INNOVATIONS FROM THE FIELD: GENDER MAINSTREAMING FROM THE GROUND UP FOR THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME Synthesis report Innovations from the Field Gender mainstreaming from the ground up

INNOVATIONS FROM THE FIELD: GENDER MAINSTREAMING FROM THE GROUND UP FOR THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

Synthesis reportAlyson Brody, Naomi Hossain, Katy Oswald and Sally Smith

Innovationsfrom the FieldGender mainstreaming from the ground up for the World Food ProgrammePhase One: June 2013 – September 2014


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Front coverClockwise from top: Images from our programmes from Senegal, Malawi, Kenya, Lesotho and Guatemala.

AcknowledgementsIsatou Jallow, former Chief of Women, Children and Gender played an instrumental role in the initial inception and development of this programme. Sonsoles Ruedas, the current Director of the WFP Gender Office and Patrick Teixeira, Programme Advisor on Gender, have worked in close partnership with the IDS team and participating country and regional offices to plan and implement the pilot phase of the programme.

We would particularly like to acknowledge the following people for their commitment and contribution to Participatory Action Learning in the five pilot countries:

Guatemala Josefina Tamayo Muñoz Leonorilda Coc Francisco Fión

Kenya Sara BelfrageDavid KamauRobin Landis Lorna Likhanga Ruth Musili Patricia Njoroge

Lesotho Makhauta Mokheti

Malawi Bertha Chiudza Sarah Rawson

Thanks also to Leigh Hildyard for her support in Lesotho and Malawi

Senegal Blandine Legonou FanouMahamane BadamassiMaimouna CisséFatouma DiadéHalima Diallo HouleyeBoubacar DieméElisabeth DioufAramata Doumbouya Sirandou FallFatoubinta FallbaldeCheikhAbdou LoumFlorence NdourKhady TendengBibata Sankara

Thanks also goes to the Country Office Directors and Deputy Directors in Kenya, Malawi, Guatemala, Senegal and Lesotho for their support during the pilot phase and to other partners and stakeholders who have participated in the programme.

Vital support for the programme was also received from several colleagues at IDS, including Georgina Aboud, Adrian Bannister, Tom Barker, Rosalind Eyben, Amy Hall, Elaine Mercer, Jethro Pettit, Patta Scott-Villiers and Kelly Shephard.

Finally, we wish to thank the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their financial support and interest in the programme.


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ContentsAcknowledgements Insidefrontcover

Executive summary 2

Biographies of IDS team 4

Glossary 5

Acronyms 5

1Introduction 6

1.1 GendermainstreamingintheWorldFoodProgramme 6

1.2 OriginsofjointWFP-IDSprogramme 7

2Programme Objectives, Design and Methodology 8

2.1 Programmeobjectivesandtheoryofchange 8

2.2Programmedesignandmethodology 8

3Emerging Themes and Examples of Good Practice for Gender-Sensitive Programming 10

3.1 EnhancingprotectionofwomenandgirlsthroughWFPinterventions 10

3.2Recognising,reducingandredistributingwomen’sunpaidcarework 1 1

3.3 Identifyingpathwaysforengagingmen 12

3.4Challenginggendernormsandassumptions 14

3.5 Incorporatingrightsintoprogramming 15

3.6Promotingcollectiveactiontoenablewomen’sempowerment 16

4Learning and recommendations about gender mainstreaming in WFP 18

4.1 ThebigpictureofgendermainstreaminginWFP:theLevyanalysis 18

4.2Keylessons 19

ThereisuntappedpotentialforgendermainstreaminginWFP 19

Strongleadershipandaccountabilityongendermainstreamingarecritical 21

Abettergeneralunderstandingofgenderisneeded 23

Creatingspaceforreflecting,listeningandlearningongenderiscrucial 24

Resourcesarecriticalforsuccessfulgendermainstreaming 25

4.3Recommendations 26

Optimisinglatentpotentialforgendermainstreaming 26

Strengtheningleadershipandaccountabilityforgender 26

Strengtheningunderstandingofthegenderissues 26

Resourcinggendermainstreaming 27

Annex One 28

Endnotes 31


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WFP staff and partners at the country level are often adopting innovative practices which respond to, and deal effectively with, local gender realities and priorities, but these are rarely shared. Taking a ‘bottom-up’ learning approach to gender mainstreaming will allow successful innovations to be captured, shared and embedded across the organisation.

Executive summaryFoodandnutritionsecurityandgenderequalityarecloselylinkedandmutuallyconstitutive.Thefactthatwomenandgirlsareamongthemostundernourishedintheworldandareoftenhardesthitbyfoodinsecurityunderlinesthis.Women’sproductivelabourandunpaidcareworkiscentraltotheproduction,preparationandprovisionoffood.Yettheirabilitytofeedthemselvesandtheirfamiliesispersistentlyunderminedbyinstitutionalisedgenderbiasesinaccesstoresources,markets,socialservicesandsocialprotection,aswellassocio-culturalnormswhichprioritisethenutritionofmenandboysandlimitwomen’sdecision-makingpower.

Acknowledgingthegenderedfoundationsoffoodandnutritionsecurity,theWorldFoodProgramme(WFP)announced‘EnhancedCommitmentstoWomen’andbeganmainstreaminggenderthroughoutitsoperationsinthelate1990s.Sincethattimeithassuccessfullytargetedthespecificneedsofwomenandgirlsand

enhancedtheirparticipationinfoodsecurityprogramming.However,ithasalsorecognisedaneedtogofurthertoaddresstherootcausesofgender-basedfoodinsecurityacrossthedifferentcontextsinwhichitoperates.Aspartofitseffortstodoso,WFPhasenteredintoalearningpartnershipwiththeInstituteofDevelopmentStudies(IDS).Thepremiseforthe‘InnovationsfromtheField’programmeisthatWFPstaffandpartnersatthecountrylevelareoftenadoptinginnovativepracticeswhichrespondto,anddealeffectivelywith,localgenderrealitiesandpriorities,buttheseare

rarelyshared.Takinga‘bottom-up’learningapproachtogendermainstreamingwillallowsuccessfulinnovationstobecaptured,sharedandembeddedacrosstheorganisation.

Inthisfirstphaseoftheprogramme,IDShasfacilitatedaprocessof‘participatoryactionlearning’infiveWFPCountryOffices:Guatemala,Kenya,Lesotho,MalawiandSenegal.Thishasenabledstafftoreflecton,explore,documentandsharegoodpracticesforgender-sensitivefoodsecurityprogramming.IthasalsoallowedwiderreflectiononcurrentbarrierstoeffectivegendermainstreaminginWFPandhowtheycouldbeovercome.Thisreportsummarisesthelearningsofar.

Emerging themes and good practice for gender-sensitive food security programmingAnumberofthemesemergedtowhichWFPneedstopayparticularattentioninitsprogramming.ThefirstisprotectionandWFP’sobligationtocarryoutfoodassistanceactivitiesinwaysthatcontributetothesafety,dignityandintegrityofpeopleinthecommunitieswhereitoperates.Genderiscentraltoprotection.Thedegreetowhichpeopleareexposedtorisksisinlargepartdeterminedbytherolestheyfulfillbasedontheirgenderwithsomewell-knownriskstowomenandgirlssuchasexposuretogender-basedviolenceat,oronthewayto,fooddistributioncentres.Basedonpreviousprotectionassessments,WFPhastakenstepstomitigatesuchrisks,butsomerisksaredifficulttodetectaspartofquantitativemonitoringsystemscurrentlyusedbyWFPandrequirethatparticipatoryapproachesareusedformorequalitativemonitoringofrisks.ThiswasconfirmedbylearningactivitiesinMalawiandKenyathatfoundtherangeofgender-relatedprotectionissuestobewiderthantheissuescurrentlyincludedinthemonitoringtools.

