Action – developing gender-responsive action WHO Gender Mainstreaming Manual For Health Managers: A practical Approach Module 3 Action – developing gender-responsive action

Objectives of Module 3 Module 3 builds on Module 1 (concepts) and Module 2 (gender analysis skills). WHO gender analysis tools for assessing and developing programmes and policies are introduced. By the end of this module, participants will be able to: Apply gender assessment methods to a new or existing programme. Understand methods and strategic entry points for integrating key gender dimensions important for programming and developing projects. Develop gender-responsive plans and activities.

Section 3.1 WHO gender-mainstreaming tools in practice – assessing policies and programmes

Gender-responsive health policies and programmes How do you know whether a policy or programme is gender-responsive? If gender norms, roles and inequalities have been considered AND measures have been taken to actively address them Goes beyond mere sensitivity, or awareness, to actually doing something about gender norms, roles and relations. Introduce the session by giving a brief overview of the term gender-responsive: • Ask participants what they think this term means. • Reveal slide. Explain that, ultimately, we need to aim for gender-responsive strategies as they actually do something about harmful gender norms, roles and relations. • Recall the definition of gender mainstreaming, highlighting the fact that achieving gender equality is a process. Assessing policies and programmes is an important step in determining where and how they can be strengthened to address gender.

Gender Assessment Tool (GAT)

Gender…what? A hospital requires permission from a male relative or husband before any elective health care procedure is administered to a woman or girl.

Gender Responsive Assessment Scale Level 1: gender-unequal Characteristics Gender-unequal Perpetuates gender inequalities by reinforcing unbalanced norms, roles and relations Privileges men over women (or vice versa) Often leads to one sex enjoying more rights or opportunities than the other Note that these situations are not always intentional. Lead a group discussion on the first two GRAS levels (gender unequal and gender blind) using the criteria provided on the slides.

Gender…what? The health care system cannot respond to the needs of people living with HIV and recommends a programme based on home care. Here are some examples that fit the first two Gender Responsive Assessment Scale levels. Ask participants to explain why these examples are either gender-unequal or gender-blind. Refer them to the criteria set out in the GRAS explanations in the Participant Notes, subsection 3.1b. Conclude that gender-unequal and gender-blind practices usually occur when no gender analysis has been done - or that a gender analysis has been conducted but nothing has been done with these results. Remind them of the definition of gender-responsive, and that action after analysis is a requirement. These two levels, therefore, should be avoided. Remind participants that, since many decisions are made without conducting or adequately using the results of a gender analysis, if programmes are gender-unequal or gender-blind this may not always mean that the people in charge do not care about gender inequality. This is important to avoid isolating participants – and to maintain the continuity from Module 2 on the importance of gender analysis.

Gender Responsive Assessment Scale Level 2: gender-blind Characteristics Gender-blind Ignores gender norms, roles and relations Very often reinforces gender-based discrimination Ignores differences in opportunities and resource allocation for women and men Often based on principles of being “fair” by treating everyone the same Note that these situations are not always intentional. Lead a group discussion on the first two GRAS levels (gender unequal and gender blind) using the criteria provided on the slides.

Gender…what? A senior DoH representative mentions gender while launching a major initiative.

Gender Responsive Assessment Scale Level 3: gender-sensitive Characteristics Gender-sensitive Considers gender norms, roles and relations Does not address inequality generated by unequal norms, roles or relations Indicates gender awareness, although often no remedial action is developed Participants in a village health committee must be either a health facility manager or community leader. •Gender sensitivity is the turning point from undesired (levels 1 and 2) to desired (levels 4 and 5) policy types. • Only when a policy or programme is gender-sensitive can it be expected to move up the scale of gender responsiveness.

Gender…what? An awareness campaign promotes measures to prevent malaria among male farmers.

Gender Responsive Assessment Scale Level 4: gender-specific Characteristics Gender-specific Acknowledges different norms and roles for women and men and how they influence access to and control over resources Takes account of women’s and men’s specific needs Intentionally targets and benefits a specific group of women or men to achieve certain policy or programme goals or meet certain needs Makes it easier for women and men to fulfil their gender roles Remind participants that gender mainstreaming can focus exclusively on women or girls to address burdens of gender inequality. Gender-specific programmes and policies may focus on one sex or the other with the aim of addressing specific gender norms, roles or relations. Gender analysis would reveal such a target group, by sex, age or other factor. Gender-specific programmes and policies tend to address practical gender needs discussed in Modules 1 and 2.

Gender…what? Health education materials depict women and men in productive and reproductive roles. Starting with gender analysis means that you are already on the right path and are gender-sensitive. All three of these levels constitute different degrees of gender responsiveness. Gender sensitivity is not enough; actually doing something with the results of a gender analysis is the true test of being gender responsive. Recall the phrase “no more gender words without gender actions!”

