Transcript Brief History of SOAWR Coalition

How Development
Policies, AE & Reforms
can be aligned with
GE/WE commitments
Presented by Norah Matovu Winyi
July 2011
Outline of the Presentation
How alignment can be achieved
The common practices
The challenges
What needs to be done which is
based on the findings of the multicountry research that FEMNET &
ROA undertook in 20109 on
implementation of PD & AAA
Conclusion
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How can development policies & AE
support financing for gender
equality?
Policies on development in most
African countries are articulated in:
the Constitution of the Country & other
subsequent legislation;
National Development Plan &
Implementation Strategies (PRSPs in
some countries) – medium & long term
Sector Policies, strategies and Plans
Multilateral & Bilateral Agreements by
governments with Development partners
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Common Practices today .......
Many African countries have
undertaken constitutional reforms
that have resulted in strengthening
the legal regime that guarantees
GE and women’s rights.
Subsequent Legislation & policy
reviews are undertaken to align
with the new Constitution.
This is an opportunity used to align
policies on development with
constitutional provisions to protect
equal rights to development.
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Common practices today ….
At Regional & Sub regional levels member
countries sign up to Protocols, and other
human rights instruments that have
implications for policies for development at
the national level – once they ratify they
have the responsibility to domesticate and
implement .
This is translated in legislation at national
level and policy reforms where necessary.
The countries provide periodic reports on
progress made/ actions & measures taken.
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Common practices today …..
A similar process happens at the
international level – where member
states of United Nations adopt
internationally agreed instruments &
development agendas.
The countries have to align their
development policies & plans to
deliver on these commitments – for
example under the MDGs & CEDAW
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The Challenge …..
The challenge is that the common
practices do not automatically yield
the desired results.
There has to be deliberate efforts &
political commitment
Capacity within relevant institutions to
translate GE/ WE commitments into
programs & plans that receive budget
allocations for full implementation has
to be enhanced.
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The Challenge ……
Tangible outcomes & results have to
be defined and indicators formulated
that will facilitate the tracking of
progress – for GE / WE - these
include both quantitative & qualitative
indicators – therefore require
specialized skills to monitor.
Competing priorities & high levels of
poverty in African countries usually
relegate GE/ WE to lower level priority
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What can be done?
Strengthening capacity to mainstream gender in the
National Development Plan processes (PRSPs in
some countries) of the various actors
Ensuring that concrete programs & actions that
promote gender equality are proposed for financing in
national, sector & institutional plans and budgets
Creating public awareness on the aid effectiveness
agenda & its significance for Africa’s development
agenda so as to build a critical mass of citizens’
demanding for implementation & accountability.
Building a constituency of women organizations
working particularly at national level, to engage in the
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AE processes and monitoring of progress.
Example of what is already
happening …….
3. Promoting public awareness and
nationwide mobilisation around the
formulation of the National
Development Plans (PRSPs in
some countries).
4. Increased women’s rights groups’
capacities to participate, engage &
influence development politics &
policies, reinforcing the bridges
with the women’s rights agenda.
This is partly what organizations
like FEMNET do – establish
information sharing platforms;
undertake research & engage in
advocacy & capacity building
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New Aid Architecture
The Paris Declaration emerged since 2005
as the benchmark for New Aid Architecture.
Together with AAA adopted in 2008, they aim
to use alternative ways to make development
aid effective & result – orientated
This has resulted into a series of partnership
agreements in African countries with
development partners (DPs) albeit these are
at different levels of development &
implementation.
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New Aid Architecture
Full implementation of the PD & AAA has
the potential to move beyond just achieving
aid effectiveness to focus more on human
rights-based development effectiveness.
With this approach & using innovative
means there is great potential to increase
financing for gender equality at different
levels – Rwanda case study
However, the OECD Survey findings & the
FEMNET / ROA Research undertaken in
2010 indicate the process of implementation
is too slow especially in areas that matter
the most. – ownership, alignment, MFRs
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New Aid Architecture
For example efforts to promote
ownership through democratic and
inclusive national processes for policy
dialogue & formulation of
development plans, setting out the
priorities, the resource gaps &
strategies for implementation have
not necessarily increased financing
for GE commitments.
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New Aid Architecture
There is need for concrete outcomes
with targets to achieve measured in
quantifiable outcomes and those that
relate to social transformation and
enjoyment of people’s right to
development (where people are
empowered to be agents of change).
There should be clear, compulsory
monitoring mechanisms to track
progress made in achieving gender
equality commitments.
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New Aid Architecture
Reduce on the numeracy of
structures initiated in in the last 5
years in an attempt to improve
coordination, management & delivery
of aid – reduce on the time spent in
numerous meetings which are leading
to delays in decision making
Reduce amounts of funding spent on
management of aid & channel to
programming & implementation
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New aid Architecture
Continue to strengthen mechanisms
for citizens’ participation & protect
civil society space to engage and
interface with governments & DPs at
national & local government levels.
There has to be a stronger public
support at different levels that
demands for a responsive
development system to women’s
rights & gender equality commitments
& good governance in public sector.
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Other Actions ……
Target specific sectors which if
mainstreaming gender succeeds have
great potential to deliver on GE
outcomes - like education, health,
water & sanitation and agriculture
Build capacities across key sectors
among top & middle level
management in gender
mainstreaming, programming &
budgeting – experiential learning
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Other Actions …….
Fight Corruption – the recent case in
Kenya of embezzlement of million of
dollars in the education sector has far
reaching implications for the aid and
development effectiveness agenda.
The legal & justice system must work
in the interest of the people – by
bringing the most responsible public
officers to be answerable & refund the
money.
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Other Actions ……
Document best practices & effective
strategies from countries like Rwanda
on how minimizing corruption in the
public sector is contributing to
financing for GE commitments & the
results
Improve data management systems &
institutions at national & local
government levels & their linkages to
track progress & use of public funds.
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Other Actions …….
Bring the aid effectiveness agenda
into the UN processes under the
Financing for development framework
so that clear commitments can be
made that are binding on all member
states.
Continue to use the MDGs process to
increase financing for GE – UN
Women has to work closely with
UNDP – to spearhead this agenda.
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Conclusion ……
Aligning policies for development, aid
effectiveness and reform with GE
commitments – a political process
which requires:
Committed & visionary leadership,
Functional development processes,
systems & structures that are peoplecentred and committed to results
Vigilant & active citizens
Data management systems to track
progress & effective strategies
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Thank- You
Contact details:
P. O. Box 21756,
Kampala, Uganda
Cell: +(254) 729 571 544 (Kenya)
Cell: +(256)772 825 829 (Uganda)
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
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