STUDY OF UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME’S GENDER MAINSTREAMING EFFORTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ISSUED

STUDY OF UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME’S GENDER MAINSTREAMING

EFFORTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ISSUED

A new study, representing the first attempt to systematically analyse the success of the United Nations Development Fund's (UNDP) efforts to promote gender mainstreaming in sub-Saharan Africa, has been released.

The publication, entitled “Assessment of Gender Mainstreaming in Sub-Saharan Africa:  A Review of UNDP Supported Activities”, focuses on gender-related activities carried out by the UNDP's Africa Bureau in two major thematic areas -- poverty eradication and governance -- as well as in the area of women-specific initiatives. 

The study was based on a sample of 18 of the 45 countries in the region and includes 74 UNDP-funded programmes and 115 projects.  It grades and ranks the initiatives according to a Gender Mainstreaming Index, ranging from zero to eight.  The index was developed to facilitate a quantitative evaluation and comparison.  The assessment was initiated by the UNDP in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for the Advancement of Women.

Of the 97 poverty eradication initiatives examined, the study reports that 43 per cent included some gender analysis while only 33 per cent employed a gender specialist.  Overall, the study finds that relatively little has been done to mainstream gender in poverty eradication initiatives in Africa.  It recommends a renewed commitment to gender mainstreaming through, among other things, a clearer targeting of the poor and women, budgeting a larger proportion of funds directly for gender mainstreaming, and supporting projects that directly transfer assets to women, educate women and improve their health.

In the area of governance, the study notes that women represent the highest proportion of the marginalized and neediest groups in Africa.  Women are under-represented in the national decision-making bodies of all African countries, although 10 of the 18 countries registered increases in the representation of women in national legislative bodies between 1994 and 2000.

Out of 59 governance initiatives examined, the study found only six based on gender analysis, indicating “a lack of focus on gender in the conceptualization of the programme or project”.  Only 18 of the initiatives included gender specialists and 85 per cent had little or no gender mainstreaming component.

Poverty eradication and governance programmes account for the highest disbursement of funds by the UNDP both at the global and regional levels (63 per

cent of disbursements for sub-Saharan Africa) and are therefore seen as having great potential for advancing gender mainstreaming as a tool for development.

Women-specific initiatives can play an important complementary role in gender mainstreaming.  They represent initiatives where systematic and concrete steps have been taken to include gender in the project design.  Of the

18 countries under review, 15 had women-specific programmes and projects.  However, the combined number of such programmes and projects was low, totalling only 33.  The study found that where the UNDP was a participant in these initiatives, it was also in the majority of cases the primary funder.

Overall, the study finds that the UNDP -- the United Nations largest source of development assistance and the coordinating body for the United Nations development work -- has made considerable efforts to promote gender mainstreaming at the policy level.  The UNDP's financial commitments include the goal that at least 20 per cent of its global budget be allocated and disbursed to promote the advancement of women.

However, the study notes that to a large degree the process of gender mainstreaming is still in its early stages in many countries.  Analysis of the initiatives examined in the study reveals that 44 per cent devoted less than

20 per cent of their budgets to gender mainstreaming.  Of those that allocated

20 per cent or more, the resources may not have been used strictly for gender mainstreaming.

A number of recommendations in key areas are contained in the study, designed to further strengthen the progress towards the full participation of both women and men in the effort to ensure a higher standard of living for all citizens of the continent.

The results of the study will contribute to the development of policy guidance on how to redirect mainstream programming to incorporate gender equality as a development objective in the substantive areas of the UNDP's work, including policy formulation, planning, implementation, evaluation and decision-making processes at the country level.

The long-term development objective of the study is to assist national governments and civil society in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Declaration and Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), with a particular emphasis on supporting governments in mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes.

Gender mainstreaming, as defined by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.  Gender mainstreaming aims to make women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring

and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres so that women and men benefit equally.

For further information contact Tsu-Wei Chang, Division for the Advancement of Women, DESA, Tel. (212) 963-8370, or Laufey Love, Development and Human Rights Section, Department of Public Information, Tel. (212) 963-3507.

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