1. THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2014
Mafeteng Urban council
Date : 26-29/05/2014
Presenter: Mrs Matokelo Damane
Venue: Kopanong Hotel
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2. INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE
Country: Lesotho
Council : Mafeteng Urban Council
Gender champion: Mr Thabang Sejanamane
Gender focal person: Ms Palesa ‘Moleli
Baseline score: 50
Progress score: 45
Latest score: 95
Attitude score
Number of women and men in council management:Council: Women: 6 Men 7, staff : Women:5 Men :7
Population served: 31,014
Key characteristics:
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3. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA
OBJECTIVES
To ensure equal access to services delivery to both men, women, the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
To enhance women empowerment economically, socially and politically .
To sensitize community about gender equality
To reduce gender based violence
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BACKGROUND
The council was still engaging in the gender activities before the intervention but it did not keep gender disaggregated data. After the intervention the council started to consider gender issues when rending any services to the community because it found it very significant. However since COE’s intervention, the decision making paradigm shifted in the council.
Before the intervention the council did not hire the disabled people and jobs allocation was still along traditionally defied gender roles which are discriminatory in nature e.g. Construction work was reserved for men, however it is now awarded to applicants based on their merits not gender.
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5. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA
KEY ACTIVITIES
 Please list at least five in bullet form
Land allocation
Solid waste management
Public health
maintenance of minor roads and street lighting
Collection of revenue
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6. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA
RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS
Amount local currency (specify)
Amount in Rand
Gender specific allocation ( women’s forums)
M10, awaiting approval
R 10,000
Gender in mainstream projects (Solid waste management and High mast lighting )
M 1,000,000.00
M 1,700,000.00
R2,700,000
Amount contributed in cash or in kind by partner organisations (please specify) NDSO Contributions
M10,000.00
R ,10,000
TOTAL
M 2,720,000.00
R 2,720,000.
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CHALLENGES
The Council faced many challenges after the intervention since it had to carry out some gender activities which were not included in Council ‘s allocation budget.-Council had to go out and source funds and it managed to assist 162 OVC’s and disabled people with clothes and food packages as their basic needs during Christmas .
The Council realised that our community has little knowledge about gender based violence and made a plan to hold public gatherings to disseminate information but transport became the challenge. - The Council then held women’s forum with all stakeholders including CGPU unit during the 16 days of activism against gender based violence.
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8. evidence

9. Service Delivery
There is a great improvement in the service delivery since both men and women are now equally consulted and involved in all services rendered by the Council hence benefiting from all economic opportunities . The Council has started keeping sex disaggregated data in all services and thus promoting equal access by both men and women to services offered.

11. Evidence
I never thought as an unmarried woman, I could be allocated land.- ‘Malehloa Bohosi Community member.
God bless Mafeteng urban council for giving these skips to us so that we can pure the refuse we were tired of it being all over the village - Atang Kolisang community member.

12. Case#3
Being disabled my hopes of being employed looked non-existent . However thanks to Mafeteng urban council for giving me an opportunity to earn a living like everyone else.- ‘Nekola ‘Nekola

13. Women empowerment
As a result of COE work from January 2014, 15 women have been trained and given a capital (loan) to start up a piggery project by Moliko Trust. They were also encouraged to engage in other business companies than being more into catering only.
In our market place there are 45 shacks granted mainly for women and one room for disabled people.

14. EVIDENCE
PIGGERY PROJECT
MARKET PLACE

15. Men for change
Men became more supportive to gender equality, since they now understand that women need to be given a chance to prove themselves by allowing them to take leadership positions.

16. Evidence
I never thought I would let a woman to be my leader where I had chance to nominate someone for leadership position. I used to be a deputy mayor in my council, but now I am aware that a woman can be good as a leader in the
same way as a man can be. States Councillor Thabang Sejanamane.

17. Public participation
The public gatherings show inclusive participation of both men and women as equal contributors in public affairs that affect them.
This was true in the street naming public gathering and registration of OVCs.

18. Changes at the work place
It was traditionally expected that only men were to hold positions of leadership. However we have a supervisor position in our waste management project that is equally open for both men and women.
We have also release pregnant women an hour before knock off time.
Paternity leave for men still under discussion.

19. Evidence
“there is an increase in the number of female applicants for the position of supervisor. this is in comparison to applications prior to COE work.” said the council Human Resource Officer. c

20. Outreach through the media
The council air programs on local community radio that are aimed at educating the local communities about their rights. Especially when it comes to women rights on inheritance of land.

21. Changes at household level
Since the COE, an increasing number of men admit that they involve their spouses in the decision making at home. For instance budgeting is done together. Selling of family assets is no longer his sole decision.

22. Evidence
Councillor Thabang Sejanamane said “ my wife did not know how much my salary was. I would just buy things regardless of what her needs were but now that has totally changed.”

23. Capacity building
COE work has inspired confidence in women to voice their thoughts and ideas in decision making meetings . The recognition of the role of women as community builders.

24. Evidence
“ I had a very low self esteem and had a fear to say out my feelings and thoughts during the council meeting but after the intervention , I feel free to raise my views.’- Councillor Malibuseng Koenene

25. Changes in attitudes
There is a great change in Community ‘s attitudes since the intervention , Women are now beginning to realize they can do any work that was traditionally defined as male’s role.

26. evidence
‘’As we have recently advertised the post of officer vehicle driver it became very interesting when receiving females applications for this kind of job as used to be for males’’.- Kasane Molahlehi – Human resource officer.

27. Changes at a policy level that have come about as a result of the COE work
COE work brought changes in the policy formulation because all stakeholders in gender issues are consulted and involved .

28. evidence
Consultation and involvement of the Community leaders, representations of Community members from different sectors Parastals like wasco / LEC and other ministries in the formulation of Council’s gender policy.

29. Any other changes that have come about as a result of the COE work
Including gender activities into the Council’s allocation budget.
Considering gender equality at all times in the Council’s implementation of projects.

30. evidence
Council included some public awareness campaigns on gender equality in its 2014/2015 recurrent budget.

31. LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION
We learned that a good practice of gender equality can lead to happy living community by discouraging discrimination of people hence promoting equal treatment.
We also learned that having M & E system in place for gender issues, the Council can be able to see whether it is progressing or not and improvements could be in areas where there have been biases.
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32. LEARNING AND SHARING WITH OTHER COUNCILS
We have started working together with Ts’anatalana community council to carry out some activities like tree planting as a means of responding to climate change .
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33. Evidence
This Mafeteng urban council team having a match withTs’anatalana as a way of creating harmony relations before passing the message concerning women Empowerment and gender based violence.

34. SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION
COE can be sustained if gender equality activities are allocated some funds in the Council’s budget. Also if continuous education and training on gender equality are provided to all stakeholders.
The work of COE can be cascaded to other Councils by visiting other Councils to share ideas and challenges together. Also inviting other Councils to the meetings and public events for learning processes. Our Council can contribute to the cascading process by visiting and inviting other council’s into the gender equality activities.
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KEY PRIORITIES FOR 2014
The Council is going to concentrate mainly on empowering women into business entrepreneurships.
Encourage men to be involved in care work such as joining support groups.
To have M& E system in place for gender.
To consult both men and women about the drastic measures to be taken to reduce effects of climate change.
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36. END
THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!! “ together we can”