Interagency Gender and Development Group (INGAD)
Pakistan
INGAD Reflection Day
Report of an INGAD Retreat
Holiday Inn Islamabad
4 April 2007
Facilitated By
Salman Asif
Chair INGAD/UN Gender Advisor
INGAD Secretariat
ingad@un.org.pk
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Table of Contents
1. Executive summary 3
2. Participants’ introduction and expectations 4
3. Benefits from attending INGAD meetings 5
4. Disappointments from attending INGAD Meetings 5
5. Recommendations 5
6. Conclusion 6
Annexes
A: Programme
B. List of Participants
C: INGAD Vision, Mission and Strategy
D. Group Work
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Report
of
INGAD Reflection Day
Holiday Inn Islamabad
4 April 2007
1. Executive summary
An INGAD Reflection Day (Retreat) was held in Islamabad on 4 April 2007 at Holiday
Inn Islamabad. The Reflection Day was held to discuss INGAD Group’s road-map for
the short and long terms.
Participants from various UN and bilateral agencies included 7 Heads of Agencies, 23
INGAD Members and 5 officers from the Resident Coordinator’s Office (List of
participants: Annex B). Salman Asif Chair INGAD/ UN Gender Advisor facilitated the
Retreat. Welcoming the participants to the meeting he informed them that their
contributions in the plenary and in the Group discussions would form the basis for the
formulation of the future strategy of INGAD.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Jan Vandemoortele in his Inaugural Address on UN
Reforms provided an overview of the proposed UN Reforms in the context of cross-
cutting themes including Gender. This Address helped in setting the desired tone and
agenda for determining INGAD’s own current and future priorities regarding broad
policy reform issues with major implications for women’s empowerment.
A presentation GE and Donor Coordination An Overview of Pakistan’s Experience with
Interagency Gender and Development (INGAD) Group was made by Rukhsana Rashid,
INGAD Member representing CIDA. She provided a synopsis of INGAD’s background,
its activities, strategic achievements, work, challenges and issues.
In connection with the presentation the Country Coordinator UNAIDS, Aldo Landi,
advised INGAD of the need to include both government and civil society in the dialogue
on gender, to set priorities (which were not clear from the presentation), and advised
that gender mainstreaming should not mentioned as that meant that the aspect of
gender would not receive the importance it deserved.
The Regional Programme Director, UNIFEM Regional Office, Chandni Joshi, recalled
that UNIFEM had been involved with INGAD (then INWID) from its very beginnings and
had also contributed financially towards it. There was continuity of INGAD because of
the role of the national Members. She advised that INGAD Member agencies pool in
funds as support to INGAD.
A Presentation on INGAD’s International Women’s Day 2007 was given by Fareeha
Ummar, Senior Advisor Gender Equality (ERRA) with the help of photographs and a
commentary.
The Retreat was interactive and participatory. Participants reviewed the existing INGAD
Vision, Mission and Strategy and endorsed it as it is (Annex C) emphasizing the need to
make it operational.
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Members stressed that INGAD is an informal Group as Members concentrate on internal
advocacy -- it has a strong external advocacy agenda but the Group as such does not
speak as One.
The existing key priority issues were reviewed and recommendations made. Amongst
these were to concentrate on few areas for optimum effect; seek Government
participation on a needs basis; be strong on advocacy and lobbying and not be deterred
from looking at other avenues for parallel funding.
There was emphasis on the need to involve the other half of gender in discussions and
programmes.
The common elements emanating from the discussions were that there was lack of
direction, motivation, in-depth discussion, advocacy, clarity, research and no discussion
on the other half of gender.
2. Next Steps
Participants were asked to introduce themselves, their organization; Each INGAD
Member was requested to give a 3-minute agency/personal view on the following
issues:
What do they hope to contribute to the Reflection Day
What do they hope to Achieve
Name One benefit (if any) they have achieved from attending INGAD meetings
Name One disappointment (if any) they have had from attending INGAD meetings.