Arelatedthemeiswomenandgirls’disproportionateresponsibilityforunpaid care work.Thisisaconcernbothforprotectionandgenderequality,giventhevariouswaysWFPprogrammescanaddtothiswork(e.g.requiringwomentotraveldistancestocollectrations,orrelyingonwomen’sunpaidlabourascommunityvolunteers).Programmescanbedesignedbetterto‘recognise,reduceandredistribute’unpaidcarework;forexample,theSchoolMealsProgrammeinMalawiisacknowledgingthecontributionofvolunteercookswithcertificatesandhasintroducedkitchentoolstoreducethehazardsanddrudgeryoftheirwork.

Alsoimportantistheneedtoengage with men infoodsecurityprogramming.AlthoughlongrecognisedasanimportantareaoffocusinWFP,staffreportedalackofunderstandingofhowtodothiseffectively.ThepilotsinGuatemala,SenegalandMalawiprovidednewinsightsintomen’sperspectivesandpossiblewaystoengagewiththem,suchasreinforcingpositiveimagesofmenparticipatinginprogrammestoimprovetheirchildren’snutrition,targetingmalecommunityleadersandlocalauthoritiesforsensitisation,andformingallianceswithnetworksofmenadvocatingforequalrights.

Thisalsobroughtouttheneedtochallenge assumptionsaboutgendernormsandrolesinthecommunitiesWFPworkswith.Programmedesignisoftenbasedonassumptions(e.g.thatmenwould


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usecashtransfersforpersonalgain)orinadvertentlyreinforcesgenderinequality(e.g.requiringgirlstoserveandclearfoodwhileboyssuperviseinSchoolMealsProgrammes).Throughinterrogatingandchallengingtheseassumptions,simpleadjustmentsindesigncouldmakeasignificantdifferencetogender-relatedoutcomes.

FurtherstrengtheningoftheincorporationofrightsintoWFPprogrammingisalsocalledfor.Aspartoftheorganisationsapproachtoprotection,WFPhasforanumberofyearsbeenworkingtoensurethatpeople’srightsaresupportedthroughitsinterventions.WFPstaffinvolvedinthepilotsrepeatedlyreturnedtotheneedtoenhancewomen’sunderstandingof,andaccessto,rightsaspartoftacklingrootcausesoffoodinsecurity,andtoensurewomenareadequatelyprotected.TheGuatemalaCountryOfficehassincetakenconcretestepstowardsthisbyincorporatingeducationonwomen’srightsintoitsnutritionprogrammes.

Finally,theroleandpotentialofwomen’s collective actiondeservesgreaterattentioninWFP.AlthoughWFPregularlyworkswithwomeningroups,thisistypicallynotframedaroundanunderstandingofwomen’sempowerment.ProgrammessuchasPurchaseforProgress(P4P)andtheRuralResilienceInitiative(R4)inSenegaldemonstratethatfacilitatingwomen’sactiveinvolvementinsingleormixedsexgroupsnotonlyenablesthemtocontributedirectlytohouseholdwellbeing;italsobetterequipsthemtoinfluencelocalagendasandlayclaimswithauthorities,bothofwhichareimportantfortacklingstructuralcausesoffoodandnutritioninsecurity.

Learning and recommendations about gender mainstreaming in WFPAlongsidethesethematiclessonsforprogramming,thereareanumberofprocess-orientedrecommendationsforhowtoimprovegendermainstreaminginWFP.1. Therearelargereservesoflatentcapacityfor

gendermainstreamingamongWFPstaffandpartners,butmuchofthispotentialisuntapped.GenderAdvocatesandstaffinWFPsub-officesandpartnerorganisationsareoftennotgiventheautonomy,timeorresourcestodriveforwardworkongender,noraretheyrewardedfordoingso.Recommendationsinclude: • Recognise,utiliseandrewardexistingcapacity

andenthusiasmaroundgenderamongWFPstaff • EnsureGenderAdvocateshaveaclearmandate

andadequatetimeandresources • EngagemorestrategicallywithCOpartner

organisationsongenderissues

2. Strongleadershipandaccountabilityongendermainstreamingarecritical.WFPisjudgedtobestrongintermsofhigh-levelpoliticalcommitmenttogender,butleadershipattheCOlevelisuneven

andaccountabilitymechanismsweak.Thelatteriscompoundedbyafocusoncountingnumbersofwomenbeneficiariesandcommitteemembers,whichcangivelittleindicationofachievementsagainstgender-equitablefoodandnutritionsecuritygoals.TheemphasisonnumbersisoftenreinforcedbyreportingrequirementsforCOs.Recommendationsinclude:

• Buildarobustbusinesscaseforwhygendermainstreamingismission-criticalforWFP,andallocateresourcesandauthoritytocommunicatethiseffectivelytoallseniormanagers

• StrengthenexistingaccountabilitymechanismsandindicatorstoensureseniormanagersareheldresponsibleformeaningfuloutcomesongenderattheCOlevel

3. ThereisalackofconsistencyintheunderstandingofwhatgenderisandwhyitmattersforWFP’swork.Thisisreflectedandreinforcedbythelackofsystematicattentiontogenderacrosstheprojectcycle,whichmeansmanychancesforsmarterprogrammingaremissed.Asthingsstand,gendermainstreamingtendstohappeninreactivewaysandisdependentonindividuals’capacity,commitmentandinterest–notonthecorporateorinstitutionalmandateormission.Recommendationsinclude:

• Developstaffcapacityongenderthroughtraining,identificationofGenderAdvocateswithinallsections(programmes,VulnerabilityAssessmentandMapping(VAM),monitoringandevaluation(M&E),logisticsandprocurementetc),andrecruitmentofgenderspecialiststoprovideadditionalsupport

• RevisetheVAMapproachandprocess,consideringalternativeconceptualframeworksandmoregender-sensitivetoolsforassessingvulnerability

• Createopportunitiesforstafftoreflect,listenandlearnongender,includingproblem-basedlearningspecifictoprogrammeandcountrycontexts

4. Inthe‘projectised’cultureofWFP,targetedfundingpreventstheimplementationofcomprehensive,engagedgender-sensitiveprogramming.Programmebudgetsrarelytakeintoconsiderationthetruecostsofmainstreaminggenderandachievinggender-relatedgoals.Thereisalsoalackofresourcesforthecross-programmaticworkneededtobuildinstitutionalcapacityandresponsivenessongender.Recommendationsinclude: • Developbetterorganisationalunderstanding

ofthetruecostsofgendermainstreamingandensurecostsforgender-relatedworkaredetailedinprogrammebudgets

• Donorsshoulddemandgender-sensitiveprogrammedesignandreporting,ontheconditiontheysupportthiswithadequateresourcesforworkongender.


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Alyson Brody

Katy Oswald

Naomi Hossain

Sally Smith

Biographies of IDS team

Alysonisananthropologistwithover15years’experienceinthefieldofgenderequality,women’srightsandsocialdevelopment.InadditiontodirectingtheInnovations from the Fieldprogramme,sheisthemanagerofBRIDGE–aglobalgenderanddevelopmentresearchandinformationprogramme–andco-leaderoftheIDSGenderandSexualitiesCluster.Alysonhasauthoredandco-authoredanumberofpublicationsonkeygenderanddevelopmentissues.ShehasworkedwithseveralNGOsonwomen’sandchildren’srights,andisaformermemberoftheUKGenderandDevelopmentNetworkAdvisoryBoard.

Katyisasocialscientistwithaspecialisationinactionlearningmethodologiesandreflectivepractice.ShehasworkedwithseveraldevelopmentcharitiesandUNagenciestosupporttheirorganisationallearningonawiderangeofissues.Sheisco-convenoroftheReflectivePracticeandSocialChangecourseatIDS.

