Mainstreaming Gender Mainstreaming Gender

Workshop for the Workshop for the Strengthening of Capacities Strengthening of Capacities

for Disaster Recovery in for Disaster Recovery in Central America and The Central America and The

CaribbeanCaribbeanJuly 17 - 23, 2007July 17 - 23, 2007

Havana, CubaHavana, CubaAsha Kambon - Regional Adviser

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

ObjectivesObjectives Introduce participants to the concept of Introduce participants to the concept of

gender mainstreaming and its gender mainstreaming and its importance to the achievement of the importance to the achievement of the objectives of recovery programmes.objectives of recovery programmes.

Introduce participants to the process of Introduce participants to the process of engendering disaster recovery engendering disaster recovery processes as part of the overall process processes as part of the overall process of of sstrengthening Capacities for trengthening Capacities for Disaster RecoveryDisaster Recovery

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To achieve objectives..To achieve objectives..

Will seek to address the Will seek to address the whywhy of of gender mainstreaming - in so doing it gender mainstreaming - in so doing it will answer:will answer: What is gender mainstreaming What is gender mainstreaming What does it have to do with capacities What does it have to do with capacities

for disaster recovery for disaster recovery

The The howhow of gender mainstreaming of gender mainstreaming Using the PBL approach and based on a Using the PBL approach and based on a

information found in the case we will information found in the case we will explore the explore the howhow

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What is gender mainstreaming?What is gender mainstreaming?

The process of assessing the implications for women The process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in any area and at all levels. policies or programmes, in any area and at all levels.

It is a strategy for making women's as well as men's It is a strategy for making women's as well as men's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic, and societal spheres economic, and societal spheres

so that women and men benefit equally and so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. inequality is not perpetuated.

(E.1997.L.O. Para.4. Adopted by UN Economic and Social Commission (E.1997.L.O. Para.4. Adopted by UN Economic and Social Commission 17/7/97) 17/7/97)

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Another DefinitionAnother Definition ““Taking account of Taking account of

gender concerns in all gender concerns in all policy, programme, policy, programme, administrative and administrative and financial activities, and financial activities, and in organizational in organizational procedures, thereby procedures, thereby contributing to a contributing to a profound organizational profound organizational transformation.”transformation.”

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Why…Why… Immediately following a disaster, the Immediately following a disaster, the

“tyranny of the urgent” prevails;“tyranny of the urgent” prevails; A narrow view of the consequences A narrow view of the consequences

of a disaster can lead to a focus on of a disaster can lead to a focus on the ‘physical’ and the ‘economic’ the ‘physical’ and the ‘economic’ ignoring the social (and gender);ignoring the social (and gender);

Lack of harmony between disaster Lack of harmony between disaster response and long term response and long term development;development;

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How…How…

Collection and analysis of data Collection and analysis of data disaggregated by sex;disaggregated by sex;

Gender based research – meaning Gender based research – meaning research that seeks to understand research that seeks to understand the differential vulnerability and/or the differential vulnerability and/or impact of disasters on women and impact of disasters on women and men , girls and boys; andmen , girls and boys; and

Strengthening institutional capacity Strengthening institutional capacity in gender analysis in gender analysis

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Two levels of actionTwo levels of action

Data Data collectioncollection and and analysisanalysis of gender of gender differences and relationships, most differences and relationships, most importantly with regard to the importantly with regard to the interaction interaction of the productive and reproductive of the productive and reproductive roles of women and menroles of women and men;;

The incorporation of this understanding The incorporation of this understanding into the programme of work. into the programme of work.

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Your Challenge….Your Challenge….

Ensure that the Recovery Ensure that the Recovery programme administered by your programme administered by your office has mainstreamed gender;office has mainstreamed gender;

Task:Task: Using your knowledge and Using your knowledge and experience and the tools made experience and the tools made available identify the available identify the resources resources and and processesprocesses required to ensure that required to ensure that your response mainstreams gender. your response mainstreams gender.

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Second part….Second part….

Let us explore how to ensure that Let us explore how to ensure that the process is gender sensitive or the process is gender sensitive or has mainstreamed gender:has mainstreamed gender: What to do in an assessment;What to do in an assessment; Tools for gender mainstreaming;Tools for gender mainstreaming; Key issues in gender and disasters;Key issues in gender and disasters; Framework for social vulnerability Framework for social vulnerability

analysis;analysis; Analysis of the dataAnalysis of the data

Lessons from previous Lessons from previous events/years relating to events/years relating to specific gender issues specific gender issues were considered;were considered;

Discrepancies, if any, Discrepancies, if any, between information between information provided by affected provided by affected women and men noted;women and men noted;

Informal women’s Informal women’s networks and key networks and key informants from these informants from these networks were consulted;networks were consulted;

Sex specific data were Sex specific data were collected consistently collected consistently through the assessment through the assessment period;period;

Assessment and ConsultationAssessment and Consultation

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Assessments and consultations cont’dAssessments and consultations cont’d……

The language of the The language of the assessment questions and assessment questions and reporting was sex specific;reporting was sex specific;

