Report on ENRAP session on Nurturing a Gender Network in India (22nd Jan)
IFAD India Gender Mainstreaming Workshop, Pune 21-23rd January 09
Introduction
Since the beginning of their collaboration on ENRAP, IFAD and IDRC have been interested
in using the ENRAP network to improve knowledge sharing on issues related to gender
empowerment. During phase II some of the participating countries especially Pakistan
discussed the issue every year at the annual sharing workshops organized by ENRAP. The
Pakistan gender focal points were keen to network with others struggling with gender issues
and requested support for practical help and an email list for regular sharing. ENRAP
attempted to connect IFAD’s Gender Mainstreaming project for South Asia
(www.gendermainstreamingasia.org) more strongly to help with this. ENRAP also supported
this projects website to ensure that knowledge resources were available virtually. However,
that beginning remained small and for lack of practical advice that project staff needed as
well as project capacity, the network didn’t grow very much.
In phase III ENRAP started reviewing its possible support to gender networking in the latter
part of 2008. Information from IFAD regarding their newly designed support to the issue
created opportunity. Asia division has been keen and supportive. To further assess the
potential for nurturing a gender network, ENRAP participated in an ICIMOD workshop
organized to share reports of gender assessments they had commissioned for IFAD’s projects
in the Hindu Kush Himalayas. In addition, to explore connections between IFAD’s interests
in creating a gender network with IDRC’s knowledge base and research on women’s rights
and citizenship and gender mainstreaming, ENRAP also identified opportunities for IFAD
projects and partners through inviting interested gender focal points, evaluators working with
IFAD to IDRC’s workshop on Gender Knowledge Production in Kathmandu at the end of
January 2009.
In the light of the above activities, India workshop was timely and provided opportunity to
dialogue on knowledge networking with key gender staff of IFAD projects.
ENRAP’s presence at the workshop facilitated thinking on three key areas to begin the
process of knowledge sharing:
1. What are the Challenges that Gender Focal points face in their work
2. What are their knowledge needs which can address their challenges
3. What are their recommendations to address these knowledge needs-what, who, when.
Participants also heard about ENRAP and what it can offer this group in terms of knowledge
sharing and networking.
An open discussion was used to collect challenges from the participants. While the other two
questions were explored in groups. When identifying knowledge needs, participants were
divided in groups that reflected their responsibilities within the project, whether at project
management level or district level or looking at national level concerns as this was likely to
affect their needs. Following this, recommendations were discussed and presented by each
project group.
Many groups listed ENRAP support for networking and knowledge sharing activities such as
experience sharing workshops, e-discussions, in addition they mentioned capacity
development in terms of documentation of practices and platforms for dissemination. All the
presentations are available on the ENRAP website:
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(http://www.enrap.org/index.php?module=pnKnwMang&func=displayResource&kid=620&c
id=17).
Common Challenges Faced
The participants were quite active in expressing their challenges. These reflect challenges that
relate to people’s attitude and understanding the concept of gender; the institutional
constraints as well as the political and social environment; lack of available knowledge
resources on practices and policies; and the nature of IFAD communities. This demonstrates
the diverse nature of challenges embedded in both thought and practice that affect design and
delivery of gender empowerment efforts. The challenges mentioned are grouped below:
Remoteness, Illiteracy , Language diversity
Lack of institutional support, Lack of Common Understanding, Rigid Mind-Set,Power
relations, Weak gender advocacy
Lack of technical know-how to address gender concerns. (gender tools and
techniques), Lack of area specific gender studies/knowledge., Lack of simple
materials/documentation, Lack of knowledge/access to good practices, Lack of gender
specific evaluation and follow-up by donors needed, Issues related to Implementation
and Evaluation of gender strategy/policy at project level, Performance
measurement/criteria (quantitative) inadequate for gender. Tendency to use
quantitative evaluation instead of process oriented time frames.
Lack of Networking and Information Dissemination
Identifying Knowledge Needs
Three groups comprising of IFAD project staff at 1) project management unit level, who
often have gender mainstreaming as one component of their work, 2) gender focal points
working at the district level with community groups and 3) national level field presence staff
and government who are looking at policies, discussed and presented their knowledge needs
to address the common challenges identified. Of course, not all of the challenges could be
addressed through knowledge but some of the common knowledge needs cited are:
Challenges Knowledge needs
Lack of user-friendly Documentation / Skill enhancement
material on gender Sharing cross learning/networking
issues and lack of E-discussion/common web portal
technical know-how Knowledge about audio visual aids
Studies on specific themes such as drudgery reduction
Training resources available-list
Roster of resource persons
Resources on tools and techniques and follow-up.
