Presentation Outline

• About ACA• Problem Statement/Background• Key International Commitments and Declarations• the Objective• The process• Work Plan Extract: Gender Indicators• Results• Challenges and Lessons Learnt• Conclusion• Acknowledgements


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About Africa Capacity Alliance (ACA)

• ACA (formerly known as RATN) is an alliance of 37 MIs working in 12 countries of Africa.

• Established in 1997, ACA’s mission is through partnerships, to provide sustainable capacity solutions to improve lives in Africa.

• ACA’s strategic pillars include HSS, CSS & PPP.• ACA’s areas of focus are SIDS, NCDs and HER


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Problem Statement/Background

• According to UNAIDS 2010, 80% of all HIV-positive women globally live in SSA

• The prevalence rates among women have been escalating over time (21% in 2001; 59% in 2006 & over 61% in 2011).

• Girls are seen as up to six times more likely to be infected than boys of the same peer cohort.

• Gender inequalities & harmful cultural norms are seen as the key drivers of these disproportionate effects (UNAIDS, 2010).


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Key International Commitments & Declarations

• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an international bill of rights for women. The General Assembly adopted the Convention in December 1979, & as of 2011, 187/194 countries had ratified it.

• The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted at the September 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) by representatives from 189 countries.

• The MDGs (2000) was unanimously adopted at the conclusion of the Millennium Summit (the largest-ever gathering of world leaders). Goal 3 - “to promote gender equality and empower women”.

• UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (2001) - gender inequality fuelled the epidemic and included Article 37 to address.Through Partnership, Provide Sustainable Capacity Solutions to Improve Lives in Africa

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/official.htm

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The Objective

• It is in recognition of this key client group & the consequent need to factor in gender issues to both the analysis & response of HIV/AIDS that ACA, in March 2012, embarked on a gender mainstreaming process.

• The objective was to support MIs to mainstream gender in their training & capacity development programs & HIV programming.

• This would ensure that gender concerns are mainstreamed into the conceptualization, design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation of all operations, policies, plans, programmes, activities & projects, at all levels.


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The Process

1. Establishment of a representative GWG2. A comprehensive Gender Audit3. Development of the Gender Policy & Strategy. 4. Development of a comprehensive 5 year plan of

action within a results-based monitoring framework of 10 key indicators for tracking its implementation.


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The Process

5. Stakeholder Orientation: ACA board, Mis and staff was conducted.

6. Development of Gender mainstreaming modules & training manuals; delivery of training to 59 participants.

7. Development of action plans based on the knowledge & skill obtained from the workshop.

8. Participants Follow-upThrough Partnership, Provide Sustainable Capacity Solutions to Improve Lives in Africa

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Work Plan Extract: Gender Indicators

# Indicator Target (2014)

1 % of females on the ACA Board 50%

2 % of governance meetings with gender sensitive themes 100%

3% of MIs oriented in the introductory module and reporting

using the module in their training courses100%

4 % of MIs reporting utilizing the gender toolbox. 85%

5% of alumni reporting having implemented gender aspects

within the overall action plans.60%

6 Number of gender resources on the ACA website 50%

7 % of ACA MI’s active in gender advocacy events 85%

8% of researches or studies that incorporate gender

dimensions100%

9 % of MIs reporting gender budgeting 85%


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Results

• An online post-training follow-up conducted 6 months after the last training workshop (July, 2013) using survey monkey revealed that most respondents have:

• A) Integrated gender in their course curriculum, • B) Included gender analysis in reports & data tools, • C) Sensitized fellow staff on gender mainstreaming.90% of respondents reported a remarkable increase in

gender awareness within the workplaces.


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Challenges & Lessons Learnt

• Stakeholder engagement is key to ensure successful gender mainstreaming initiatives.

• A representative TWG ensures ownership & sustenance of the initiative.

• There still exists misconceptions about gender which is sometimes taken to mean feminism; negatively received by male participants.

• Gender policies act as strong starting points to gender mainstreaming.

• Action planning after training creates commitment.


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Conclusion

"When women thrive, all of society benefits, & succeeding generations are given a better start

in life“

“There is no tool for development more effective than empowerment of women."

--Kofi AnnanThrough Partnership, Provide Sustainable Capacity Solutions to Improve Lives in Africa

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Acknowledgements

• CIDA• ACA management team• Nancy Spense• ACA Gender working Group Members:

Kisaakye V., Mwaura F., Maringa C. Banda E., Godia A., Mokalake E. (IDM)., Ezekiel B. (TGNP), Willan S. (HEARD), Madondo T. (SAfAIDS).


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ASANTE | MERCI

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Gender Mainstreaming in Capacity Development - UoN Collaborative conference - Jan,2014