Policy on Gender Equality and Female Empowerment June 2012

Sylvia Cabus Gender Advisor USAID/Bureau of Food Security

USG Policy and Gender Integration

• Investments that benefit women and girls

Presidential Policy Directive QDDR

• Focus on women and girls Gender Equality & Female Empowerment Policy • Promote Gender Equality and Women’s Empower men t

USAID Policy Framework 2011 – 15

• Gender integration in systems, practices, program cycle 2

Changes in USAID Gender Policy Landscape •

New Gender-Related Policies

– Updated policy on Gender Equality and Female Empowerment – first in 30 years! – National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security – Counter -Trafficking in Persons •

Changes in Institutional Practices

– Operational Plans – Seven new indicators – Program Performance Review and annual report on gender 3

Gender Equality & Female Empowerment Policy Goal “to improve the lives of citizens around the world by advancing equality between females and males, and empowering women and girls to participate fully in and benefit from the development of their societies.” 4 Source: The Hunger Project

What’s new?

• Makes an evidence-based gaps and empowering women and girls is vital to successful development outcomes case showing that reducing gender • Articulates clear Agency-wide outcomes • Lays out clearly defined practices • • Spells out organizational roles and responsibilities management and mission directors for bureaus, offices, and staff, with special emphasis on senior Institutionalizes two senior full-time gender positions Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (AA) : Senior Gender Advisor (PPL) and Senior Coordinator on 5

Focus on Three Outcomes Reduce Gender Disparities

• In access to, control over and benefit from resources, wealth, opportunities and services

Reduce Gender-Based Violence

• Mitigate harmful effects • Individual and community approaches

Increase Capabilities of Women & Girls

• Realize rights and determine life outcomes • Influence decision making at multiple levels 6

Guiding Principles

Integrate gender equality and female empowerment into USAID’s work Pursue an inclusive approach to foster equality Build partnerships across a wide range of stakeholders

Harness science, technology, and innovation

to reduce gender gaps and empower women and girls Address the unique

challenges in crisis and conflict-affected environments

Serve as a thought-leader and learning community 7

Eight New Gender Indicators

• • Gender Equality: – Number of laws, policies, or procedures drafted, proposed or adopted to promote gender equality at the regional, national or local level. – Proportion of target population reporting increased agreement with the concept that males and females should have equal access to social, economic, and political opportunities.

Women’s Empowerment: – Proportion of female participants in USG‐assisted programs designed to increased access to productive economic resources (assets, credit, income, or employment).

– Proportion of females who report increased self‐efficacy at the conclusion of USG supported training/programming.

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Eight New Gender Indicators

• • Gender-Based Violence: – Number of laws, policies or procedures drafted, proposed, or adopted with USG assistance designed to improve prevention of or response to sexual and gender based violence at the regional, national or local level.

– Number of people reached by a USG funded intervention providing GBV services (e.g., health, legal, psycho‐social counseling, shelters, hotlines, other.

– Percentage of target population that views Gender‐Based Violence (GBV) as less acceptable after participating in or being exposed to USG programming.

Women, Peace and Security

– Number of local women participating in a substantive role or position in a peace-building process supported with USG assistance 9

What to expect from USAID

Solicitations • Increased attention to gender • Technical & institutional requirements Technical Reviews • Clear understanding of issues within context • Logical approach to specified results Monitoring & Evaluation • Request for sex disaggregation & gender-equality indicators • Required reporting on progress 10

A new paradigm

• • • Not additional, but integral to design Analysis is focused on identifying the gaps between men and women Projects are designed to reduce those gaps 11

Implications of gender issues

Gender Relations (Between and Among Men and Women) Expected Program Results

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USAID’s expectation of implementers

• • • • • • Conduct a gender analysis Address identified issues in project design; detail strategies in work plan Budget accordingly Collect sex-disaggregated data and set gender-sensitive indicators Monitor and evaluate gender issues* Report on progress in closing gaps, creating opportunities, negative impacts avoided and emerging issues 13

Thank you!