Transcript Bertha Omari Koda: GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE

ASSOCIATION OF FINNISH LOCAL AND
REGIONAL AUTHORITIES (AFLRA)
NORTH-SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME
GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN LOCAL
GOVERNANCE
DISCUSSION NOTES
By Prof. Bertha Omari Koda
Introduction:
Gender Equality in Local Governance (LG): N-S
Cooperation
Context:
Programme Document (15.11.2007) for 2008-2010
 5.6. Cross-cutting issues
Relevant statement

“The NSLGC Programme needs to address mainstreaming the gender
questions at all levels of programme implementation. According to the
Government of Finland Resolution of 2007 promotion of the rights and the
status of women and girls, and promotion of gender and social equity are
important to the Finnish development policy. The minimum requirement is to
ensure that in all concrete cooperation plans the consequences for women
and men are taken into consideration carefully. The Programme aims at
paying special attention to the participation of female elected
representatives. It is recommended that there is balanced gender
participation in the organization of the linkage networks.” (Programme
Document 2007, 25.)
Gender Equality in LG:N-S Coop. (cont).
Critical Stages

Acquiring knowledge to address gender issues

Building support for gender equality within the LG
organs/institutions and the broader community

Implementing gender-sensitive policies, programs and
services

Allocating resources to the tasks
Critical Stages (cont.)

Promoting gender equality beyond the LG organs/institutions, with
citizens, organizations and businesses

Achieving Gender Equality policy, programs and services.
1.0 Conceptual Framework:
GENDER MAINSTREAMING
Context:

At the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women (Beijing,
1995) the Platform for Action was adopted

Through the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, governments made a
commitment to “mainstream”/integrate gender perspectives into
policy and planning processes and all programs

The Platform for Action states that:
…governments and other actors should promote an active and
visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies
and programs so that, before decisions are taken, an analysis is
made of the effects on women and men, respectively
1.0 Conceptual Framework (cont.)
GENDER MAINSTREAMING: Definition:
The United Nations defines gender mainstreaming as:
“The process of assessing the implications for women and men of
any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in
all areas and at all levels” (The report of the Economic and Social
Council for 1997. United Nations, 1997)

Process of assessing and bridging gender gaps/imbalances

Strategy of making experiences and concerns of marginalized grps.
integral of all development interventions so as to bridge gender gap

Approach of addressing needs of social groups and ensuring gender
equity & equality
GENDER MAINSTREAMING
(Details)

Integrating gender issues in core activities of
institutions/organizations

Put in the main course (Incorporating gender issues in policy,
budget, programme, and project)

Making gender an integral part of development agenda

Equal opportunities/Equity in roles and resources’ allocation

The different situations of women and men being made visible

Issues related to individuals being assessed from a gender
perspective
Concept. Cont.

Process/method and procedures of integrating gender concerns into
institutions/organizations so that women and men can participate
and benefit equally from them

The impact of changes being assessed from the perspective of
women and men in their living conditions

A question of social justice, and a necessity for ensuring equitable
and sustainable human development by the most effective and
efficient means
Concepts cont.
Prerequisites for Gender Mainstreaming

Gender analysis: for understanding of gender issues/concerns/
imbalances (what, where, why, how and when)

Commitment (Political will) changing attitudes, ideologies, norm

Action







Research
Sensitization and Training
Policy
Planning
Budgeting (Gender Budgeting)
Programming
Laws
Gender Mainstreaming
(cont.)
Five Most Critical Points to Be considered:
1.
Real understanding of the needs of men and women
2.
Assess male and female daily economics and who is most
disadvantaged in using their time, labour, and resources and Why.
(Aim at making things better for the disadvantaged group)
3.
Check that all data collected at all stages of the project cycle is
gender disaggregated
4.
Ensure the project contributes to the empowerment of men and
women
5.
Results reflect targeted male and female needs
2.0 GENDER BUDGETING (GB)
2.1 Introduction

Budget – a plan on income and expenditure i.e. a plan
on what (resources) and how to spend and where the
resources will be obtained from (Ideally budgeting is for
meeting practical and strategic gender needs of men and
women)

Budgeting is both Political and Technical

Through budgets, programs/ plans/policies are
concretized into action (generating and allocating
resources)
Gender Budgeting (cont.)
Gender Budgeting (GB) = Gender responsive budgeting

A tool for analysis of gender gaps

Instrument for holding govts. accountable to its gender
equality commitments (attempts to
breakdown/disaggregate govt. mainstream budget
according to its impact on men and women with attention
given to existing gender relations)

Tool for tracing how govts. Budgets affect women in the
unpaid care economy
Gender Budget (cont.)

