Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme Young Professionals Gender Forum

1. Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme Young Professionals Gender Forum Gender Mainstreaming for Professional and National Development; Ensuring Relevance , Intervening Holistically and Gaining Traction BY DINAH KPODO ADIKO

2. The Story of Mrs. Moyo; Mr. Moyo Goes to the doctor… “What is your job?” asked the doctor “I am a farmer” replied Mr. Moyo “Have you any children?” the doctor asked “God has not been good to me, Of 15 born only 9 alive” Mr. Moyo answered. “Does your wife work?” “No she stays at home”

3. “I see, how does she spend her day?” “Well, she gets up at 4 in the morning fetches water and wood, makes the fire, cooks breakfast and cleans the home”. “Then she goes to the river and watches clothes. Once a week she walks to the grinding mill. After that she goes to the township with the two smallest children where she sells tomatoes by the road side while she knits. She buys what she wants from the shops. Then she cooks the midday meals”

4. “You come home at midday?” “No, she brings the meals to me about three kilometres away” “And after that?” “She stays in the farm to do the weeding and then goes to the vegetable garden to water”. “What do you do?” “I must go and discuss business and drink with the men in the village.”

5. “Does she go to bed after supper?” “No, I do. She has things to do around the house until 9 or 10pm.” “But I thought you said your wife does not work?” “Of course she doesn’t work. I told you she stays at home”. Source; Oxfam Gender Training Manual – Adapted from Zimbabwe Ministry of Community Development

6. Reflections… The story of Mr. and Mrs. Moyo only reflects society’s approved differences between men and women; • Women usually work longer hours. • Women have more varied task and sometimes performing more than one task at a time. • Work for the family is done by women • Men’s work is usually outside the home. • Men have more leisure time. • Men are more involved in decision making. • Certain category of women’s work is not recognised and unpaid for.

7. Some Facts… • Male literacy is about 26% higher than females • Women’s representation in parliament is less than 9% • Women provide 70% of agricultural labour, produce over 90% of food, but are barely represented in decision making processes or budget deliberations. • Women comprise only 10 % of the world’s economy in terms of asset holding and own less than 1 % of land and real estate. • Only 34% of enrolment for public universities are women. • High incidence of violence against women; domestic violence, sexual abuse etc. • About 2/3 of the poorest of poor are women.

8. Interpretation of These Facts The facts above points to a situation of • Imbalance between women and men. • Unfair distribution of resources and opportunities. • Differential treatments etc These obvious and immeasurable disparities that exist between women and men is what is termed GENDER INEQUALITY! Gender inequality is therefore described as a situation where men and women receive different treatment, opportunities and resources based on the sex they belong to.

9. According to UNFPA;… “Where gender inequality exists, it is generally women who are excluded or disadvantaged in relation to decision-making and access to economic and social resources."

10. To bridge these painful gaps that exists between men and women, the concept of Gender Mainstreaming (GM)was introduced. GM is a process/ strategy for promoting equality between women and men.

11. Background of Gender Mainstreaming • Concept was first introduced at the Third World Conference for Women in 1985 – Nairobi • Concept was officially endorsed by the Fourth World Conference for Women in 1995 – Beijing • Defined as the KEY STRATEGY for promoting gender equality • Gender Analyses accepted as the means to understanding differential situation between men and women

12. Definition of Gender Mainstreaming • “Mainstreaming a gender perspective 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. It is a strategy for making 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 societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal of mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality.” • —United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 1997

13. Therefore… GM is a process that ensures that both women and men have equal access to and control over resources, decisions making and benefits at all stages of the a development process. Gender mainstreaming simply means ensuring that gender equality becomes a full part of common policies!!!

14. Importance of Gender Mainstreaming • More Effective Policy and Legislation • More Effective Governance • Visible presence of gender equality in the mainstream of society • More holistic development

15. How has GM worked in Ghana • Ratification of international treaties and conventions. • CEDAW • DEVAW • Africa Women’s Rights Protocol • Beijing Platform for Action • AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa etc etc

16. How has GM worked in Ghana… • Formulation and implementation of national policies, programs and projects • 1992 Constitution (prohibits gender discrimination) • Human Trafficking Law • Criminalisation of Harmful Traditional Practices such as FGM and Trokosi • Domestic Violence law etc • Some affirmative action measures and steps in some areas such as education. • Gender Responsive Budgeting within some ministries; Agriculture, Education and Health • The establishment of MOWAC to coordinate policy making, planning and to monitor progress.