NaomiisaResearchFellowatIDS.Shehasworkedfor20yearsasadevelopmentresearcherandonprogrammedesignandevaluationonissuesofpovertyandpublicservicesinlowincomecountries.Sheisparticularlyinterestedinissuesofwomen’sempowermentandinthepoliticsoffoodandsocialprotection.Naomihasrecentlyledtwolargeprojectsstudying,amongotherthings,people’sperceptionsofandstrugglesaroundtherighttofood.SheistheauthorofabookoneliteperceptionsofpovertyinBangladeshaswellasnumerousjournalarticlesandreports.

Sallyisanindependentresearchconsultant.Herresearchcentresaroundtrade,development,povertyandgender,withspecialistknowledgeofglobalproductionsystemsandthegenderedeconomy.Shealsofocusesoninstitutionallearning,includingimpactassessmentandmonitoringandevaluationsystems.Shehasprovidedresearchandadvisoryservicestoarangeoforganisationsandinstitutions,includingFairtradeInternational,theEthicalTradingInitiative,OxfamandComicRelief.Sheisamemberofvarioussteeringcommitteesandworkinggroups,includingComicRelief’sTrade,EnterpriseandEmploymentAdvisoryGroupandFairtradeInternational’sGenderWorkingGroup.SallywasaresearcherattheInstituteofDevelopmentStudies(UniversityofSussex)from2001to2010andpriortothatspenteightyearsworkinginGuatemalaandCambodia.


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AIDS AcquiredImmuneDeficiencySyndrome

CEDAW ConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen

CFS CommitteeonWorldFoodSecurity

CO CountryOffice

ECWs EnhancedCommitmentstoWomen

EMOPs EmergencyOperations

GMAF GenderMainstreamingAccountabilityFramework

HIV HumanImmunodeficiencyVirus

IASC Inter-AgencyStandingCommittee

IDS InstituteofDevelopmentStudies

MDGs MillenniumDevelopmentGoals

NGOs Non-governmentalOrganisations

PAL ParticipatoryActionLearning

P4P PurchaseforProgress

R4 RuralResilienceInitiative

SDGs SustainableDevelopmentGoals

SGBV SexualandGender-basedViolence

SFC SavingsforChange

SMPs SchoolMealsProgramme

SUN ScalingupNutrition

UNSWAP UnitedNationsSystem-WideActionPlanforGenderEqualityandtheEmpowermentofWomen

VAM VulnerabilityAnalysisandMapping

WFP WorldFoodProgramme

Gender mainstreaming Aprocessforassessingimplicationsforwomenandmenofpoliciesorprogrammesandastrategyformakingwomen’saswellasmen’sconcernsandexperiencesintegraltothedesign,implementation,monitoringandevaluationofpoliciesandprogrammes,sothatgenderinequalityisnotperpetuated.Gendermainstreamingaimstoachievegenderequality,andincludespositivemeasurestonarrowandclosethegendergap.

Participatory action learning (PAL)

Anapproachtoappliedlearningwithinorganisations,inwhichthelearnersaresupportedtostudyandreflectontheirownorganisationalpractices.

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)

Formsofviolencethataresexualorwhichtargetpeoplebecauseoftheirgenderroles.SGBVisoftenreferredtoasviolenceagainstwomen,becauseitoftenoccursasaresultofgenderinequalitiesthroughwhichwomenaredominatedbymen.

Unpaid care work Workwhichisprimarilyreproductiveinnature,andinvolvesatleastcleaningandgroomingpeopleandhomes,gatheringwater,foodandfuel,preparingandcookingfood,feedingpeopleandprovidingphysicalandemotionalcare.Suchworktakesplaceswithinpersonalrelationshipsandisunpaid.Mostsocietiesundervalueitandseeitas‘naturally’theresponsibilityofwomen.Itisaprimaryfoundationofgenderinequalitybecausedomesticresponsibilitiesforcarecreateobstaclesforwomentoearnanincome,travel,andengageinpublicandciviclife.

Acronyms

Glossary


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The close positive relationship between food security and gender equality implies that food security programmes need to systematically take into account gender power relations in the contexts in which they operate.

1 Introduction1. 1 Gender mainstreaming in the World Food ProgrammeFoodandnutritionsecurity,genderequalityandwomen’sempowermentarecloselylinkedandmutuallyconstitutive.Thefactthatwomenandgirlsareamongthemostundernourishedintheworld,evenincountriesexperiencingrapideconomicgrowth,suchasIndia,underlinesthecorrelationbetweengenderinequalityandfoodinsecurity.Women’sworkiscentraltofoodandnutritionsecurity,whetheritisincome-earningorunpaiddomesticcareresponsibilities:womenproduceasmuchashalfoftheworld’sfood,areconcentratedasfamilyorpaidworkersintheagriculturalsector,andaretypicallyresponsibleforgettingfoodtofamilies–growing,gathering,buying,preparing,cooking,feedingandassociatedactivities.1

Yetwomenarealsooftenhardesthitbyfoodinsecurity,becausesocialnormsorhouseholdcopingstrategiesprioritisethenutritionofmenorboys,andbecausefood-relatedshockshaveadirectimpactontheirworkofsecuringfoodandnutritionsecurity.2Lowerlevelsofeducationamongwomenhavebeenlinkedtomalnutritionamongchildren,andpregnancyandlactationoftenleavewomenvulnerabletomalnutrition,whileevidenceindicatesthatwomen’sempowermenttranslatesdirectlyintohouseholdnutritionaloutcomes.3Acrossdifferentcontexts,women’saccesstoassets,technology,inputsandsocialprotectionresourcesisconstrainedasaresultofgenderinequalitiesinrelationto

propertyregimes,segmentedmarkets,malebiasesinpolicyandpractice,andothermanifestationsofunequalgenderpowerrelations.4

Theclosepositiverelationshipbetweenfoodsecurityandgenderequalityimpliesthatfoodsecurityprogrammesneedtosystematicallytakeintoaccountgenderpowerrelationsinthecontextsinwhichtheyoperate;

andthatmoreeffectiveandsustainablefoodsecurityprogrammesarelikelytobethosewhichworktoadvancegenderequalityandwomen’sempowerment.AchievingthefirstMillenniumDevelopmentGoal(MDG1),anewSustainableDevelopmentGoalonhungerpost-2015,andthegoalsoutlinedundertheZeroHungerChallenge,thereforedependsonmoregender-sensitivefoodsecurityprogramming.5

TheWFPhasdemonstratedastrongcommitmenttoaddressingtheselinkedissuesoffoodsecurityandgenderinequalitythroughanambitiousgendermainstreamingpolicyandprogrammefirstrolledoutin2003andrevisedin2009.TheWFPappliestheUnitedNations(UN)definitionofgender mainstreamingas:

[T]heprocessofassessingtheimplicationsforwomenandmenofanyplannedaction–includinglegislation,policiesorprogrammes–inallareasandatalllevels.Itisastrategyformakingwomen’saswellasmen’sconcernsandexperiencesanintegraldimensionofthedesign,implementation,monitoringandevaluationofpoliciesandprogrammesinallpoliticalandsocietalspheressothatinequalityisnotperpetuated.Whiletheultimategoalofgendermainstreamingistoachievegenderequality,itdoesnotexcludepositivemeasurestonarrowandclosethegendergap.6

The2003policy,structuredaroundeight‘EnhancedCommitmentstoWomen’(ECWs),framedwomenas‘themosteffectivesolution’toaddressingfoodinsecurity,recognisingthespecificneedsofadolescentgirlsandwithpregnantandlactatingwomenseenasaprioritygroup.