Changes caused by the Changes caused by the disaster were tracked by disaster were tracked by sex (unemployment, sex (unemployment, homelessness, injuries);homelessness, injuries);

Share of women and men Share of women and men in the decision making in the decision making process at all levels ( HH, process at all levels ( HH, community, national);community, national);

Roles and responsibilities Roles and responsibilities of women and men for of women and men for dependents – children, dependents – children, orphaned, aged, disabled, orphaned, aged, disabled, spouse– noted and spouse– noted and integrated into planning;integrated into planning;

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Tools for Gender mainstreamingTools for Gender mainstreamingIssueIssue Question to askQuestion to ask WhyWhyParticipatioParticipatio

n andn andconsultationconsultation

How have women and men been How have women and men been consulted consulted

on priorities and needs?on priorities and needs?Have women and men been involved Have women and men been involved

in thein thedesign of this initiative? Have design of this initiative? Have

women’swomen’sorganizations been consulted? Have organizations been consulted? Have

thetheresults of that consultation influenced results of that consultation influenced

the the initiative’s focus or design?initiative’s focus or design?

Although time is often ‘of the essence’ when planning, Although time is often ‘of the essence’ when planning, there there

are situations where it is possible to involve are situations where it is possible to involve communities,communities,

consult with target beneficiaries, and use participatoryconsult with target beneficiaries, and use participatory planning tools. In these situations, it is important to planning tools. In these situations, it is important to ensure that women’s needs, priorities, and voices are ensure that women’s needs, priorities, and voices are

heard.heard. This includes individual women as well as This includes individual women as well as

representatives ofrepresentatives of women’s organizations. women’s organizations.

GenderGenderanalysisanalysis

Does the project design indicate that Does the project design indicate that therethere

has been a consideration of the has been a consideration of the differentdifferent

needs, priorities, and interests of needs, priorities, and interests of womenwomen

and men?and men?

Often, it is assumed that an entire population will Often, it is assumed that an entire population will benefit frombenefit from

new resources or a specific initiative. Experience new resources or a specific initiative. Experience dictates that,dictates that,

unless there is an awareness of how gender unless there is an awareness of how gender inequalities andinequalities and

differences come into play, women may not benefit to differences come into play, women may not benefit to thethe

same extent as men from DRR initiatives.same extent as men from DRR initiatives.

IndicatorsIndicators How are the proposed indicators of How are the proposed indicators of success success

or achievement of targets set to beor achievement of targets set to be disaggregated on the basis of sex? disaggregated on the basis of sex?

Although providing disaggregated indicators may be Although providing disaggregated indicators may be time- time-

consuming and expensive, general trends should be consuming and expensive, general trends should be available. available.

For example, the organization should have an For example, the organization should have an approximate approximate

idea of who is receiving resources (e.g., what idea of who is receiving resources (e.g., what percentagepercentage

women/men).women/men).

Women as Women as onlyonly a aVulnerableVulnerableGroupGroup

How does the initiative recognize and How does the initiative recognize and buildbuild

on women’s capacities as well ason women’s capacities as well asvulnerabilities?vulnerabilities?Are the gender differences and Are the gender differences and

inequalitiesinequalitiesof all vulnerable groups understood? of all vulnerable groups understood?

In many discussions of gender issues in disaster In many discussions of gender issues in disaster management,management,

the focus is exclusively on women’s vulnerability. the focus is exclusively on women’s vulnerability. Although it is Although it is

important to understand how people’s vulnerability is important to understand how people’s vulnerability is shaped shaped

y gender inequalities, it is essential to not overlook y gender inequalities, it is essential to not overlook women’s women’s

capacities.capacities.Women have important roles within families, Women have important roles within families,

communities, and communities, and organizations. International Organizations can support organizations. International Organizations can support

women women in these roles.in these roles.

Tools for Gender mainstreamingTools for Gender mainstreaming….. Cont’d….. Cont’d

IssueIssue Question to askQuestion to ask whywhyDifferences Differences among among

womenwomen

Does the project assume that all Does the project assume that all women women

have the same needs, priorities, andhave the same needs, priorities, and interests?interests? Does the project recognize thatDoes the project recognize that most groups’ (such as displaced most groups’ (such as displaced

people,people, survivors of landmines, landless, or survivors of landmines, landless, or

childchild soldiers) are composed of women, soldiers) are composed of women,

men,men, boys, and girls and that there will beboys, and girls and that there will be differences within each of these differences within each of these

groups?groups?

It is important to not think of ‘women’ as a It is important to not think of ‘women’ as a single single

category. Women—just like men—are divided category. Women—just like men—are divided alongalong

racial, educational, class, ethnic, religious, and racial, educational, class, ethnic, religious, and otherother

lines. Lists of vulnerable groups often lines. Lists of vulnerable groups often categorizecategorize

women as a separate group and fail to women as a separate group and fail to acknowledgeacknowledge

that there are women/men, boys/girls within that there are women/men, boys/girls within allall

other categories as well. There are gender other categories as well. There are gender issues toissues to

be looked at within specific groups.be looked at within specific groups.