17. How has GM worked in Ghana… By structure, MOWAC should have; • 10 regional directorates to oversee the issues of women and children at the regional level. • Gender Focal Person in each District to coordinate implementation at the local level. The regional directorates are in place, however only a few MMDAs have Gender Desk Officers at post.

18. How has GM worked in Ghana… • Increasing efforts to increase enrolments and retention of the girl – child at the basic level of education • Affirmative action for enrolment of women in tertiary institutions • Ministry of Health has a Gender policy • National health insurance scheme • Free maternal health care • DOVVSU offices in all regional capitals

19. How has GM worked in Ghana • Women in Agriculture and Development Units strategise for women farmers. • MASLOC programs to ensure women’s access to capital. • Some increase in women’s representation in the District Assemblies and the sub – structures. • To - be - fulfilled promises of affirmative action in the appointment of women in decision making positions. • Women in key positions; Speaker of Parliament, CJ, AG • Women’s caucuses in parliament

20. Some areas that require strengthened intervention • Women’s land ownership issues. • Heavy presence of women in the informal sector. • The informal sector seems ignored by policy makers. • Female drop – out rate at all level of education still high leading to fewer women in tertiary institution – 35% are females. • Maternal and infant mortality rates are still high • Inadequate sensitization and empowerment of women on health issues – eg family planning • Absence of LI and National Action Plan on the DV Act

21. Women with disability not adequately catered for at all levels of development. • Capacity to undertake gender sensitive economic activity is low • Absence of a national affirmative action policy • Still have fewer numbers of female appointees at the DA level • MOWAC , DSW not well resourced, also battling with capacity and skills issues • National Gender Policy not publicised • Women lack ownership to environmental resources and are also not involved in the management of environmental resources etc

22. Gender Equality in the Public and Private Sector There is no doubt that women have a key role to play in enhancing the social, political and economic development of Ghana. There have been some efforts by various groups and the state to ensure that women become a part of decision making, planning, implementation and monitoring of national policies and programmes. This can largely be achieved through having women involved in work at the public sector. Statistics available suggests that though there is evidence of women employed in state institutions there are very few of them found at the managerial positions where decisions are made and resources managed. Women’s representation in political office is painfully poor.

23. Women’s representation in Parliament

24. An Overview of the presence of Women in Politics and Public Service A study conducted by Betrix Allah – Mensah in 1995 on “Women in Politics and Public Life in Ghana” produced the following findings; • There is enthusiasm for women participation in politics • Though the number of women in parliament is woefully inadequate, the performance of the few was impressive and therefore could serve as role models for those who aspire to similar positions in public sector. • There were equally few women in the public sector • The few find themselves very low on the hierarchy therefore unable to contribute meaningfully to decision making or policy formulation. • Most institutions stated that there is no affirmative action on recruitment.

25. Some reasons assigned for such low representation • Socio – cultural factors • Low level of education among women and some lack of skill such as public speaking, • Economic emancipation particularly for political office • The nature and meaning of politics; Djuma • Lack of a clear plan on how to promote gender equality in the country.

26. Is GM relevant to the present context? Absolutely YES!!! In spite of the remarkable progress today, there is so much grounds to cover. If higher education for example has been identified as an important tool for women self enhancement, yet we have a statistics of female enrolment at about 35%, then much work lies ahead.

27. With the following statistics; • CHRAJ ;Women formed about only 26% of staff strength • Electoral Commission; Women formed only 3% of Senior Management and 24% of general staff strength • Judiciary – About only 18% of women formed the top hierarchy • Parliamentary Services; Encouragingly about 45% of them were women • Public Boards; 20% membership were women etc

28. With this prevailing situation after over two decades of work towards gender equality, there is even a stronger case for gender mainstreaming as a means towards achieving gender equality.

29. Doing Things Differently/ Gaining Traction • Process and outcome indicators • Accountability for results/impacts; M&E; • Policies and plans should be widely circulated and understood, particularly by key stakeholders • Leadership—will, commitment and openness to innovation • The strong involvement of Gender expertise • Breeding of young and interested individuals to continue the efforts of older generation • Strong collaboration with Civil Society as CS continue to hold government strongly accountable • Documentation/ Record; statistics, practice, results etc

30. “When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life,” By Kofi Annan

31. Thank You for your attention!!!