Pro-Poor Partnershipfor Agro- Forestry Development Project, Bac Kan, Vietnam / 33
INTRODUCTION
Gender equality is globally accepted as a prerequisite for sustainable development and poverty reduction for men and women, improving living standards for everyone. Gender equality is of vital importance to the economy and businesses, generating profits and bringing human potentials and happiness into full realization.
The Communist Party and the State of Vietnam have, for a long time, recognized gender equality as a key factor in the sustainable development of the country and a clear and practical gender mainstreaming policies have been incorporated into the laws as the most effective strategy to achieve gender equality in reality.
The Law on Gender Equality (LGE) adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 29 November 2006 and the National Strategy on Gender Equality (NSGE) 2011-2020 approved by the Prime Minister on 24 December 2010 have set a requirement for effective gender mainstreaming in all state management agencies. These documents aim to ensure that all state management activities of agencies at all levels will bring about opportunities and equal treatment in terms of life and employment for everyone in society, regardless of them being men or women, boys or girls, so that all can equally enjoy the achievements of the country.
This "Raising gender awareness and how to integrate gender" document is designed to equip staff and partners of the project "Pro-Poor Partnership for Agro-forestry Development in Bac Kan Province" with necessary knowledge and skills. Main objectives of the training are (1) To raise awareness of project staff at provincial and district levels so that they understand the characteristics of sex and gender, the underlying causes of gender inequality as well as gender stereotypes for men and women, especially for women and girls in the project area; (2) To ensure understanding of the different gender roles of men and women as well as the needs of the two sexes; (3) To equip project staff with skills and methods of gender mainstreaming into the project activities of the area, especially in training, planning, monitoring and evaluation to ensure that both women and men have access to and benefit from the project activities and that the rate of female participation in project activities is high. The document also includes quick reference guides, checklists and tips for easy use.
We hope that the document "Raising gender awareness and mainstreaming gender into project" will be a useful tool for staff in their efforts to effectively integrate gender equality issues in the works of the project.
The document is developed under Asian Project Management Support Program-Gender Sensitive Management grant by Ms. Hoang Hong Hanh with technical assistance from Dr. Philippe Doneys Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe, and Ms. Jagriti Shankar.
Contents
INTRODUCTION 2
OPENNING AND INTRODUCTION 4
PART I - BASIC CONCEPTS OF GENDER 5
I. Concepts and definitions 5
PART II – MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN THE PROJECT 7
v Methods: 7
I. Concepts 7
II. Mainstreaming gender into the project cycle 7
III. Why is gender mainstreaming necessary? 8
IV. Gender Mainstreaming Tools 9
a) Gender Analysis 9
b) Sex-disaggregated data 9
c) Gender specific indicators 9
d) Gender responsive budgeting: 10
PARTIII –GENDER SENSITIVE IN MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) 11
v Methods: 11
PART 4: TOOLS FOR COLLECTING QUALITATIVE INFORMTION 15
Appendix 1: Gender mainstreaming questions in the project cycle 17
Appendix 2: A GUIDE TO MAINSTREAM GENDER INTO 3PAD PROJECT 23
Appendix 3: Gender Laws, Policies and Actions in Viet Nam (*) 32
Appendix 4: Exercies 33
OPENNING AND INTRODUCTION
At the beginning of the training program it is advisable to invite representatives of local authorities and mass organizations to attend and introduce them to the training program’s objectives. This is important and will help spread awareness on gender related issues. This could be a short session of 30 minutes however a certain plan of the session is necessary to run it smoothly. The plan of this session could be:
1. Welcome and opening of the training course by the chief guest
2. Introduction of Trainers
3. Introduction of participants and discussion on their expectation from the training program
4. Discussion on training objectives by the trainer
PART I - BASIC CONCEPTS OF GENDER
Objectives are to:
• Help the participants understand basic concepts of gender and gender roles.
• Help the participants understand gender differences and inequality in society.
