Gender mainstreaming at local level

1
Gender mainstreaming at local level

• The importance of incorporating the principle of
  equal rights and opportunities in local policy

2
Expected improvements for gender issues from
democratic decentralization processes

• Improved delivery of public services due to
  greater accountability to local constituencies
• Improved representation for women and
  marginalised groups in decision-making due to
  lower local barriers to politics
•  More accountability to gender interests due to
  greater accessibility of local government

3
Lessons from decentralization processes to
enhance equal rights and opportunities

• Delivery of Public Services

• Improved services depend on the conditions in
  which it is implemented
• Availability of adequate resources
• Animated press addressing corruption and
  mismanagement
• Well routed party system putting pressure on
  ruling party
• culture of accountability

4
Lessons from decentralization processes to
enhance equal rights and opportunities

• Improved Representation

• Worldwide no consistently higher numbers of women
  in local- than in national government except with
  affirmative action
• Decentralizing government has not by itself
  ensured that women and men are represented on an
  equal basis

5
Lessons from decentralization processes to
enhance equal rights and opportunities

• Accountability to Gender Interests

• Local governments creating opportunities for
  participation of marginalized groups varies
  greatly
• Women not necessarily represent gender interests
• Unless there is a civil society articulating the
  interests of marginal groups, decentralization is
  unlikely by itself to deliver equitable outcomes

6
Effective Strategies to Enhance Equal Rights and
Opportunities at Local level

• Affirmative action (local council)
• Increase responsiveness of local administrations
  to the concerns of women marginalized groups
• Gender sensitive local budget analysis
• Participatory budgeting / Ring fenced funding

7
Effective Strategies to Enhance Equal Rights and
Opportunities at Local level

• Internal democratization of political parties
• Representative trade unions
• Autonomous womens / civil society groups
• To debate priorities
• Promote participation in decision making
• Articulate interests
• Legitimise policy demands

8
Support to Women Men Equal Opportunities
Commissions at Local Level

• Capacity Training Needs Assessment for
  Development of Training Curriculum

9
Methodology

• Assessment at 3 interrelated levels enabling
  environment, organizational individual level
• Collection of organizational, occupational and
  individual competencies critical to EO
  Commissions and Coordinators
• Analysis to define training programmes building
  on existing capacities and addressing areas to be
  strengthened

10
Target Audiences

• Capacity Assessment

• Training Needs assessment

• Directed at key actors at political, government
  and civil society levels to support equal rights
  and opportunities at local level

• Directed at EO Commissions and Coordinators for
  efficient gender mainstreaming in key areas of
  municipality work

11
Assessment Process

• Mapping and review of key national/local
  policies, strategies documents
• Development of methodology tools
• Selection engagement of target audiences
• Data collection, compilation analysis
• Prioritization recommendations of areas to be
  addressed for capacity development

12
Assessment Tools

• Self Assessment Questionnaires

• Face-to-face Interviews Focus Groups

• Selected members Equal Opportunities Commissions
• Coordinators on Equal Opportunities

• Selected key actors at political, government and
  civil society levels
• Selected members of Equal Opportunities
  Commission
• Coordinators on Equal Opportunities

13
Preliminary Conclusions and Recommendations

• Not all Commissions Coordinators are in place
  and mandate competencies not always clearly
  defined
• EO often viewed as a womens issue with limited
  interest in local administration low
  participation of men in EOCs
• Great diversity among municipalities in terms of
  key areas, gender awareness, EO experience,
  participatory budgeting citizen participation

14
Preliminary Conclusions and Recommendations

• Gender equality equal opportunities policy
  insufficient embedded in local administration
  structures procedures
• Need to build maintain institutional memory and
  enhance sustainability of EO Commissions work
  and efforts
• Overall need to further clarify gender equality
  equal opportunity principles among councilors and
  municipal administration

15
Preliminary Conclusions and Recommendations

• Need to improve disaggregated data collection and
  analysis
• Role of NGOs critical to gain insights in key
  issues to be addressed and enhance citizen
  participation
• Some good practice in EOCs work emerged needs
  to be shared among municipalities