Each member was asked to name three key areas for INGAD Strategy for the next two
years --
Feed-back on the existing work plan
One Challenge
One Key Event (Programme: Annex A).
Participants were divided into 4 Groups; each group to reflect on an identified area of
INGAD Strategy – Policy Research and Advocacy or Networking and Coordination
(common features to both being Membership and INGAD Structure) and form a
presentation (Group Work: Annex D).
3. Participants’ expectations from INGAD
The following were the main ‘expectations’ as highlighted by the participants:
Highlight Men’s issues as well as Women’s issues
Better strategic positioning of INGAD – stronger advocacy role for agencies –
relevant and focused agenda
Share experience of gender work
Hope potential of Group is maximized
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Leaner and meaner INGAD in terms of overheads; how to capitalize on agency
resources
Clarity on what is the INGAD mandate
Get more down-to-earth, more specific strategies and work plans
More unified understanding of INGAD
To make INGAD more effective influence different GoP structures
Agreement amongst members to add collective value to work as a Group –
consensus building
Paris Declaration – to be visible in INGAD’s agenda and programmes
In context of UN Reforms hope to see INGAD resonate on UN programme and
facilitate UN agencies to come closer together
Health issues should be included in discussions at INGAD meetings
UNIC can provide assistance in advocacy, info sharing
Give inputs and ideas for constructive and realistic agenda for the INGAD work
plan for 2007
4. Benefits from attending INGAD meetings
The following were listed as the ‘benefits’ members experienced from attending INGAD
meetings:
Access to gender expertise pool
Info sharing on the latest development in Gender
Networking opportunity
Rich resource; new members have particularly befitted from old members –
heartening to be welcomed
Info sharing, networking and bonding within group
UNDP benefited – resonated with one voice to GoP in PRSP II
An excellent source of information -- specifically the INGAD Matrix for Gender-
focused Projects prepared by a number of Member Agencies.
5. Disappointments from attending INGAD Meetings
Members also experienced disappointments – listed as follows:
No active advocacy undertaken by INGAD to link up with other similar agencies
Knowledge Management not carried out, cannot utilize strength
Development Banks which are part of INGAD Membership are perpetually
absent, no commitment
More motivation by members required
Decisions that have been taken earlier are reversed consistently
INGAD not fulfilling its mandate for Research and Advocacy
Out of 31 agencies only 10-15 are represented in monthly and other INGAD
meetings
Lot of potential expertise but not using it optimally
Lack of coordination and direction from within group
Not ‘walking the talk’
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Repetition; setbacks – limited advocacy; opportunity for capitalization being
missed
Lack of prioritization on Research/Advocacy
Meetings too frequent, too short, lack of depth in discussion
Two years ago Retreat held, but no new solutions offered as yet
6. Outcome of the Meeting
After a thorough discussion on the ‘Recommendations’ (made by the INGAD Members
on the Reflection Day) presented on 19 September 2007, the following decisions were
taken unanimously:
Administration/Organizational Matters:
INGAD must focus on few identified areas
Decisions should be made in meetings (by consensus).
Tenure of the Chair to continue to be six months
Budget for INGAD should be planned on the basis of the Work Plan
INGAD should not be deterred from looking at other avenues for funding
List of possible research to be undertaken should be drawn up next year.
There shall be no celebration of Special Days by INGAD
No invitation will be extended to Women’s Parliamentary Group for participation
in INGAD’s meetings
No evaluation of INGAD should be undertaken (the audit of accounts by the
donor should suffice); as INGAD is an informal Group, it is not authorized to take
up a position/talk to any Body as a Group.
The annual evaluation of INGAD staff should be carried out by the two Chairs,
whose tenure extended during that particular year and who had supervised the
work of the staff, as well as the donor and one other INGAD Member. The
evaluation would be a learning process and should be linked to salary raise,
training required etc.