WFPevaluatedthepolicyin2007.Itspositiveoutcomesincludedsuccessesinincreasingthevisibilityofwomenandgirls,andinlayingstrongfoundationsforgendermainstreaming.Howevertheevaluationpointedouttheneedtofocusongenderrelationsandtoengagemeninprocessesdesignedtoaddresswomen’ssituationandstatus.Italsoidentifiedadisjuncturebetweenthegendermainstreamingpolicydevelopedlargelyatheadquarters,anditsimplementationattheoperationallevel.TheevaluationrecommendedthatfutureWFPinterventionsshouldbemoreinformedbyneedsonthegroundandbythelocalsocio-culturalcontextofgenderrelations.

ArevisedWFPGenderPolicywasproducedin2009andstressedtheneedforamorecontext-relevantholisticapproach,goingbeyondsupportingtheneedsofwomenandgirlsandincreasingtheirvisibility,tofosteringawarenessandunderstandingofgenderinequalitiesinordertopositivelyinfluencebehavioursandattitudes.ThepolicybuildsontheECWswhilealsoemphasisingnewprogrammingprioritiesandinstitutionalsupportmeasures,including:

• Addressing gender-related protection challengesandengagingmenandboystofosterunderstandingofthelinksbetweengenderinequalityandhunger,involvetheminactivitiestoprotectwomenandchildrenfromviolence,andreduceburdensonwomen


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• BreakinggenderbarriersinWFPMotherandChildHealthandNutritionprogrammesbytargeting men and boys for education activitiestoimprovetheirknowledgeofandcommitmenttomaintainingthenutritionandhealthofmothersandchildren

• Promoting positive gender relations and supporting sustainable livelihoodsthroughcashtransfers,cashforworkandfoodforworkandtrainingprogrammes,makingsurewomenbenefitequallywithmenwithoutnegativeimplications

• Ensuring women farmers have equal access to marketswhilebenefitingdirectlyfromcashpaymentsfortheirproduce

• UsingWFP-supportedschoolfeedingprogrammesasentrypointstopromote gender equality during early childhood development

ThenewpolicymadeitmandatoryforWFPoperationstoincorporateagenderperspectiveatallstagesofaprojectcycle.

1.2 Origins of joint WFP-IDS programme The2009GenderPolicyemphasisedtheimportanceoforganisationallearningaroundgendermainstreaming,andofresponsestohungerthatarebasedongender-sensitiveevidence.InresponsetheChiefofWomen,ChildrenandGenderapproachedIDSasapotentialpartnerorganisationforenablingtheseobjectives.IDSworkedwithWFPoverasixmonthscopingperiodtoidentifythemosteffectiveapproachtoenablingengagedorganisationallearningthatwouldcontributetothedevelopmentofmorecontext-relevant,effectivegendermainstreaming.

DuringthescopingphasemembersofstafffromacrossWFP–manywithexperienceasWFPcountryofficedirectors–wereinterviewed.Mostrecognisedtheimportanceofagender-awareapproachatalllevelsofoperations,basedoncountryorfieldexperienceofthespecificwaysgenderissuesarerealisedindifferentcontexts.7KeychallengesidentifiedbyWFPstaffincluded:

• Makinggendermainstreamingandgenderequalitymoretangibleandmeaningful,movingfromconceptstopracticalapplication

• Overcomingreluctancetochallengedeeplyrootedgenderedculturalnormsatthelocallevel

• Persuadingthosewhoareunconvincedbytheneedforgendermainstreamingofitsvalue,particularlyinhighlypressurisedcrisisenvironments;supportinggendermainstreamingincrisis/emergencysituations

• Engagingmen–WFPstaff,partnersandbeneficiaries–inenablingshiftsingenderequality

• Ensuringgendermainstreamingapproachesintegratewithothercross-cuttingissuessuchascarework,climatechange,youthandhumanitarianprinciples.

AkeyobservationwasthatWFPstaffandpartnersatthecountryandfieldleveldooftentakegender-sensitiveapproachesthatareinnovativeandwhichrespondtolocalrealities,oftenwithoutevenrealisingtheyare‘doing’gendermainstreaming.ThenatureoftheWFPasahighlyoperational,decentralisedorganisationfuelsthiscapacityforcreative,flexibleandresponsiveapproaches.Yetthesepracticesarerarelysharedwithinandacrosstheorganisation,andusefulorganisationallearningislost.Onerespondentnoted:‘WFP is a very complex organisation and runs the risk of not learning from what it does – we don’t often have the luxury of stopping, reflecting and learning from what we do and feeding that back’.

OurhypothesisfortheInnovations from the Fieldprogrammewasthatreflectingon,learningaboutandsharingtheseexistinginnovativepracticescanresultingender-sensitiveprogrammeimprovements,moreinformedunderstandingofgenderandofhowtomainstreamgenderinprogramming.Insteadofassumingthatthebestandmostusefulunderstandingsofgendercomefromthecentreandneedtobetransmittedoutwardtotherestoftheorganisation,theprogrammestartsfromarecognitionthatmuchvaluableandeffectiveworktoadvancegenderequalityalreadyhappensinthefield,andlearningabouttheselocalinnovationscouldbenefitthecentreandtheorganisationasawhole.

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Girl selling plums by the roadside in Malawi.

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2 Programme objectives, design and methodology2.1 Programme objectives and theory of change TheimpacttheprogrammeaimsforistosupportWFP’smandateofachievingMDG1,anewSustainableDevelopmentGoalonHungerpost-2015andthefiveZeroHungerChallengegoalsthroughenablingittodelivermoreeffective,gender-equitablefoodsecurityprogrammesthatcontributetowomen’sempowermentandgenderequality.

Theprogrammeaimstoachievethisthroughasetofactivitiesdesignedtoachievethefollowingoutcome:WFPisequippedandorientedtomainstreamgenderequalitytodeliveronitsMDGcommitments,newSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandZeroHungerChallengegoalsfromthebottomup,throughlearningsystemsthattransformfrontlineinnovationswithgenderequalityintooperationallearning.

TheprogrammedesignisrootedintheknowledgethatWFP’smandatecanbeachievedfasterandmoresuccessfullyifgenderequalityissuccessfully

mainstreamedthroughitsoperations,butalsothateffortstoimposegendermainstreamingfromthetopdowngenerallyfail.ThecoreofthetheoryofchangeisthatanorganisationlikeWFP,withitsuniquefieldpresenceandmultiple

partnerships,ismostlikelytosuccessfullymainstreamgenderequalityinitsprogrammingifita)learnsfromandfurtherdevelopswhatalreadyworksatfieldandcountrylevels,b)‘tricklesup’thatlearningacrosstheorganisationandc)recyclesthelearningbackintochangedoperationalpractice.Thisisbecauseitwillenable:

• Closerattentiontothediversecontextsofgenderrelations

• Morescopeforaccountabilityforgenderequalitythroughdirectaccesstothebeneficiaryexperience

• Abetterfitwithfrontlinepracticalitiesandthechallengesofprogrammedelivery

• Organisationalgenderequalitypoliciestogainlocalstaffownershipandcredibility

• Aclearerandmoredirectlinkbetweengenderequalityprogrammingandresults

Fortheseadvantagestobegained,frontlineinnovationswithgenderequalityneedtobe

identified,documented,analysedandcommunicatedacrossWFPinformatsthatstafffinduseful.Staffthenneedtobeenabledandsupportedtoapplytheirlearningtotheiroperationalpractice.