A strategy to influence and transform planning &budgeting
Processes through use of participatory techniques

A process that facilitates gender analysis in formulating budgets and
resource allocation at various levels – high level – national level {
how much money , where to get it, what for?}

Technical and political exercise for effective and efficient resource
mobilize and allocation. E.g. Tax collectors are taxed to design
strategies and methods of mobilizing money while political leaders
(MPs & councillors/reps are given a tool to hold public office bearers
accountable to their constituencies/sectors

Part of democratic struggles
Gender Budget (cont.)

Tool to consciously ensure LGs and other institutions focus on
marginalized/disadvantaged group

Tool and process designed to facilitate a gender analysis in the
formulation of govt budgets and allocating resources
Gender Budget (cont.)
Objectives
1.
LG allocates resources in a gender-sensitive manner
that reflects and meets the needs of diverse groups.
2.
LG is aware of the need for human and financial
resources to support gender-based planning
3.
LG budgets and approves adequate human and
financial resources to support gender-based planning.
Gender Budget (cont.)
Objectives

Campaign for gender equity and equality through resource
mobilize and allocation

Help track misallocation/misappropriation of govt. money

Examine budgetary process and allocation in strategic ministries

Provide popular information and an advocacy campaign to
influence the public and inform about budgeting process &
consequences on community development

Create link between social and economic policies (consistency
between economic goals and social commitments)
Gender Budget (cont.)
Importance of GB
 Assist in promoting equality, equity, efficiency,
transparency in budget process and realizing good
governance

Offers practical way of evaluating LG action and
progress made towards gender equality

Powerful tool for gender mainstreaming

Powerful tool for women empowerment
Gender Budget (cont.)
Challenges of GB

Effective participation of all stakeholders (lack of skills in budgeting
and budget analysis)

Limited capacity in gender budgeting

Adequate funding for the GB and planning process (for bottom up
process)

Absence of gender disaggregated data
Gender Budget (cont.)

Need for multi-sectors approach to GB

Creating institutional arrangements for GB (eg GB Task
Force representing all departments)
3.0 ASSESSMENT TOOLS:
3.1LG Tool
The tool is designed to assess the LG’s capacity and competency in
planning and implementing gender sensitive policy, programs and
services.
Assessment Context
A.
Knowledge of:
•
•
•
•
Legal frameworks governing women’s, men’s and children’s human
rights
Relevant government policies
National and local organizations and government agencies with
expertise in gender analysis and women’s rights
The role of cultural values and attitudes
LG tool: Context cont.
B. Commitment to:
•
•
•
Play a leadership role (e.g develop a gender policy? Address gender
issues?)
Engage in dialogue (raise/discuss gender issues in all agenda? allocate
resources in a gender-sensitive manner? Engage men and women in
planning process that reflects and meets the needs of diverse groups?).
Work with community stakeholders and champions (community
members, community-based organizations and local businesses)
•
Undertake competent analysis, make policy and develop strategies
•
Build LG’s capacity and public awareness
Context/commitment cont.

Manage the change process
 allocate resources for gender mainstreaming?
 recognize importance of gender-based research/analysis/ need to collect sexdisaggregated data? establish data collection and analysis systems and train staff in
gender analysis?
 officials and staff behave in a gender sensitive and gender-aware manner? aware of the
need for monitoring and reporting on gender equality in the LG?)

Communicate messages about the benefits of gender equality
 use traditional and modern media?;
 provide feedback to stakeholders?;
 use experts;
 Use different forums? Etc)
Usefulness/Importance of the LG tool

To improve ability to meet the needs of all community
members

To know where the LG is in terms of addressing gender
issues

To identify appropriate actions for ensuring higher
stages of meeting needs of all stakeholders

To identify ways of collaboration between
citizens/stakeholders and the LG in promoting gender
equality, and hold it accountable for its progress
3.2 Other Tools
1. African Gender and Development Index (AGDI)

Initiated by UNECA in 1997 as a project

Aimed at assisting in evaluating the status of implementation of the
Beijing Platform for Action (BPA) after a period of 10 years

Indicators and monitoring tools were developed by members, and
consensus to use them and the actual applying them in real
situations and preparing reports attained.

