Gender mainstreaming the Rural Development Programme

2. Gender mainstreaming the Rural Development Programme Presentation to the Audience Impact Panel (IAP) Tuesday 3rd July 2012 Dr. Sally Shortall and Roisin Kelly Queen’s University Belfast s.shortall@qub.ac.ukroisin.kelly@qub.ac.uk

3. Agenda • Research update • Local Action Groups – breakdown of composition • Some themes emerging from the research to date • Proposed topics for briefing notes

4. Research Update • Before we started, we planned: • 27 qualitative interviews • 6 focus groups • Once we started, we revised our plan: • 8 Focus Groups • 38 Qualitative Interviews Still growing …

5. Interviews • 22 interviews completed • 4 interviews have dates agreed • 11 dates offered / arranging interviews • 1 declined • Also completed 8 informal interviews and attended a monitoring committee meeting as an observer. We made a presentation and held a discussion session at the recent RNNI event “Inspiring Women in Rural Development” in Cookstown on 7 June 2012.

6. Focus Groups • Completed 2 Focus Groups • 1 with women in rural areas (not on farms) • 1 with women in rural development thematic working group • Working to arrange • 2 focus groups with women on farms • 2 focus group with men on farms • 2 focus group with men in rural areas (not on farms)

7. Composition of the LAGs • 7 Local Action Groups for Northern Ireland • 189 members in total (plus 2 vacancies) • Membership is drawn from Social Partners (54%) and Local Government representatives (46%) • Total membership is made up of 65 women (34%) and 122 men (64%)

8. Breakdown of LAG membership

9. Gender Breakdown of LAG membership

10. LAG membership by gender and sector

11. Some comments on LAG composition • The percentage of women local Government representatives is higher than the general number of women in politics generally • (24% compared to 18.5%) • The Social Partners correct the gender imbalance • This seems to be conscious rather than ‘accidental’ • One of the issues for gender balance on the LAGs is the general under-representation of women in politics

12. Comments on gender and the RDP – tentative comments • Seems to be a good level of gender awareness • Conscious attempt to rectify gender imbalance in LAG composition • DARD technical officers aware of the importance of engaging women on farms • DARD undertakes a number of gender activities, although not necessarily linked to RDP (child care, funding NIRWN, Ministerial attendance at gender events) • Need to be careful to avoid reinforcing gender stereotypes

13. Tentative comments on supporting women in the RDP • While a supporting role is stated in NIRWN’s Operational Plan 2011, how this might be achieved is not detailed • Scope for NIRWN to take on the mantle of advancing gender awareness of the RDP amongst groups • Scope to broaden engagement to farming groups through working proactively with DARD technical advisers and the Ulster Farmer’s Union committees • Generally greater scope to work with key players in the RDP

14. Tentative comments on the LAGs generally • There is a lot of positive energy • There is a sense that more could be achieved if there was better communication and a better relationship of trust with DARD • LAG members would like to be involved in the six project groups working on the next RDP • A sense that lessons will be lost if this does not happen • Felt it worked better when LAGs had more control over themes • Frustrations at the late start date • Questions about whether LAGs have the necessary capacity

15. Tentative comments on LEADER methodology • Some disgruntled views that the LEADER methodology no longer exists • Nonetheless, its positive principles are evident in the way LAG members talk about inclusiveness, participation, collaboration • Consciousness of trying to ensure good representation of various groups • LEADER methodology particularly useful and important in a post-conflict society?

16. Suggestions for briefing papers • Engaging women in the RDP – how NIRWN can help • Lessons for the next RDP