2.2 Programme design and methodologyAttheheartoftheprogrammedesignisaParticipatoryActionLearning(PAL)andknowledgesharingapproach,whichfocusesasmuchonprocessesofgatheringandrespondingtoinformationasonresearchfindings.Theapproachisintendedto:

• BeledbyWFPstaffandpartnersinregional,countryandfieldoffices

• Facilitatestaffandpartnerstoreflectontheirownpractices–exploringwhatworksandwhy

• Supportstaffandpartnerstoapplytheirlearningtoimproveprogrammesandpractice

• Captureknowledgeandlessonslearned,andsharethesein-countryandacrossWFPincreativeways

ThisenablesparticipantstobuildonexistingmomentumwithinWFPratherthandwellongapsandconcerns,andtotacklerealissuesinrealsituationswhicharerelevantandimportanttothem.Atthesametime,itbuildstheircapacitytodevisestrategieswhichrespondtolocalrealitiesandgeneratesimmediateresponsesandaction.Thelearningthatemergesfromthisprocesscanthenbesharedhorizontallyandverticallytoenablebroaderuptakewithintheorganisation.

TheprogrammehasinvolvedbuildingapartnershipbetweenWFPandIDS,withworkingrelationshipsatmultipleorganisationallevels.Fromprogrammedesignthroughtodelivery,monitoringandevaluation,ithasinvolvedjointplanningateverystage.Thestepsintheprocessforthisfirstphaseoftheprogrammeareoutlinedbelow.

Scoping phase Asixmonth,pre-programmescopingphaseinvolvedextensivemeetingsbetweenIDSteammembersandWFPstaffacrossdifferentdepartmentsatWFPHeadquarters,plusareviewofkeyWFPmaterials.Backgroundpaperswerealsowrittenonfivecorethemes.8TheoutcomesoftheseactivitiesshapedthedesignofthejointprogrammeproposedbyWFP’sChiefofWomen,ChildrenandGenderandIDS.

Efforts to impose gender mainstreaming from the top down generally fail.


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BELOW

Members of the WFP PAL team from Tambacounda region in Senegal with local participants in the rural resilience programme.

Identifying countries for the pilot phaseItwasimportantforparticipationfromthecountryofficestobemotivatedratherthanenforced.CountriesintheUSAIDFeedtheFutureprogrammewereinvitedtosubmitexpressionsofinterest(EOIs)forinclusioninthepilotphase,resultinginfivecountriesputtingthemselvesforward:Kenya,Senegal,Lesotho,GuatemalaandMalawi.9

Inception workshopAninceptionworkshopwasheldinRomeinJune2013,attendedbytheIDSteamandrepresentativesfromeachoftheparticipatingcountries.Theworkshopprovidedanopportunityto:

• Introduceandfurtherdeveloptheprogrammeaimsandmethodology

• GeneratecriticaldiscussiononcurrentapproachestogendermainstreamingwithinWFP

• MapwaysinwhichknowledgeflowsandissharedwithinWFPatnational,regionalandgloballevels

WFPparticipantswereaskedtodeveloptheirproposalswiththeirCountryOffices(COs)inlightofthediscussionsandtobeginplanningforincountrystart-upinliaisonwiththeirallocatedIDSresearcher.

Country office inception phaseMembersoftheIDSteamcarriedoutcountrymissionsineachofthepilotcountriestoinitiatethePALprocess.ThisinvolvedtwotothreedayPALworkshopswithacross-sectionofWFPstaffand(sometimes)partners,pluskeyinformantinterviewsandfieldvisitstofamiliariseIDSwiththecontextofWFPoperations.DuringthePALworkshopsWFPstaffengagedinaprocessofguidedreflectiontobegintodrawoutlessonsaboutwhathasworked(andwhathasnot)tomainstreamgenderequalityinWFP’sprogramming,andtoidentifycriticalquestionsandareasofinquiryforfurtherexploration.

Followingtheworkshops,COsfinalisedtheirPALworkplansandbudgets,withremotesupportfromIDSstaffandtheWFPGenderOffice.Theinquirythemes,questionsandmethodologiesforthePALactivitiesineachCOareshowninAnnexOne,withexamplesbeing:

• Mappingbenefitsandconstraintsformen’sinvolvementinnutritionactivities(Senegal)

• Buildingcapacityforgenderanalysistoimproveprogramming(Guatemala)

• DocumentinglessonslearnedfromthePositiveDevianceprogramme(Lesotho)

• Understandingdecision-makingandcontroloverresourcesorganisedwithinhouseholds(Malawi)

• Exploringcomplaintsandfeedbackmechanismswithagenderlens(Kenya)

Implementation of PAL activities EachPALthemewasinvestigatedbyasmallteamofinterestedWFPstaffoveraperiodofsixtoeightmonths,withongoingremotesupportfromtheIDSteam.Activitiescarriedoutincluded:interviewsandfocusgroupdiscussionswithbeneficiariesandnon-beneficiaries;meetingsandworkshopswithWFPstaffandpartnerorganisations;reviewsofprojectdocumentsandM&Edata;andpreparationofpoliciesandguidancematerials.AsecondcountryvisitwasmadebyIDSstaffatthemidwaypoint,toreviewprogress,conductjointanalysisandshareinitialfindingsbetweenPALteamsandwithmanagement.10

Development of knowledge sharing strategies KnowledgesharingstrategiesforeachCOweredevelopedduringthesecondIDScountryvisits,withplannedactivitiesandoutputs,whichhaveincluded

• Developmentofcreative,engagingknowledgeproducts–Prezi,videos,casestudies,blogs,slideshows–whichwillstimulateinterestacrossWFP

• Practicaltoolsforgenderanalysis(includingPALtools)andguidelinesforgender-awarepractices

• PromotingtheworkwidelywithinWFP(horizontallyandvertically),throughexisting,effectiveplatforms(e.g.GOwebsite,GenderAdvocatesNetwork)aswellasinformalnetworks

• SharingknowledgewithlocalauthoritiesandWFPpartners

• Feedbackloopstoshowhowvoicesofmenandwomenonthegroundarebeingtakenintoaccount

FurtherknowledgesharingproductsandactivitieswillbedevelopedonthebasisofthisSynthesisReportandoncetheCOproductshavebeenfinalised.

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3 Emerging th emes and examples of good practice for gender-sensitive programmingDuringthePALworkshopsandsubsequentactivitiesundertakenbystaffindifferentcountries,anumberofthemesemergedasimportantconsiderationsforgender-sensitiveprogramminginWFP.Sixkeythemesaresummarisedbelow,withconcreteexamplesoftheirrelevancetoWFPprogrammingandhowtheyarebeingdealtwithininnovativeways.

3.1 Enhancing protection of women and girls through WFP interventions Inrecentyearstheconceptof‘protection’hascometotheforeintheUNsystem,encompassingcommitmentsto‘donoharm’andtakingarights-basedstanceonhumanitarianaidwork,includingactingtoprotectandaddresstheunderlyingriskstothesafetyanddignityofciviliansincrisisorpost-crisissituations.Thisincludesadvocacyandstrengtheninglocalinstitutionstosupportpeoplewhoareparticularlyvulnerableduetotheirgender,religionorethnicity.

WFPhasaroleinprotectiononthreelevels:(a)withinthedesignandimplementationof

itsprogrammestomakesurethatthesearesafe,dignifiedandrespectpeople’srights;(b)byimplementingfoodassistanceprogrammesthatalsoseektoachieveaprotectionobjective;and(c)bysupportingadvocacyonprotectionconcernsnotdirectlylinkedtofoodsecurityandensuringcoordinationandreferralsonprotectionissues.