Reports were intended to assist with lobbying for change and
monitoring progress over years

In Tanzania the report was prepared by TGNP for MCDGC in 2003
under the guidance of a national steering committee/council
AGDI (cont.)

The index is a measure of relative gender equality i.e
it compares males and females in terms of ratios

It comprises of 53 indictors divided into 3 blocks:
i. Social power (Education and Health)
ii. Economic power (income, employment and
access to resources)
iii. Political power (public power and civil society).
AGDI(cont.)
The underlying assumptions were:

That gender equity and social justice is preferable and important to
society than unequal and unjust relations

That the levels of power related to gender issues (social, economic,
legal, cultural and political powers) are interrelated. Thus in the
quantitative component of the AGDI, equal weights are given to its
three components, social, economic and political aspects and none
of these are given preferential weight

That the processes related to women’s empowerment have both
quantitative and qualitative dimensions and to capture these
dimensions for policy purposes it is essential to measure both these
aspects.
African Women’s Progress Scoreboard

Used together with the AGDI

Captures elements of women’s situation and gender
relations associated to women’s rights which African
governments are mandated to address

The scoring on women’s progress was on an 0, 1 and 2
scale to be used to assess issues on ratification,
reporting, law, policy commitment, development of a
plan, targets, institutional mechanism, budget, human
resources, research, involvement of civil society,
information and dissemination, monitoring and
evaluation
A W P S (cont.)

“0” was given where government had “done nothing”;

“1” was given where government performance was “fair”

“2” was given where government performance was
“good”
As far as economic power/women’s economic rights is concerned,
issues looked at were:

ILO conventions (e.g. Equal remuneration convention No. 100 of
1951 and discrimination (employment and occupation).

agricultural extension services and

equal access to land
A W P S (cont.)
Secondary sources of data/information for the AGDI were:
• Population and Housing Census
• Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
• Household budget Surveys (HBS)
• The National Bureau of Statistics in every country
used as major source of data/information to
complement primary sources
4. Tools For Analyzing Local Government
Budgets
1. Gender Disaggregated Beneficiaries Assessment (GDBA)
(Capturing views of beneficiaries through FGD’s, interviews,
PRA)

Seek views of beneficiaries


Compare no,1 with progress reports7statistics/figures
Disaggregate beneficiaries between men and women (using #
and %)

Compare benefits to women and men

Establish causes and measures for identified gaps

Cost and incorporate measures in new/proceeding plan
Tools (cont.)
2. Gender Aware Budget Statement (GABS)

Report by depts. on audit of program/activities and
related budgets

Assessment of impact on women and men

Accountability report vs. gender equality objectives
3. Gender Aware Policy Appraisal
(Policy analysis and associated resource allocation on
reduction/increase of gender equality)
Tools (cont.)
4. Gender Disaggregated Public Expenditure Incidence Analysis
(Compares public expenditure to reveal distribution between women,
men and children)
5. Gender disaggregated analysis of the impact of the budget on
time use
(Relationship between national budget and how time is used at
household level)
(Uganda practice only 1 and 2).
REFERENCES
Anderson, M (1993): Focusing on Women: UNIFEM’s Experience in Mainstreaming. UNIFEM.
Diane Elson(2002): “Integrating Gender into Government Budgets within a Context of Economic Reform” in Debbie
Budlender et, al., Gender Budgets Make More Cents Commonwealth Secretariat, London, 2002
Debbie Budlender and Rhonda Sharp (1998): How to do a gender –sensitive budget analysis: Contemporary research
and practice. Commonwealth Secretariat, 1998.
Guha, S and Goswami, S. Impact of Gender Budgeting on Women Empowerment (from
http;//www.gender_budget.org/content/view/642/1 downloaded on 04/03/09)
Marilyn M. Rubin and John R. Bartle(2005): ”Integrating Gender into Government Budgets: A new Perspective”. Public
Administration Review Vol. 65 No. 3, May 2005 pp.259-272
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Budgeting. UNDF for Women (UNIFEM) 2003
The report of the Economic and Social Council for 1997. United Nations, 1997
Peter F. Murphy(1989): Towards a Feminist masculinity in Feminist Studies Vol. 15#2 summer 1989 pp. 351-361
Mukangara, F. (2006): Gender Equality and Equity: UDSM Initiatives in Bridging The Gender Gap Unpublished Paper
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