Gender Responsive Assessment Scale Level 5: gender-transformative Characteristics Gender-transformative Acknowledges different norms and roles for women and men and that these influence access to and control over resources Takes account of women’s and men’s specific needs Addresses the causes of gender-based health inequity Includes ways to transform harmful gender norms, roles and relations The objective is often to promote gender equality Includes strategies to foster equal power relationships between women and men Recall that gender analysis may reveal that unfair gender norms, roles or relations are root causes of negative health outcomes and behaviour. This may mean that a gender-transformative approach should be privileged because it will directly address them. Gender-transformative programmes and policies tend to address strategic gender needs discussed in Modules 1 and 2.

In summary Avoid gender-unequal or gender-blind strategies, as these ignore the importance of gender or reinforce discrimination against men or women. The starting-point for being gender-responsive is being gender-sensitive. Gender-specific and gender-transformative strategies are needed. They are complementary, progressive steps in gender mainstreaming. They respond to practical and strategic gender needs revealed through gender analysis.

Integrating gender into health planning and programming Section 3.2 Integrating gender into health planning and programming

Policy and programme design Monitoring and evaluation Entry points for integrating gender into health policies and programmes Situation analysis Policy and programme design Implement activities Monitoring and evaluation (Re) plan Emphasize that the gender can be integrated in any of the steps, and not simply at the situation analysis stage. Gender analysis (as conducted in Module 2 Group Work) should inform health planning and programming towards developing gender-responsive actions.

What would you do? Brainstorming in small groups

Entry points for integrating gender into health policies and programmes Situation analysis: Was the context of men’s and/or women’s lives and their different health needs considered? Policy design: Have other stakeholders or partners participated in setting goals or objectives? Do budget lines exist for work on gender equality? Implement activities: Have women and men participated equally in the implementation stage – both as beneficiaries and as programme staff members? Monitoring and evaluation: Are gender-specific indicators included in monitoring through the programme cycle? Emphasize that the gender can be integrated in any of the steps, and not simply at the situation analysis stage. Gender analysis (as conducted in Module 2 Group Work) should inform health planning and programming towards developing gender-responsive actions.

Gender and health planning and programming checklist

Section 3.3 From analysis to the work plan: making work plans more gender-responsive Now that we are familiar with WHO gender analysis tools for health planning and programming, let’s put our new skills to the test by developing gender-responsive plans and activities.

WHO Gender Responsive Log Frame Priority gender and health issue Rationale Activity Type and timeline Indicator(s) of success Stakeholders or partners Specific or Trans-formative Using the same groups as in Module 2, reconvene groups to develop a gender-responsive work plan using the log frame introduced on this slide. See notes above about using an existing policy and programme environment of the context in question as much as possible to enhance practical activities for participants. If this option is chosen, introduce the policy or programme at some point in Module 3 (or 2 as relevant) – including distributing copies to participants as necessary.

Guidance on group work Using the Gender Analysis Matrix from Module 2, select a priority gender and health issue. Avoid gender-blind statements! - Select priority gender and health issues that are realistic and relevant to your public health work. Develop one or two activities. Include as much detail as possible to ensure that the gender-responsive elements are clear and transparent. Realistic Within your sphere of influence High impact: it should address several gender dimensions Do not require a significant influx of new resources Categorize activities by type and develop an expected timeline. Type of activity: policy, research, advocacy and programming. Timelines: short (0–2 years), medium (3–5 years) or long (6 or more years). Propose gender-sensitive indicators. Identify stakeholders or partners. Classify as gender-specific or gender-transformative. Repeat as time permits; share with the group. Referring to the Participant Notes, subsections 3.3b and c (Developing gender responsive work plans, WHO Gender-responsive log frame), outline the instructions for the group activity. • Provide the same guidance as in Module 2 with respect to a rapporteur and leaving 15 minutes for preparing a presentation. • Distribute photocopies of the Module 2 group work. • Suggest that the participants refer to the Participant Notes, Sections 3.1 and 3.2 for easy reference to the GRAS and the gender and health planning and programming checklist.

Module 3 Conclusions

Module 3: key messages Gender-responsive policies and programmes are needed to address harmful gender norms, roles and relations – especially gender inequality. Quick quiz: What does “gender-responsive” mean? Gender-responsive programmes are either gender-specific or gender-transformative. Both contribute to achieving gender equality and health equity. Quick quiz: What is the difference between gender-specific and gender-transformative? Critical processes of questioning in gender analysis can be used both in analysing health problems and in assessing programmes or policies. Quick quiz: Which tools can be used to do this? Gender inequality can be addressed throughout all stages of health planning and programming. Quick quiz: In which planning or programming stages can gender be integrated? Conclude the module and use the quick quiz questions on the screen to incite participant recall of the core concepts. If treats are on hand, give them to the participants who answer the most quickly … and accurately of course! Participants should now be able to keep the gender salt away for good. Ask them to do a cheer with you: No more gender words without gender actions!

谢谢你 Thank you! Merci! Спасибо ¡Gracias! شكرا 谢谢你 Thank you! Merci! Спасибо ¡Gracias! Tanikiu