WFPhasexaminedprotectioninthecontextofitsprogrammesforclosetoadecadeandin2012adoptedaHumanitarianProtectionPolicy.Sincethenmorethan30WFPcountryofficeshavebegunactivelyintegratingprotectionconcernsintotheirprogrammes.ForWFPprotectionmeans‘carryingoutfood-assistanceactivitiesinwaysthatcontributetothesafety,dignityandintegrityofpeopleinthecommunitiesreceivingthatassistance’.11InlinewithotherUNagencies,overthepastdecadeWFPhasdevelopeditsunderstandingoftheinterlinkagesbetweenfoodinsecurity,foodassistanceandprotectionrisks.Foodisakeyfactorimpactingpeoples’exposuretoandabilitytocopewithrisks,andifprogrammesareimplementedconsideringthese

Danger at work? Gender and protection in Cash and Food For Assets projects in Kenya

InKenya,WFPstaffwereconcernedaboutunintendednegativeimpactsonwomenfromaresultofbeingtargetedforparticipationinCashandFoodForAssetsprogrammes.Theyencouragementoassisttheirwivesandfemalerelativeswithassetcreationwork,butknowtheyarenotalwayssuccessful,meaningwomenmaybeburdenedwithtoomuchworkandbeexposedtohealthrisks.BuildingonwhathadalreadybeenfoundinthestudyExaminingProtectionandgenderinCashandVoucherTransfers(2013)thePALteamdecidedtoinvestigatewhatwashappeningonthegroundintwocontrastingpartsofKenya.

Theyfoundinterestingdifferencesbetweenthetworegions.Inthenortheastthereisasurplusoflabourandwomenfinditrelativelyeasytofindsomeonetoreplacethemwhentheyareill,pregnantorotherwiseunabletowork.Incontrast,inthecoastalregion

thePALteamfoundwomenstrugglingtoconvincehusbandsorotherrelativestostepin,asthereisahigherlevelofengagementinotherincomegeneratingactivities.Asaresult,theyoftenendupworkinglateintotheirpregnanciesandreturnsoonaftertheirbabiesareborn,eventhoughWFP’sworknormssaytheymaybeexcusedfromduties.

Whattheyalsofoundwasthatdelaysinthedisbursementofcashtransferscanexposewomentorisks,withwomenreportingtensionsathomeastheir

husbandsquestiontheirparticipationintheprogramme,andtensionwithlocaltraderswhentheyareunabletopayoffdebts.Theseprotectionrisksarenoteasilypickedupinthestandardisedmonitoringsystemsandrequiretheuseofparticipatoryapproaches,suchasthefocusgroupdiscussionsusedaspartofthePALprocess.TheKenyacountryofficehadalreadyinitiatedaprocesstoincludegenderandprotectionissuesmoresystematicallyinmonitoringbyincorporatingasectionongenderandprotectionintheBeneficiaryContactMonitoring(BCM)tool.Thiswouldallowthecountryofficetomonitorandrespondtoprotectionandgenderissuesinamoreeffectiveway.

ThefindingsfromthePALworkendorsedtheimportanceoftheseprocessesandhavecontributedtogreaterawarenessandcommitmentofmanagementtoeffectivemonitoringongenderandprotection.

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Group discussion with women who are part of WFP’s Food For Assets programme in Turkana county, Kenya.


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risks,foodassistancecanbeapowerfultooltohelpkeeppeoplesafeandmaintaintheirdignity.Genderisacentralfactordeterminingthedegreeandtypeofriskpeopleareexposedto:widelycitedexamplesincludetheexposureofwomenandgirlstosexualandgender-basedviolence(SGBV)asaresultofunsafeconditionsonthewaytoandfromfooddistributionsites.Healthrisksforpregnantandlactatingwomeninvolvedincashandfoodforworkprogrammeshavealsobeenraised,aswellasrisksassociatedwithspecifictypesofworkthatmainlymenareengagedin.

Considerableprogresshasbeenmadeinraisingawarenessamongstaff,conductinganalyses,andincorporatingprotectionconsiderationsintoprogrammeimplementationandtools.TheseeffortsmustbesustainedhowevertoensurethatprotectionisconsistentlyintegratedacrossallWFP’sprogrammes,andatallstagesoftheprojectcycle,fromanalysisandprogrammedesignthroughtomonitoringandimpactassessment.NewprotectionrisksarisingoutofthechangingenvironmentsandprogrammemodalitiesthatWFPengagesinmustalsobeanalysedandmitigated.ThisisillustratedintheexamplefromKenyaabove,whichdemonstratestheimportanceofcarefulplanningandanalysisinprogrammedesign,andflexiblesystemsformonitoringgenderimpactsandprotection,bothpositiveandnegative,throughoutthelifeofWFPprogrammes.

ThelinksbetweenfoodinsecurityandSGBV12remainunder-explored,oftenduetothe‘invisible’andunspokennatureofSGBV.However,workhasbeenconductedbyWFPtobetterunderstandtheseconnections.In2011,WFPpublishedtheresultsofastudyon‘Enhancingpreventionandresponsetosexualandgender-basedviolenceinthecontextoffoodassistanceindisplacementsettings.’13Anumberofsubsequentprotectionanalyses,includinginKenyaandMalawi,havefurtherdeepenedtheunderstandingoftheconnectionbetweenfoodinsecurityandSGBV.Buildingontheseanalyses,thePALworkhasalsoexaminedtheseconnections,withafocusonthewaysinwhichfoodinsecuritycanbecompoundedbypersonalinsecurityforwomenandgirlsinrefugeecamps–astheexamplefromMalawibelowillustrates.

InLesothothePALworkshopandotherlearningactivitiesreignitedthedesireforformulatingmoreeffective,comprehensiveandgender-sensitiveprotectionresponses.TheCOusedtheenhancedlearningthroughthePALworkshops,withsupportfromseniormanagement,todesignagenderandprotectionstrategy.Thestrategywasdesignedtointegratelearningongenderandprotectiontoimproveprogrammedesign,ownershipandaccountability.

3.2 Recognising, reducing and redistributing women’s unpaid care workAlltheavailableevidenceindicatesthatwomenandgirlsundertakethevastmajorityofunpaidcarework–domesticorreproductivework,ortheworkinvolvedinensuringfamiliesarefed,cleanedandgroomed,caredforwhenill,veryyoung,elderlyordisabled.InthefoodinsecurecontextsinwhichWFPoperates,thisworkofteninvolvescarryingwaterandfuellongdistances,gatheringwildfoods,preparingandcookingfood,andtravellinglongdistancestohealthfacilities,aswellastheunpaidworkonfamilyfarmsorenterpriseswhichwomenalsoperform.14Reproductivelabourhasrecentlybeenrecognisedasamajorhumanrightsconcern,ofparticularlygreatimportanceforthepoorestwomen.Thismeansaddressingunpaidcareworkisaconcernbothforgenderequalityandforprotectionissues.

ThereisaclearriskthatWFPprogrammesmayharmwomenbytargetingthemifbydoingsotheyincreasetheirnetburdenofunpaidcarework.ThatinvolvementinWFPprogrammesmayburdenwomenwithadditionalworkwasraisedasaconcernbyWFPstaffinseveralpilotcountries.Alongsidethisconcernwasafeltneedtodeveloppracticalsolutionstomitigatepotentialnegativeimpactsonwomenandtoenhancethepositiveeffectsoftheirengagement.Examplesofhowwomen’sunpaidcareworkburdensmaybeexacerbatedbyprogrammesinclude:

• Requiringwomentotraveldistancestocollectrations

• Involvingwomenincashorfoodforworkschemes,inwhichtheyprovidelabourforpublicworksschemes

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Women (with infants on their backs) preparing corn-soya blend mix for supplementary feeding programme in Malawi.

