Gender Audit Process in Liberian-German Cooperation for Health Training Institutions

1. Liberian-German Cooperation in Health Strengthening Gender Equality at Liberia’s Health Training Institutions– The Gender Audit Process – 2018

2. Why should we care about gender at health training institutions? • Gender is a major factor in career choices of heath workers in Liberia (see graph). Women are the majority in “caring” jobs, men dominate “technical” roles. • Pre-service education is a critical step in any health worker’s life. Gender plays an important role in students’ career choices, enrolment, retention and performance. • While some gender-related issues are outside of the school’s influence, it is responsible for providing a gender sensitive study and work environment for students, faculty and staff. This concerns e.g. school policies and services, teaching approaches, and staff and students’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours.

3. Some examples… Are women and men equally represented among faculty, management and admin staff at the school? Does it make a difference? Do men students of care professions such as nursing or midwifery feel equally accepted by classmates, teachers and patients? Among students who have recently become parents, who will have more time to study? A man or a woman? Do women students in technical subjects (e.g. medicine, lab technology) have women as role models among faculty and during practical placements? Do women and men apply in equal measure for different subjects at the school? If not, why not? Do women and men have an equal share in classroom discussions or does one gender usually dominate? Do teachers give equal value to contributions of both genders? If a woman student is sexually harassed by a teacher without consequences for him, will she feel comfortable at the school and be able to focus on her studies?

4. What are the objectives of a gender audit? A gender audit is a tool and process to promote organizational learning. It aims to enhance the collective capacity of the school to examine its activities from a gender perspective and identify its strengths and weaknesses in promoting gender equality. This will helpmake the school a more equal and supportive place in its day to day activities for everybody: all students, faculty, management and administration. It is a participatory process in which all groups that make up a school community (students, faculty, administration, etc.) come together.

5. How does the gender audit work? A gender audit examines structures and processes of the training institution from a gender perspective (e.g. student recruitment, teaching, relationships, HR, data systems, policies). That means asking questions like: Do certain structures or processes equally consider the interests of men and women? Do they favor one gender? How do certain attitudes/ behavior impact on women and men? At the end of the audit, the school will adopt and implement an action plan to promote gender equality. The audit process itself contributes to thisby making everybody more sensitive to attitudes and behavior that respect the rights of all. …So what are the concrete steps?

6. What are the different steps of a gender audit?

8. How can you participate? 1st step: Complete the self-assessment questionnaire! Read through the statements and think about your school. To what extent is each statement true for your school, in your opinion? The questionnaire is anonymous It should take about 10 minutes to complete Definition of technical terms is provided on the cover page Return the questionnaire before you leave the room (Later in the process: participate in focus group discussions, the audit workshop, training, and activities in the gender action plan)

9. Thank you for your participation!Together we can make gender equality a reality at the school!