No NGOs or international NGOs or Government partners to be allowed
membership [conflict of interest]
Activities:
INGAD should have a reserve of potential research to be undertaken should
funding become available or if there is a surplus at the end of the financial year.
Research should be positioned as Pakistan-focused – then fed into inter and
intra-advocacy
There should be a mechanism for INGAD to invite relevant persons/groups (both
Government including MoWD, provincial Government, GRAP Implementation
Units, NCSW and Civil Society Groups) on a needs basis, to INGAD meetings for
exchange of information on topics/subjects which are topical and important.
INGAD must also analyze the GoP programmes, INGAD Members’ programmes
and UN Reforms in Pakistan in the light of Paris Declaration, MDGs, CEDAW,
PDF, PRSP II, Vision 2030, etc.
There should be investment in Research rather than events
INGAD’s Vision, Mission and Strategy may be considered for revision after 1 year
There should be responsiveness to the context – MDGs, CEDAW, PDF, and PRSP
II.
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INGAD should engage in dialogue with an extensive coverage – overall
events/happenings in Pakistan in the developmental/gender context.
Networking at all levels with similar Groups should be undertaken.
7. Conclusion
Salman Asif, Chair INGAD thanked all those present for their inputs which were
motivating, inspired and inspiring. As a result of the Reflection Day the Group would
now place emphasis on Recommendations made.
Parallel funding was discussed. The acceptance of the UNFPA offer of US$15,000 was
questioned by the SDC Member as INGAD already had funding from SDC. The Chair
recalled for the benefit of Members that the UNFPA offer had been accepted with
thanks from all INGAD Members at a number of INGAD meetings. INGAD should not
be deterred from looking at other avenues for funding – as one Member pointed out if
funds are available only then can INGAD plan for potential tasks to be undertaken.
Annex A
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Programme
INGAD Reflection Day
Kehkeshan Hall II
Holiday Inn Islamabad
4 April 2007
Key Objectives
To review the current INGAD work plan, its issues and challenges
To develop a coherent future work plan of INGAD for 2008-09
To develop a strategic framework for the key priority areas of INGAD
To revitalize the Vision and Mission of INGAD
Schedule
09.30 – 10.00 Registration of Participants
10.00 – 10.15 Presentation on INGAD
By Rukhsana Rashid, Gender Advisor, CIDA-PSU
10.15 – 10.30 UN Reforms: Inaugural Address
By Jan Vandemoortele, UN Resident Representative
10.30 - 10.45 Brief Q & A Session
10.45 - 11.00 Presentation on INGAD International Women’s Day 2007
By Fareeha Ummar, Senior Advisor Gender Equality (ERRA)
11.00 – 11.05 Token of thanks by the INGAD Chair
11.05 -11.30 Refreshments
Closure: Heads of Agencies depart
INGAD Reflection Session 1
11.30-13. 30 Introduction of the participants
11.30 – 12.00 Each INGAD Member requested to give 3 minutes agency/personal view on
following issues:
What do they hope to contribute to the Reflection Day?
What do they hope to Achieve?
Name One benefit (if any) they have achieved from attending INGAD meetings
Name One disappointment (if any) they have had from attending INGAD
meetings.
Salman Asif and Najam take the responses down on the Flip Charts.
1200 – 1300 Each member names three key areas for INGAD Strategy for the next two years
Feed-back on the existing work plan
One Challenge
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One Key Event
Salman Asif and Najam take the responses down on the Flip Charts.
1300- 13.30 Participants divided into 5 Groups (less or more) each to reflect on an identified
area of INGAD Strategy (Work-plan, the Way forward etc) and form a
presentation.
