Lessons Learned

Diagnostic studies at the field level: the differing roles and responsibilities between women and men are highly location-specific. Significant variations exist between countries and within countries, reflecting differences in economic, social and cultural forces. Hence diagnostic studies need to be conducted in project communities to identify the specific needs and priorities of poor women and men.

Project activities should take account of socio-economic strata as well as gender: although women are often disadvantaged in comparison to men, poverty is often an over-riding variable. There are significant differences in livelihood opportunities and outcomes between women with partners and women who head households alone; between first wives and other wives in polygamous relationships; and between rich and poor women. Men without partners and orphan-headed households also commonly face conditions of poverty.

Gender mainstreaming throughout a project at the design phase: Stand-alone activities can mislead project implementers to think that all gender issues can be addressed within discrete, and usually minor, components of an overall project. Add-on activities, after the completion of project design, can prove to be administratively cumbersome and time-consuming since they lie outside the normal framework of operation.

Successful project components in addressing gender issues are: capacity building among beneficiaries; the provision of credit; infrastructure development; extension and research; technology development and dissemination; and micro enterprises.

Effective methods and techniques for reaching out to women and the poor: Participatory Rural Appraisals; awareness creation and sensitization about gender issues in the community and amongst project staff; stakeholder training; ensuring appropriate representation of women and men in groups and on committees; targeting project activities to include poor women and men; staff capacity building in techniques to better capture the gender perspective; and the presence of a gender focal point or gender specialist.

Challenges facing projects in achieving their gender goals: prevailing socio-cultural attitudes and practices result in specified gender roles. The environment is generally male-dominated and women are often held in low regard both at home and in society. Both practical and strategic developments are severely hindered by general poverty at the household level, often exacerbated by low levels of literacy and poor health (in particular, due to the HIV/AIDS crisis). Many projects face their own management and technical weaknesses in being able to address gender issues effectively.