Share Fair at different levels: national, project and
district level
Lack of institutional Common guidelines/gender strategy documents
support and power Gender sensitization programs at all levels
relationships
Lack of Networking and a common platform/website to share learnings and
Information discuss problems
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Dissemination online networking an discussions
face-to-face networking at workshops
Capacity building in documentation of good practices for
dissemination
Please see Annexure 1 for all group presentations.
Addressing Knowledge Needs
In their project groups, participants discussed what concrete steps can be taken to address
their knowledge needs. Each group made recommendations and an action plan which
identified, who can do what, what resources are needed and the timelines. These are annexed
to this report in Annexure 2
Some of the common recommendations made by the project groups include:
Strategic Information
• Common guidelines or project policies
• Formulation of project specific gender strategy and action plan
Information on Resources:
• Database of institutions (resource agencies and individuals) working in addressing
gender issues
• Training materials, modules, IEC materials etc, good practices
Knowledge sharing and exchange
• Periodic workshops (knowledge-share fair) or meetings or exposures on gender
mainstreaming to share good practices
• Continuous monitoring of progress on gender related planed activities
• E-discussion and website
• Exposure visits
Capacity Building
• Skills development in documentation techniques, using various gender analysis tools
• Media advocacy, capturing and disseminating information (IEC material) using video.
All project groups and the national level team are interested in continued sharing and learning
through a network. Many projects were willing to share their experiences through electronic
and face-to-face meetings. However, they expressed lack of knowledge including who to
contact for what information, as impediments which a national level network could help
address. Most projects have funds available to implement project specific training and
documentation and need technical support for skills development in gender analysis tools and
documentation techniques. They also see ENRAP as a platform for providing sharing
opportunities and building skills which would allow them to share information.
Collective Action Plan which emerged from discussions (reference to ENRAP):
On the final day of the workshop, participants collectively planned what kind of activities
could be undertaken and by whom to address some of the challenges discussed at the ENRAP
session. The table below summarises these discussions. Participants recommended that
ENRAP could support the ICP in disseminating documentation/material which is available on
gender mainstreaming. ENRAP could also support online and face-to-face networking for
sharing of information.
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Challenges Activities Responsible Resources Time
Technical Capacity Gender analysis training Project staff ICO and
Skills: Gender ICO (gender project
organizational mainstreaming, G and
Development org devpt-PDs and GF)
Material Creation Inventory of materials National IFAD ICO+ ”””””
and project can ENRAP+WOCAN
demystify (local State-Project and external
language) consultants
Project approach Engender project cycle Project staff, ICO
Organisational Gender sensitive policies IFAD-ICO Checklist
Culture and good practices –HR
Create Enabling policy consistent with
Environment govt
Social culture Gathering Project staff project
Accountability Gender sensitive M&E Project staff and share
indicators in M&E Plan within themselves.
(reported to ICU)
Creating gender terms of IFAD Gender
reference for all staff Framework-ICO suggest
for reporting
Performance appraisal.
Sex disaggregated data
Report Gender to IFAD
Political
Commitment
Policies
Advocacy
(grassroots, projects, Leaders/PDs
state level)
Way Forward:
During the course of discussions some issues emerged that may impinge on the success of
creating a gender network in India :
1. Many people at the district level don’t have access to computers, internet, and
personal emails. They often have to attend to multiple tasks so their participation in e-
discussions may be limited.
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2. Many of the project level co-ordinators have additional responsibilities-this provides
both opportunities in terms of gender being mainstreamed in other areas but also
constraints in terms of time devoted to gender specific activities.
3. In many projects there is no specific gender co-ordinator at the PMU level so some
times there is no adequate link up.
4. Project Directors are the key decision makers within projects and are government civil
servants-they have authority and power to change organization policies and structures
yet they were not present at the gender workshop. They also require gender
sensitization since they are responsible for overall project delivery including gender.
5. ENRAP only has one and half years to assist in this process therefore the strength of
the network would very much depend on how quickly can the ICP engage with
ENRAP in the networking effort..
Despite these issues, there are clear opportunities for ENRAP to help create knowledge
sharing mechanisms within the gender mainstreaming efforts of the ICP. These arise from the
institutional support and interest of ICP and IFAD to have knowledge sharing and learning as
a key element of their gender mainstreaming activities. Additionally, through this meeting a
group of enthusiastic gender focal points have come together and their sustained interest can
propel networking activities. Furthermore, IDRC has a rich resource and knowledge base to
which this group can be linked for further sharing and learning. Given this, ENRAP will
work with the ICP to plan and identify the next steps in strengthening this group through
identifying knowledge sharing platforms and resources.