• Based on the participants’ experiences and knowledge to adjust their misunderstandings and help them assess how gender roles are formed from the viewpoint of each individual.
v Methods:
· Participatory
· Presentation
· Questions and answers
v Required stationery:
· Colored papers
· Flip chart
· Colored pens
· Ao paper sheets
I. Concepts and definitions
Gender: refers to socially ascribed roles, responsibilities, rights and opportunities associated with men and women, as well as the hidden power structures that govern relationships between women and men. These relationships are dynamic, change over time and are context-specific. Gender is a social stratifier, like age, race, ethnicity, social status and education (Dankelman, 2010)
(Reference to the Appendix 4)
Gender relations: the socially constructed form of relations between women and men (Momsen, 2004, p.2[1]); these are contextually specific and often change in response to altering circumstances.
Gender division of labor: the allocation of the tasks and responsibilities of women and men at home, at work and in society, according to patterns of work that are felt to be acceptable in a particular place and time (GGCA, 2009). Often a division is made between: (a) productive tasks (agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fisheries/aquaculture, self-employment, workers in enterprises); (b) reproductive tasks (child bearing, child rearing, child care, education, household tasks, family health and protection); (c) community and political tasks
Gender roles: refer to how men and women should act, think and feel according to the norms and traditions in a particular place and time (GGCA, 2009).
Gender equality: Gender equality indicates that man and woman have equal position and role; are given equal conditions and opportunities to develop their capacities for the development of the community and family and equally enjoy the achievement of that development.[2]
Gender equality is protected by Vietnamese laws. A document of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam (NCFAW) clearly states that:
- Gender equality is not simply men and women or boys and girls participating in equal number in every activities.
- Gender equality does not mean that men and women are alike but that their similarities and differences are equally recognized and respected.
- Gender equality means that men and women enjoy equal social status.
- Gender equality means that men and women experience equal conditions to fully develop their potentials and have opportunities to participate, contribute and benefit equally from development activities in economy, politics, culture and societyin the country.
- Importantly, gender equality ensures that women and men equally benefit from achievements.[3]
Gender equity connotes fairness and justice for both men and women. To ensure fairness and justice, measures are needed to compensate for historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from having a "level playing field". Gender equality strategieshave been applied with the ultimategoal to achieve gender equality. Equity is the means, equality is the result.[4]
This concept recognises differences between men and women in terms of needs and power. These differences need to be identified and dealt with in order to reduce the imbalance between the two sexes.
Gender equality is the ultimate goal while gender equity can be seen as the means and measures to implement. Equity leads to equality. Strategies for gender equality need to be considered and reflected in specific projects and policies.
Gender gaps: are societal differences between women and men that are felt to be undesirable. Based upon fact sheets from UN Women, Appendix 2 gives further information on gender issues worldwide and how these affect ´women, poverty and economics´ - with emphasis on poverty and employment, as well as the impact of the economic crisis on women -, on ‘violence against women’, and on ‘gender and governance’ issues.
See: http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/democratic_governance/ retrieved 19 August 2011.
Gender-sensitiveishavingfulland proper understanding of women’s and men’s needs, roles and responsibilities.Having gender equality awareness, understanding and recognising gender differences dictated by "culture"and in employment always creating favorable conditions for women and men to access and manage resources equally andfor men and women to benefit fairly and equally fromthe achievementsof the project or development.
Gender responsible is being aware of gender issues, gender differences and causes of gender differences and based on this giving positive solutions to address and redress gender-based inequalities, aiming towards gender equality and gender equity.
PART II – MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN THE PROJECT
Objectives are for the participants to:
· Understand the concept of 'gender mainstreaming' and its basic contents.