13.30 – 1400 LUNCH
INGAD Reflection Session 11
1400 – 14.45 Group work Continues
14.45 – 15.30 Presentations
15.30 – 16.15 Feed-back and taking stock of the day, possibly some concrete outcomes
Consensus Building
Some Points for Reflection
Decisions about the key result areas and INGAD Strategy for the next
two years
Revitalization of the Vision, Mission and Strategy
A Review of the existing INGAD work plan
Advocacy
Research
Coordination Meetings
Key Events
Management and Administration
Challenges/ Issues
Working on a focused and coherent INGAD future work plan that
contributes to INGAD objectives and facilitates harmony among its
members
How can we enhance collaboration with counterparts?
Evaluation of the existing INGAD events and Identification of new Events
Expectation of Members from INGAD – how can these be met?
Identification of Federal and Provincial government institutions as
counterparts and motivating partners
Annex B
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List of Participants:
INGAD Chair: Salman Asif; INGAD Administrator: Najam Saighal
Heads of Agencies:
(JICA): Mitsunobu Inaba, Deputy Resident Representative
(Emb.of Switzerland): Konstantin Oblensky, First Secretary
(UNAIDS): Aldo Landi, Country Coordinator
(UNDP): Mikiko Tanaka, Deputy Country Director
(UNIC): Ishrat Rizvi, OIC
(UNIFEM): Chandni Joshi, Regional Programme Director
(UNResRep Office): Jan Vandemoortele, UN Resident Coordinator
INGAD:
(ADB): Anne Sweetser
(CIDA): Nancy Foster, Rukhsana Rashid, Fareeha Ummar
(EC) Charlotte Blomhammer
(GTZ): Yasmeen Hamdan
(ILO): Manzoor Khaliq
(JICA): Nazia Seher
(RNE): Yasmeen Jawad
(R.Nor.Emb): Fauzia Yazdani
(SDC): Vesna Dimcovski, Kaneez Fatima Kassim
(UNAIDS): Samia Hashim, Meagen Baldwin
(UNDP): Faiza Effendi, Sajid Baloch, Rabia Khattak
(UNESCO): Sayaka Usui
(UNIC): Fatimah Mazhar
(UNIFEM): Mariam Mehdi
(WHO): Rayana Bouhaka, Ayesha Aftab
UN Resident Coordinator’s Office:
Raabya Amjad
Parvez Hasan
Zarak S. Jan
Nisar Ahmed Khan
Rozita Roghani
Annex C
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Vision, Mission and Strategy of INGAD
• Vision
INGAD Group is a proactive resource on gender advocacy to influence rights based development in
Pakistan
• Mission
Share information and research, coordinate on policy and program issues, network with various
stakeholders and support advocacy efforts
• Strategy
– Policy Research and Advocacy
Research on priority issues will guide and inform advocacy efforts. Policy advocacy will adopt a multi-
dimensional approach to raising awareness and building strategic alliances
– Networking and Coordination
Sharing information on project and program areas, dissemination of best practices and support to
knowledge based networking and learning platforms
4 April 2007
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Annex D
Group Work
Group 1: (ADB); Anne Sweetser, (CIDA): Rukhsana Rashid, (UNAIDS): Meagen Baldwin, (UNDP): Rabia
Khattak, (UNIC): Fatimah Mazhar
Thematic agenda: Policy Research and Advocacy
-2010
-Feasible
-Outputs
-Focused
-WHO?-
PDF Messages
Human Rights
Law and Order
Safety
MDG 2006 report
CEDAW (May/GoP)
Research:
New:
Discriminatory Laws (pulling gaps together)
Gender Mainstreaming (debates)/acknowledge the challenges
Advocate on existing research leading to intellectual debates [Open space every quarter]
Existing
Focus on Men (approaches to working with men)
Household-based analysis employment/health/education (pulling together resources not original research
– 25 page paper).