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Violence in the hungry season: gender-based violence in Malawi refugee camps

AspartofthePALworkinMalawi,CountryOfficeandRegionalBureaustaffhavegatheredevidencefromgovernmentofficials,UNsurveys,andWFPbeneficiariesandstaffthatSGBVisdirectlyandcausallyaffectedbyincreasedfoodinsecurity.Personaltestimoniesshowedthatintherefugeecampsinparticular,foodinsecurityoftenmeanspersonalinsecurity–includingviolenceandsexualexploitation.ThesearehighlysensitivemattersthatWFPstaffaretacklingdirectly,havinghadthespaceandtimetomakesenseoftheseconnections.


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• Relyingonwomen’sunpaidlabourascommunityvolunteersforcooking,committeework,orpreparingsupplementaryfeeding

Alloftheseactivitieshaveclearbenefitsforwomenandtheirfamilies,buttheyalsoinvolveadditionaltimeandlabourawayfromtheirhomes.Intheirabsence,otherpeople,usuallygirls,willprobablysubstitutebypreparingmealsorlookingafterinfants,peoplewhoareillordisabledwhoneedtobecaredforathome.Programmesoftenfailtoevaluatetheirimpactsintermsofthesenon-monetarycosts,andsomayover-estimatethebenefitstheybring.Atthesametime,programmescanbedesignedtobettersupport,reduceorredistributetoughdomesticwork,sothatwomendoublybenefitfromtheprogrammecashorfoodtransfers,andfromthereleaseoftheirtimeandenergyforotheractivities.Forinstance,publicworksschemescanbesensitivetowomen’scareworkneeds,byprioritisingthedevelopmentofdomesticwatersourcesorroadsonroutesthatwomenandchildrenneedmost.IncorporatingDianeElson’swell-known‘recognise,reduceandredistribute’–3R–approach15acrossallWFPprogrammingmaynotonlyhelpindoingnoharm,butshouldalsoensurethattheycontributemoredirectlyandmoreconsistentlytowomen’sempowermentandgenderequality.

3.3 Identifying pathways for engaging men TheconceptualshiftfromaWomeninDevelopment(WID)toaGenderandDevelopment(GAD)approachtogendermainstreamingintheearly1990swasinformedbytherecognitionthatafocusonwomenaloneisnotsufficientforaddressingtheunequalgenderpowerrelationsunderpinningpoverty.GADemphasisedthesociallyandculturallyconstructedrelationsbetweenwomenandmen,16promotingthevalueofengagingmeningender-awareprogrammingasameanstostrengtheningapproachesandtransformingunequalgenderrelations.Thishasrarelyhappenedinpractice,meaningthatvitalopportunitiesaremissedforcreatingalliancesbetweenwomenandmen,andforenablingchange.17ForexampleengagingmenandboysinprogrammestoaddressGBVcanleadthemtoquestionandchangetheirownpracticesandbehaviours.Providingspacesforreflectionontheunpaidcareresponsibilitiesthatsooftenfalltowomencanalsoprovideastartingpointforshiftingperceptionsaboutgenderrolesandnorms.Thiscanleadtogreatermaleinvolvementinthecareandnutritionoftheirchildren,whichcontributestoalleviatingwomen’sburdenandcanbe

LearningactivitiesconductedbystaffinMalawirevealedthatSMPsarehighlyreliantonthevoluntaryworkofstudents’mothers,whoprepareandservethemeals.Thisworkcaninvolveasmuchaseighthoursofworkperday.Insomeplaces,itwasdifficulttosustainthislevelofvolunteercommitment,butwhentokencashpaymentswereofferedforthework,menstartedtocomeforwardtowork.Basedonwhatitwouldcosttomaketokenpaymentsfortheworkofpreparationandcooking,thevalueofwomen’sunpaidworkontheSMPwascalculatedatsomeUS$0.5millionperyearforMalawi.

Thewomenvolunteercooksthemselvessaytheyarepleasedtodothework,becauseitbenefitstheirchildrenandfamilies,aswellasthoseofthewidercommunity.HoweverstaffandseniormanagersinWFPMalawirecognisedthepotentialforincorporatinga‘3R’approachandhavebeenexploringstrategiesforreducingthehazardsanddrudgeryofschoolmealspreparationbyprocuringlong-handledcookingutensilsandovenmitts,andforrecognisingtheircontributionsbydistributingcertificatesinpublicceremonies.Oncetheyhadrealisedtheimportanceofrecognisingwomen’scontributions,thedistributionofcertificatescosttheCountryOfficealmostnothing.Theimpactonthewomenwassignificant:

‘I honestly got shocked, speechless and motivated at the same time. It was a mixed feeling. I also got inspired to keep on providing my services to SMP as I now know my efforts were and still are being

acknowledged and appreciated at the same time. This is evidenced by the certification of my cooking services, as well as your follow-up visit today’(ModesterMazeze,38,VolunteercookforSMPsinMbwadzuluschool,Malawi)

‘The certificate remains hanging on the walls of the living room of my house, not only as an object of decoration but it […communicates] to both my relatives and children that hard work pays and it is indeed a source of inspiration to all people around me…The community, after seeing it, they inquired a lot how I got into participating in this programme and many showed a powerful interest to join in supporting the programme by cooking… Now we are perceived as professional cooks we are invited at different events in the village to assist them in cooking, be it weddings, religious functions, you name it’(AsiyatuJames,33,Mbwadzuluprimaryschool)

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WFP Malawi Deputy Country Director, Baton Osmani, hands over a certificate of appreciation to a cook at Mbwazulu primary school, as a first step to recognising women’s unpaid work contributions to WFP programmes.

Recognising women’s contributions to school meals programmes in Malawi

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empoweringformen.18Evidenceshowsthatmoretransformativeapproachesaremoreeffective.19Afocusonmenandboyscanalsohelptoaddressthespecificvulnerabilitiessomeofthemface.

Accordingtothe2009WFPGenderPolicya‘moreholisticapproachtogenderisneededthatimprovesthebalanceinrelationshipsbetweengendersandinfamilies’.20Thereportalsocallsforgreaterengagementofmen,particularlyinmaternalandchildnutritionandhealthprogrammes.However,acrossthepilotcountriesWFPstaffreported

eitherhavinglimitedsuccessindoingso,orlackingsufficientknowledgeonhowtogoaboutit.

PALactivitiesinSenegal,GuatemalaandMalawiservedtoprovidenewinsightsonmen’sperspectivesandpossiblewaystoengagewiththeminthecontextofnutritionprogrammes,suchaspartneringwithmenwhoarethe‘exceptionstotherule’.

Goingforward,sharingknowledgeandsuccessfulinnovationsforengagingwithmenshouldbecentraltoWFP’sgendermainstreamingstrategy.

Engaging men in Senegal, Lesotho, Guatemala and Malawi

PALactivitiesinSenegalfocusedontryingtounderstandhowmenarecurrentlyinvolvedincareofchildrenandnutritionandhowtheirinvolvementcouldbeincreased.Duringfocusgroupdiscussionswomennotedthatmenaccompanytheirchildrentothehospitalwhentheyaresick,butarerarelyinvolvedinnutritionactivitiesattheclinic.Whenmenwereaskedaboutthistheysaidtheywereafraidofbeingmockedasengaginginchildnutritionis‘notaman’srole’.Theysaidthatinfacttheyhelpedtheirwiveswithhouseholdandcaringactivitiesbutdidnotwantthisfacttobepubliclyexposed.Therewerealsoexceptions,wheremensharedcaringresponsibilitieswiththeirwivesandwerethepeopleinvolvedinnutritionactivities,withoutfearofbeingjudged.WFPSenegalhasrecognisedthepotentialtochangeattitudesaboutmen’srolesatthelocallevelbyengagingtheminopendiscussionsandinvolvingthe‘exceptions’aspotential‘changemodels’.