· Fully understand factors that ensure gender maintreaming in the project operation.
v Methods:
· Group work
· Presentation
· Questions and answers
v Required stationery:
· Colored papers
· Flip chart
· Colored pens
· Ao paper sheets
I. Concepts
In order to ensure gender equality and to overcome problems of marginalization, invisibility and under-representation of women, gender concerns and women’s issues should be integrated into mainstream policies, programmes and projects, and in institutional structures and procedures through gender mainstreaming. (ECOSOC, 1997, Agreed Conclusion 1997/2)
II. Mainstreaming gender into the project cycle
Gender mainstreaming is not an activity but a process that is demonstrated via various activities. To ensure that gender mainstreaming really meets the practical and strategic gender needs of both men and women, this process should be carried out throughout all phases of a project cycle, from problem analysis to planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Project Cycle Picture
III. Why is gender mainstreaming necessary?
Gender mainstreaming in development projects is important and necessary because men and women have different roles and needs and therefore project policies/ activities also affect/benefit them differently. Gender mainstreaming will ensure that project plans / policies / activities meet the needs and concerns of men and women as well as ensure equal benefits between them. Gender mainstreaming will also help raise the status and quality of life for all, particularly the vulnerable groups (especially women, girls, poor, ethnic minorities, etc.)
Gender Mainstreaming is necessary to attend at each step of project life cycle for these reasons:
Problem analysis Stage: gender mainstreaming at the stage of problem analysis, prioritization and goal setting will help to reveal different needs and experiences of men and women. Gender analysis helps to point out the barriers and gender inequalities behind issues such as health conditions or economic status. This is the basis to develop appropriate goals and effective measures to solve the problem.
Planning (design) Stage: gender mainstreaming in this phase will help ensure that clear, specific objectives, activities and indicators are put forward to reduce gender inequality in order that women and men are equally involved in the project and equally benefit from the project results. Gender analysis in the problem analysis step will provide information about key gender-specific barriers that need solution.
Implementation Stage: gender mainstreaming in this phase ensures equal participation of women and men in the decision-making process of project activities and use of the project resources, change perceptions of the community and health officers on gender equality and encourage other changes in capacity, policies and commitments to provide services and resources to reduce specific gender inequality and create conditions for women and men to equally access resources for development.
Monitoring and evaluation Stage: gender mainstreaming at this stage of the project or programme cycle means to collect sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics to quantify the various impacts of the project on women and men. Before monitoring and evaluation activities are carried out, the participation of women and men in the process to identify tools, criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluation is also considered a way of "gender mainstreaming".
IV. Gender Mainstreaming Tools
There are different tools available to mainstream gender into development projects:
a) Gender Analysis
Gender analysis examines the differences in women's and men's lives, including those which lead to social and economic inequity for women, and applies this understanding to policy development and service delivery. Gender analysis can help to analyze the underlying causes of these inequities and help to achieve positive change for women.
Gender analysis recognizes that:
· Women's and men's life and therefore their experiences, needs, issues and priorities are different;
· Women's lives are not all the same; the interests that women have in common may be determined as much by their social position or their ethnic identity as by the fact they are women;
· Women's life experiences, needs, issues and priorities are different for diverse ethnic groups;
· The life experiences, needs, issues, and priorities vary for different groups of women (dependent on age, ethnicity, disability, income levels, employment status, marital status, sexual orientation and whether they have dependants);
· Different strategies may be necessary to achieve equitable outcomes for women and men and different groups of women.
(Source: http://www.gdrc.org/gender/framework/what-is.html)
b) Sex-disaggregated data
Sex-disaggregated data presents statistics and information separately for women and men, boys and girls. The collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated data are paramount in implementing gender mainstreaming.
c) Gender specific indicators
Indicators are pointers [measurement, number, fact, opinion or perception] that point to changes in the status and roles of women and men over time, and therefore are a tool to measure if gender equity has been achieved. (CIDA, 1997. Guide to Gender Sensitive Indicators[5])
d) Gender responsive budgeting:
Gender responsive budgeting provides a mean for gender-based assessment of budgets, incorporating a gender perspective at all levels of the budgetary process and restructuring revenues and expenditures in order to promote gender equality. (source: European Commission, 2003.