INGAD Secretariat
Need substantive GE expertise – time span of Chair
Office space?/work from home
Upgrade Research Associate to Gender Research Specialist (GRS)
Other proactive work plans/critical events/day (Pakistan) e.g. GoP, CEDAW, PRSP-II, PC-I, PDF
Feedback of info
Research:
Info on good practices in region
Memberships:
Reaffirm memberships by 31 agencies
Designate officials/Gender Focal Points
Endorse SMVO
More output oriented by adding more members i.e. GoP
GoP by invitation
No International NGOs (subject to invitation)
Group 2: (EC): Charlotte Blomhammar, (SDC) : Vesna Dimcovski, (UNIFEM): Mariam Mehdi, (WHO):
Rayana Bouhaka
Thematic agenda: Networking and Coordination
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Networking:
-With GoP? CS?
-How to go beyond the key events
-Promote the benefits on INGAD as a network
-Give inputs and engage
Coordination:
-Move beyond info-sharing towards harmonization
-Define/use more tools (i.e. Gender matrix to avoid duplication)
-Linkup with other coordination bodies on Gender (IASC Task Force on Gender)
Dialogue for UN Reforms - Internal Coordination
Rules of Business
-Membership: 1 Core Group (10-15 Agencies)
1 Group (10-15) don’t come to meetings
-Why so much absenteeism?
-Motivation
Inclusion vs. exclusion
INGAD Secretariat:
Administrator/Research Associate/Accountant
-Chair
-Donors: SDC/UNFPA
-Reporting Mechanism?
-Decision-making
-Decisions have to be taken only in meetings (not via e-mail)
-Minutes to focus more on concrete steps/actions against the work plan
-Parallel funding
Budget according to the plan/activities
Group 3: (CIDA): Fareeha Ummar, (JICA): Nazia Seher, (Royal Norwegian Embassy): Fauzia Yazdani,
(SDC): Kaneez Fatima Kassim
Thematic agenda: Policy Research and Advocacy
Recommendations
- Research Focus should be Policy Research at:
- a) National level (NPA, PRSP, Devolution) and International level (Aid Effectiveness and MDGs)
- b) Positioned as Pak focus
- Feeding into inter + intra agency-based advocacy
INGAD Membership
-Extend to GoP i.e. MoWD, NCSW, EAD, MoSW, MoE, MoH, NRB (as per need)
-For international agencies only those who fund and do not seek funding from donors in Pakistan
Strategic Alliance Building
Regional networking in South Asia with donor groups like INGAD
INGAD Structure and Management
1 No event celebrations
2. External 3rd party review and validation of INGAD structure and functioning (ToRs for review by
past INGAD Chairs TWG)
3. Rethink Tenure Chair
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4. New hiring subject to review.
Group 4: (CIDA): Nancy Foster, (GTZ): Yasmeen Hamdan, (UNESCO): Sayaka Usui
Thematic agenda: Networking and Coordination
Networking:
Create INGAD Website, regular up-date of each agency’s gender-related activities
Regular up-date of each agency’s activities using INGAD Matrix.
Seek and/or create effective ways of networking with different stakeholders- e.g. Donors/
Implementing agencies (NGOs)
Offer opportunity for International NGOs/Local NGOs to exchange information/ideas/opinions
through annual (for instance) MTG or conference
Build respectful relationship with governmental bodies
Coordination:
Brief and concise introduction for new members in INGAD as internal, as well as for external
coordination
Disseminate norm of responsible participation among INGAD members – e.g. Probably once in
a month INGAD administrator/chair informs members who have not been attending monthly
MTG for a long time, to confirm their continuous participation.
One of the biggest challenges might be said that it is difficult to observe/feel actual positive
changes on which INGAD has been working. Similar discussion has been repeated at several
times without actual change in implementation.
Revision of INGAD’s VMS
Actual implementation is more problematic rather than coordination.
Clear and realistic goal/VMS should be advocated by INGAD.
Target-setting is essential for effective advocacy.
Each agency has been facing gender-discrimination internally.
Not necessary to revise VMS at the moment, but rather each member’s recognition of it is more
crucial.
From above reflections, we concluded that more realistic agenda/strategies might be necessary to be
discussed in meeting, in order to set clear work plan for 2007-08.
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