1. Promoting gender equality in education in Asia-Pacific
UNESCO Bangkok
An overview of selected tools and activities
By Adrien Boucher
Gender Focal Point Network Training 1 December 2011

2. Contents Gender Equality in Education at UNESCO Bangkok
Networks and partnerships
Development of generic tools
Wider public awareness and advocacy

3. Challenges for achieving gender equality in education in Asia-Pacific
Vast region with context-specific disparities
There is a common thinking that “we don’t have gender equality issues”
because many countries have achieved or are close to achieving gender parity in basic education.
However, achieving gender equality is more than just having equal numbers in access, etc.
Illiteracy rates are generally higher for women.
In some countries, disparities are at disadvantage of boys.
Etc.

4. 1. Gender Equality in Education programme
Organized under the Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL)
Main strategies for action:
Advocacy and policy dialogue
Training
Research
Networking and partnerships
Institutional analysis and capacity-building

5. 2. Networks and partnerships
GENIA: Gender in Education Network in Asia-Pacific
UNGEI: UN Girls’ Education Initiative - East Asia-Pacific

6. Gender in Education Network in Asia-Pacific (GENIA)
Network of Focal Points in MOEs, created in 2002
Key activities:
Thematic training for GFPs
On-the-job mentoring and technical support to GFPs to mainstream gender in their ministries
Publication of advocacy brief series
Support research on gender equality issues in education
14 members: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam
Challenges: lack of regular face-to-face meetings, language

7. Partnership with Main activities in 2011: Advocacy
Lesson plan for the Global Action Week in 21 languages
Drawing contest / calendar
Joint statements during international days
E-postcards for World Teachers’ Day
Knowledge generation
Study on the school-to-work transition with a gender perspective
Study on boys’ low performance in the region
Knowledge sharing and management
Through the UNGEI website (hosted by UNGEI/UNICEF New York)
With a quarterly newsletter (theme of next issue: migration)

8. 3. Development of generic tools
GENIA toolkit
Advocacy/Policy briefs

9. GENIA toolkit
Initially produced in 2003 for the GENIA Focal Points (in MOEs) and later revised (latest revision: 2009)
Translated and adapted in several countries across the region
25 tools:
Part 1: Tools for raising gender-awareness
Part 2: Tools for a gender-responsive educational environment
Part 3: Tools for gender-responsive educational management

10. Gender Advocacy Briefs (1)
Single-Sex Schools for Girls and Gender Equality in Education
Strong Foundations for Gender Equality in Early Childhood Care and Education
Education in Emergencies: The Gender Implications
Getting Girls Out of Work and Into School
The Impact of Women Teachers on Girls’ Education
Mother Tongue-based Teaching and Education for Girls
Providing Education to Girls from Remote and Rural Areas
Impact of Incentives to Increase Girls’ Access to and Retention in Basic Education

11. Gender Advocacy Briefs (2)
Role of Men and Boys in Promoting Gender Equality
A Scorecard on Gender Equality and Girls’ Education Asia in
Girls, Educational Equity and Mother Tongue-Based Teaching
Gender-Responsive Life Skills- Based Education
Gender Issues in Counseling and Guidance in Post-Primary Education
Gender Responsive Budgeting in Education
Gender Issues in Higher Education
Removing Gender Barriers to Literacy (to come)
Gender Issues in Physical Education and Sport (to come)

12. 4. Wider public awareness and advocacy
Gender Wire
Photo/drawing contests and calendars
Videos

13. Gender Wire Monthly issues since January 2011
Provides links to: news, activities, publications, videos, funding opportunities, good practices, etc.
Designed under TYPO 3
Distribution: SYMPA mailing list, website, Facebook, Twitter
600 subscribers (as of Nov 2011):
UNESCO staff, partners in UN agencies, NGOs, etc.
In Asia-Pacific and beyond
To subscribe: send us an at

14. Contests and calendars
Photo contests organized since 2006 by UNESCO
In partnership with UNGEI since 2009
1st drawing contest in 2011 with 3,000 entries from 24 countries
Launched at the Global Action Week with a lesson plan for teachers
Partners/distribution: FOs, NatComs, ASPnet, UNGEI, GENIA, website, Facebook, Twitter

15. Video: Invest in Girls’ Education
Produced in-house with limited resources
In collaboration with UNGEI partners
Using regional languages
Launched on International Women’s Day 2011

16. Thank you!
Contact:
Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL)
UNESCO Bangkok
920 Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel ext.361
Fax /