Summary of activities

Questionnaire survey - of all ongoing IFAD-supported projects in the region to examine how gender issues are handled at the project level.

Field diagnostic studies in Angola, Uganda, Zambia to gain detailed insights into gender needs and requirements, and their implications for IFAD-supported projects, supported by the preparation of a manual (with appendices) for field diagnostic studies with a gender and poverty focus.

Preparatory meetings and workshops in Tanzania (with project staff from Tanzania and Uganda) and meetings and workshops in Malawi (with staff from Malawi, Namibia and Zambia) to disseminate the findings from the field diagnostic studies and the questionnaire survey, to provide practical training in gender analysis, and to draw up project action plans.

Pilot activities in seven projects to identify innovative ways for raising awareness and addressing some of the key gender issues within rural communities.

Technical assistance at the request of Country Portfolio Managers to support gender specialists on project identification missions, follow-up supervision missions, and mid-term reviews.

Market linkages study exploring the gender and poverty dimensions of market linkages in Zambia - villages of Muvwela, Libuko and Kanyenda; Mozambique - villages of Manrasse, 25 Junho, Ocua; and Uganda - villages of Buraru, Lunyerere and Otorongole; the preparation of a sourcebook, toolkit and a synthesis report for market linkage studies; and a market linkages workshop with participants from the region, IFAD and FAO.

Participated in IFAD-wide initiatives to promote gender awareness and mainstream gender within the organization, including the formulation of a Plan of Action for Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in IFAD’s Operations.