Capacity ofCapacity of partnerpartner organizationsorganizations

Do the organizations involved have a Do the organizations involved have a solidsolid

track record on gender issues?track record on gender issues? Do they have a gender policy? Do they have a gender policy? Does staff have the capacity to work Does staff have the capacity to work

onon these issues?these issues? Do they have links with women’sDo they have links with women’s organizations?organizations?Are they familiar with and use on a Are they familiar with and use on a

regularregular basis international guidelines andbasis international guidelines and standards relating to key gender standards relating to key gender

issuesissues (reproductive health, sexual (reproductive health, sexual

violence, etc.)violence, etc.)

While good past practice does not guarantee While good past practice does not guarantee goodgood

current practice, it is an indicator of current practice, it is an indicator of organizationalorganizational

capacity.capacity.

Key Issues in Gender and Key Issues in Gender and DisastersDisasters

PhasePhase IssuesIssues

Pre-DisasterPre-Disaster VulnerabilityVulnerabilityRisk PerceptionRisk Perception

EmergencyEmergency Coping strategiesCoping strategies

Transition (Rehabilitation and Transition (Rehabilitation and recovery)recovery)

Needs Needs Social CompositionSocial CompositionCreation of new Creation of new VulnerabilitiesVulnerabilities

ReconstructionReconstruction PrioritiesPrioritiesNew Gender RolesNew Gender RolesNew Gender New Gender RelationshipsRelationships

Source: Delaney & Shrader (2000)

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Framework for the social dimension of Framework for the social dimension of vulnerability to a natural disastervulnerability to a natural disaster

Exposure to natural disaster

Nation

(Individual,

Household or

Community)

Social Susceptibility Social Resilience

Measure of social vulnerability

Asha Kambon - Regional Adviser

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Analysis of the data: Gender Analysis of the data: Gender differentialsdifferentials

Examples of gender differencesExamples of gender differences

IssuesIssues FemaleFemale MaleMale

Pre DisasterPre DisasterDiffering VulnerabilitiesDiffering Vulnerabilities - biological- biological - social- social - cultural- cultural - attitudinal (risk perception)- attitudinal (risk perception)

Reproductive health needsReproductive health needsRestricted skill baseRestricted skill baseExclusion from home Exclusion from home constructionconstructionLow level of risk toleranceLow level of risk tolerance

No special restrictionsNo special restrictionsMobile skillsMobile skillsExclusion from child care Exclusion from child care responsibilitiesresponsibilitiesHigh level of risk toleranceHigh level of risk tolerance

EmergencyEmergencyDiffering coping mechanismsDiffering coping mechanisms

Suffer higher incidence of Suffer higher incidence of depression (crying and suicide depression (crying and suicide ideation);ideation);Organizing community sing-a-Organizing community sing-a-longs and story telling;longs and story telling;

Alcoholism, gambling and dysfunctional Alcoholism, gambling and dysfunctional behaviour;behaviour;Rescuing villagers and clearing roads;Rescuing villagers and clearing roads;

TransitionTransition (rehabilitation and (rehabilitation and Recovery)Recovery)

Weak access to wage earning Weak access to wage earning possibilities;possibilities;Women prepared one-pot meals Women prepared one-pot meals for the community;for the community;Devoted more time to Devoted more time to community and reproductive community and reproductive work.work.

Easier access to wages/income;Easier access to wages/income;Men engaged in ‘marooning” teams for Men engaged in ‘marooning” teams for house rebuilding;house rebuilding;Spend more time in productive work; Spend more time in productive work; abandonment of families and abandonment of families and responsibilities.responsibilities.

ReconstructionReconstructionDiffering priorities Differing priorities Differing access to resources;Differing access to resources;Differing access to power in Differing access to power in the public spherethe public sphere

Priorities for shelter, economic Priorities for shelter, economic activity, food security, and activity, food security, and health care;health care;Women slower to return to Women slower to return to Labour Market; Reconstruction Labour Market; Reconstruction programmes that embark on programmes that embark on development without the development without the inclusion of gender analysis inclusion of gender analysis tools;tools;Women’s lack of involvement in Women’s lack of involvement in governance mechanisms.governance mechanisms.

Priorities for, agriculture, Infrastructural Priorities for, agriculture, Infrastructural development and economic activity;development and economic activity;Men easy access to the Labour Market; Men easy access to the Labour Market; Reconstruction programmes in Reconstruction programmes in construction and agricultural construction and agricultural development that favour male development that favour male participation;participation;Gender neutral governance Gender neutral governance mechanisms that don’t recognize mechanisms that don’t recognize changing gender roles and changing gender roles and relationships, and favour male relationships, and favour male participation.participation.

UNDP’s Institutional Response to UNDP’s Institutional Response to

Engendering Disaster RecoveryEngendering Disaster Recovery

ensure that gender analysis is an ensure that gender analysis is an integral part of all its activities;integral part of all its activities;

make support for gender equality a make support for gender equality a key element of its policy dialogue key element of its policy dialogue with partners; andwith partners; and

develop strategies to ensure its develop strategies to ensure its capacity for gender mainstreaming is capacity for gender mainstreaming is diffused throughout the programmes.diffused throughout the programmes.

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Thank YouThank You