Next Steps
In light of the positive discussions and interest of participant to continue sharing their
knowledge and experiences in gender mainstreaming, ENRAP intends to work with and
support ICP in strengthening of a gender network for India. Learning from this experience
would help expand it further in the region. Follow-up activities for these purposes include:
1. Include all focal points on the ENRAP gender mailing list and encourage them to use it.
2. Assess gender networking needs of the IFAD-India office that ENRAP could support.
3. Link them to the relevant resource persons and IDRC’s partners and knowledge.
Given that ENRAP has only one and a half years left for project implementation, building a
sustainable network amongst the group with key resource persons and the ICP as leading the
network would be a sustainable strategy. As envisaged by Mattia Prayer Gellati a ‘self-help
group’ of gender focal points can help each other in addressing common concerns.
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ANNEXURE 1: GROUP PRESENTATION ON KNOWLEDGE NEEDS
Question for Discussion:
What are the key knowledge needs to address challenges faced in gender mainstreaming
& empowerment
Group 1 (PMU level)
Challenges and Knowledge Needs
Common Challenges Knowledge Needs
Availability of simple material Documentation / Skill enhancement
Language Sharing cross learning
Access to good practice E-discussion
Level project policy Knowledge about audio visual aids
Networking Common guidelines
Information dissemination Knowledge about tools for gender
Lack of technical knowledge advocacy at various levels
How to address gender Knowledge about Quantitative and
concern qualitative indicator across the
Area specific gender different programs component
Knowledge
Lack of institutional support
Lack of common
understanding
Rigid mind set
Power
Weak gender advocacy
Lack of gender evaluation and
follow up
Process oriented time frame
Group 2 (District level)
Knowledge Needs:
Area specific study should be made available –historical social cultural and
political background
Status of target group at national and regional basis
Gender framework and guideline be made available to all project
Knowledge about gender website
Experience and knowledge sharing
Techniques of documentation, publication and reporting
Gender Analysis tools
Regular flow of information on govt programmes and schemes specially for
women and vulnerable
Exposure visit/ training and capacity building.
Sensitization techniques for different level of stakeholders
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Drudgery reduction, Areas of drudgery
Organization working for drudgery reduction.
Tools developed for drudgery reduction
Listing of institutes, resource persons, and consultancies for gender
mainstreaming support.
Development of IEC materials on gender3
Group 3: (National level)
How to address common challenges through KM
1. Access to training resources
Not knowing what to get from where
Many resources are in soft copies; difficult to access in many places /
districts due to limited internet access facilities.
Lack of available hard copies for those who require in project level (as
limited internet access)
Many resource materials are too technical; require simplification and in
local languages
2. Access to training network
Not knowing whom to contact for training
Maintaining the quality of trainers (based on project/programme
requirements)
Not having resources/fund for access to trainers
3. Have KM Share Fair
Country level [India Country Programme]
Cluster level [Women cluster, Tribal Cluster, Livelihoods Cluster]
Project level [State wise / district wise/ Block wise/ community wise /
geographical entity wise …….]
4. Create a roaster of gender strategy documents of various agencies in the website
and/or make available the documents to all projects
5. Create a roaster of gender resource agencies / institutes / organizations (for trainings /
consultancies …….) and make available to projects
6. E – Net working; E – Group discussion to promote gender focused professionals in
the projects
Group Divisions:
Group 1 (PMU level) Group 2 (District Level) Group 3 (National Level)
Rajesh Abha Sulochana
Subrata Hema Mattia
Pravanjan Sujan Vincent
Roopa Puspha Barun
Dolfie Sanjay Judith
Kusum Somnath Anina
Mahaendra Satish
Thamodaran Parth
Gyanendra
Anjana
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Pravin
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ANNEXURE 2: Activity Plan: ADDRESSING KNOWLEDGE NEEDS
Questions for Discussion:
1. What needs to be done to address knowledge needs? Key recommendations
2. Improving gender-related knowledge sharing
Are projects interested in sharing knowledge with each other?
What kind of activities are needed for this?
Who should take the lead in implementation at project & national levels?
What kind of resources (funds & time) can projects & partners
contribute?
Jharkhand and Chattisgarh Team
1. Recommendations
Capacity building on gender analysis tool, methodologies and techniques
Regular flow of information and correspondence on gender
Appreciation and motivational input for knowledge for those who are working on
gender
Decentralization of power on gender planning and policy decision
Workshop for technique of documentation, publication and reporting
2. Yes, interested to share our knowledge
3. Activities required for sharing
4. Activity Required
Activities Who Funds / Time
Personnel access to email P.D and IFAD Not required/ Immediately
Guidelines from IFAD for
IFAD, ENRAP Funds available
networking
Exposure and capacity IFAD, Training coordinator
Funds available / On going
building on gender workshop and gender specialist
IFAD, Project, State IFAD fund available /
Updation of website
government Immediately
Information center as IFAD, Project and Funds required from IFAD,
CMRC at block level Government agencies Project /
Tejaswini Madhya Pradesh
Recommendations
Area Specific Studies for identified the gender issues.
