1. Working Group 2: Building Political Momentum and Mobilizing Grassroots Support for Gender Equality

2. Main issues raised How can policy makers (gov’ts, UN, World Bank) be held accountable for ensuring that gender equality is central to MDG policies and interventions? What are the key strategic opportunities over the next two years for advancing gender equality and the MDGs at the country level as well as within the UN and the World Bank? Why does civil society support need to be mobilized? What are the assumptions about where civil society influence is needed? What are the incentives and disincentives for civil society and women’s organizations to become involved in promoting gender equality and the MDGs?

3. Key points New initiatives are constantly being created to solve systemic development issues resulting in misallocation of resources limiting effective development. Political will continues to be weak and inconsistent for engendering the MDGs, for example the axiom that the MDGs can not be reached without gender equality has not been fully translated into action in the framework itself. Key development decision makers still do not bring gender perspective to planning and budgeting (Economists and country Finance Ministers)

4. Key Points (con) The MDGs are a framework for government accountability which needs to be linked to the Beijing Platform for Action as a comprehensive agenda for gender equality and to CEDAW as a legal framework Civil Society and Women’s organizations understand the value of MDGs as a global consensus framework, but are concerned that the MDGs can undermine the hard won gains from Beijing, Cairo and the other world conferences

5. Specific actions for follow-up In 2005 the Beijing +10 outcomes should be factored into the subsequent review of the MDGS. Governments and the World Bank need to formalize an ongoing mechanism for consultation with women and civil society organizations Build partnerships around key strategic breakthrough areas: engendering economists and finance ministers and unbundling national budgets Arguments need to be framed in terms of opportunity costs and economic gains

6. Women’s and civil society organizations should be actively consulted in the preparation of national reports on the MDGs. These reports should be widely disseminated to communities (especially through radio) so that government action can be tracked. By 2005 engender all MDG goals by adding new indicators, specifically indicators on land rights, poverty and gender equality, reproductive health/rights, violence, and male participation in domestic responsibilities. Strengthen the guidance to country teams for addressing gender equality in country reports.