Networking with other projects/Org./ NGOs/Experts
Experience sharing – Success story/lesson learnt
Training materials, guidelines related to gender
Exposure visits in similar projects
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Yes ready to share our knowledge with other projects
Upload documents, studies, and other print material regarding gender context.
Exposure visits of successful project areas
Convergence with other stakeholders for sharing experience
Organization of Knowledge fair
Projects and ICO can take lead for conducting.
Print material/field visits/documents
Tejaswini Maharashtra
Recommendations
Information to be provided about existing resources, agencies, community
innovations.
Sharing of knowledge of the functioning of the Gender cross cutting group in any
project which has been proved to be successful to understand the use of effective
strategies, tasks, structure etc.
Sharing of the Best Gender Policy Paper which has been proved to effective in
execution too.
Skills enhancement of the staff can be improved in Documentation, capturing
information, presentation through training.
Better understanding for how to make effective use of M/E tools for the assessment of
gender related activities.
Improving knowledge sharing:
yes
Good practices implemented by MAVIM in recruitment of field workers, sports
competition for women, hemoglobin check up, various initiatives in motivation &
retention of staff
Skill enhancement in KM
KM exhibitions
Hand holding support to build the network within the project
E discussions
Help in developing web-site
Support in developing low cost media for effective training and social awareness
Media advocacy for enabling environment
To outsource some of the task of KM, ENRAP may provide us with the list of
competent consultants/Agencies.
MAVIM can take up the responsibility at project level & ENRAP at national level
Training of KM personal –resource support from ENRAP ( Training of at least 34
staff)
OTELP Team
Recommendations
Formulation of project specific gender strategy and action plan
Database of institutions (resource agencies/ individuals) working in addressing gender
issues
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Formulation and adoption of training materials, modules, IEC materials etc. for
continuous capacity building on gender.
Periodic workshop/ meeting/ exposures on gender mainstreaming.
Continuous monitoring of progress on gender related planed activities
Improving knowledge sharing
Yes
Gender focal point at Project Level and ICO/ ENRAP at National level
Activities and Resources
Activities Resources/ Fund Time
Formulation of gender strategy Project Done
Formulation of action plan Project 2months
Cross visit to different programme areas Project/ ICO Ongoing
Documentation of good practices Project Ongoing
Sharing & Networking of lessons learnt Project/ ICO/ Ongoing
ENRAP
Concurrent capacity building on gender for the Project Ongoing
project stakeholders
Systematization of gender related issues Project/ ENRAP/ 3 months
ICO
ULIPH, MLIPH & TN Team
Knowledge Needs
Documentation / Skill enhancement
Sharing / cross learning
E-discussion
Common guidelines
Knowledge about tools for gender advocacy at various levels
Improving Knowledge Sharing
Yes
E-mail, Training, Experience sharing workshop
a) National Level ICP – IFAD, ENRAP
b) Project Level Project Director, Gender focal points
Project has fund for addressing this.
National level-ICP & GOVT Team.
Are projects interested in sharing knowledge with each other?
Yes, but for what purpose?
To inform and educate policy makers;
To inform policy makers on the current status of project implementation, but also
current status of policies/schemes on gender
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To document the achievements of the project
To suggest mid term modifications in project implementation
Highlight best practices of project for replication by others
To bring all project implementers in a common platform for uniformity of
understanding and application as well as learning from each other
Draw attention of project management on critical issues
To improve the designs of future projects based on lessons learned
What kind of activities are needed for this?
Collect and collate information from various sources
Upload in interactive website; IFAD website
Disseminate hard copies
Network with nodal departments dealing with women to understand new
initiatives
Periodic information and dissemination workshop (project / state /national /
regional level)
E discussion
Net working with line departments
Net working with other donor agencies / grant funds recipients
Exchange visits between projects
Research studies on gender related issues (eg. Gender and microfinance; gender
and NRM; etc.)
Training/capacity building for documentation techniques and use of tools.
Resource mobilization (financial) to carry out the above activities, if ENRAP
funding is insufficient.
Who should take the lead in implementation of these at project and national levels?
Project Management in the state level
ICO at national level in coordination with ENRAP
Ministry of Women & Child Development at national level in consultation with
ICO and ENRAP
What kinds of resources (funds & time) can projects and partners contribute?
Ministry of Women and Child Development has a number of women related
schemes that can be accessed by the project (including partner NGOs). [more list
available with MWCD]
Financing available under our projects, ENRAP, IFAD, etc.
Human resources at ICO, ENRAP, projects, IFAD HQ, etc.
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