InLesothoastudywasconductedtounderstandthegenderdimensionsoftheEarlyCareChildandChildhood(ECCD)programme,whichtakestheformofcommunity-basednurseriesorpre-schoolwherechildrenaresuppliedbyWFPwithmid-morningsnacksandlunch.ECCDcare-giversaresourcedfromwithinthecommunityandarepaidanominalfeefortheirwork.Eventhoughthepostsareopentobothwomenandmen,themajorityofcare-giversarefemalebecausemanymenfeelitisnotasuitableroleforthem.Whenmenareinvolvedtheydonotusuallyengageincookingorother‘female’tasks,eventhoughalltasksaresupposedtobesharedamongtheECCDcare-givers.

Effortsarebeingmadebycommunityleaders,districtauthorities,ECCDcare-giversandparliamentarianstoencouragemorementoengageinthesepaidcareworkopportunities.ThishasresultedinanincreasingnumberofmenbecomingECCDcaregivers.Mofuta,amalecaregiveratinoneoftheECCDcentresarguesthatthesemenstillfacealotofcriticismfromothermensincecaregivingisconsideredtobewomen’sresponsibility.Hesaid‘despitethecriticisms,Ialwaysengageindiscussionswithyoungboysinmyareatoconsidertakingthiscareer.Itmaytaketimebutwithmoreadvocacyitwillsoonbeuniform.’

InGuatemala,WFPstaffhavebeenreflectingonwhat‘goodpractice’lookslikeinnutritionprogrammes.Theyhaverealisedthatonlyworkingwithwomenwillnotbesufficienttoguaranteeprogresstowardsgenderequality–itisalsonecessarytoundertakesensitisationwithmen(youths,adults,leadersandlocalauthorities)tocreatetheconditionsforwomen’srightstoberecognised.Menshouldalsobeinvolvedintraining

activitiesonnutritionandchildcare,bothtostrengthennutritionoutcomesandtoraiseawarenessofmen’ssharedresponsibilityforunpaidcarework.

Toactionthislearning,WFPGuatemalaisdevelopingatwo-foldstrategy.First,theyareinvestigatingthepossibilityofcoordinationwiththe‘Men’sNetworkfortheSocialandPoliticalRightsofIndigenousPopulations’,whichalreadycarriesoutsensitisationworkwithmenintheareawhereWFPrunsanutritionprogrammeandcouldpotentiallyincludefoodandnutritionsecurityandinfantandmaternalmortalityasthemesintheirwork.Second,theyareconsideringhowtoincludemenintheircommunityeducationprogrammes.

InMalawi,strongcommitmentwasfoundacrosstheScalingUpNutrition(SUN)21alliancepartners,includingGovernmentofficialsfromarangeofdepartmentsandlocalNGOsformaleinvolvementinchildnutrition.There,incollaborationwithlocalSUNpartners,theteamhavescriptedadocumentaryfilmtoreinforcepositiveimagesofmenparticipatingtoimprovetheirchildren’snutrition.Thebeliefthereisthatwithmorepositiverolemodels,mencanbemoreengaged–anditisvitalforthesuccessoftheprojectthattheyare.

Women waiting for supplementary feeding rations after a nutrition lecture in Ntchisi, Malawi. Of over 100 parents present, two were fathers.

Interviewing a man who has been involved in his children’s nutrition in Senegal.

Young children enjoying their mid-day snack provided by WFP at Meeling ECCD in Mokhotlong district, Lesotho.

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3.4 Challenging gender norms and assumptions‘Gendernorms’refertothesocialexpectationsofappropriaterolesandbehaviourformen(andboys)andwomen(andgirls)–aswellasthesocialreproductionofthesenormsininstitutionsandculturalpractices.Assection3.3suggests,thesenormsarenot‘fixed’butcanchangeinwaysthatbenefitbothwomenandmen,andcreatemorepositivedevelopmentoutcomes.WFP’srecognitionofwomen’svalueandpotentialthroughtheECWsisaverysignificantstep,realisedthroughpoliciesto

makewomenprimaryentitlementholdersandtoenhancetheirparticipationinfoodtargetingandmanagementcommittees.However,genderequalityresearchershaveaskedhowfarpoliciessuchasthesereallyempowerwomen.Theymayenablemoreefficientachievementoffoodsecuritygoalsbuttheyoftenreinforceratherthanchallengeexisting,inequitablegenderrolesandnorms.22

Gender-sensitiveprogrammingshouldinvolveassessingthepotentialimplicationsofprogrammedesignandactivitiesformenandwomen,boysandgirls.Ideallyprogrammingwillchallengeandhelptransformexistinggendernormsthatlimitpossibilities.Thisshouldinvolvechallengingcertainassumptionsor‘myths’aboutgenderthatmaynotbeborneoutinreality.23

Yet,workshopsandPALactivitiesrevealedthatprojectdesignsarerarelyinformedbytheinsightsoffieldstaffandpartnerorganisationsintospecificlocalnuancesofgenderrelationsandissues.Rathertheyoftenrelyonunexaminedassumptionsandstereotypesaboutgenderandfoodsecurity.Forexamplethereisanuntestedassumptionthatwomenwillalwaysusemoneyorvouchersfortheirfamilieswhereasmenwoulduseitinirresponsibleways,but,astheexamplesbelowillustrate,therealitiesoftendifferfromthesefixedideasaboutmaleandfemalebehavioursandroles.

InseveralpilotcountriesitalsobecameapparentthatWFPprogrammingsometimesreinforcesgendernormsandstereotypes,asintheexamplesbelowfromSchoolMealsProgrammes(SMPs)inSenegalandLesotho.ThroughPALactivitieswithbeneficiariesoftheseprogrammes,WFPstaffidentifiedsimpleadjustmentsthatcanbemadetoprogrammedesigntoembedamoretransformativeapproach.

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Girls carrying food trays for a Senegalese school canteen.

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Getting out of the kitchen? Gender norms and SMPs in Senegal and Lesotho

ParticipatoryactivitieswereheldwithboysandgirlstounderstandtheirrolesintheimplementationofSMPsandthewaysinwhichthiscontributedtoimprovednutritionandgenderequality.Theactivitiesrevealedthatthedivisionoflabourwithintheschool‘canteens’wereinadvertentlyreplicatinggendernorms.Girlswerebeingassignedthebulkofthework,withanemphasisondomestictaskssuchasservingthefood,clearingandwashingtheplates,sweepingfloorsandcleaningtoilets,whiletheboysweregivenmoresupervisorytaskssuchascollectingfeesforthemeals.WFPSenegalhasrealisedthattheSMPscouldprovideausefulentrypointfordiscussinggenderroleswithstudentsanddistributingthetasksinwaysthatchallengeacceptedpractices.

InLesotho,discussionswereheldwithprojectbeneficiariesincludingcooks,schoolprincipalsorfeedingmanagers,membersofschoolsboards,andothercommunitymembers.TheaimwastobetterunderstandthegenderdynamicswithintheSMPprogrammes,understandanybiases,assumptionsandconcernsheldbyallengagedinthisprogrammeanddevelopappropriategender-sensitivesolutionsthataddresswomen’sandmen’sspecificneedsandaddressesgenderinequalitiestoadvancefutureimplementationoftheseprogrammes.

Akeyobservationwasthatonlywomenwerebeingconsideredfortheroleofcook,eventhoughmenalsoapplyforthesepaidposts.To

createmoreequalopportunitiesandavoidreinforcingthesegenderbiasesandnorms,anewapproachhasbeenintroducedinsomeareasforappointingcooks,wheretheyarerandomlychosenratherthanhavingtoundergoalengthyregisteringprocess.Thisisviewedasawaytobeginchangingattitudesaboutmenandboys’roles,buildtheircapacityinnon-traditionalareasandincreasetheirresilience,andalsotosupportwomeninsomeofheavierkitchentasks,givingthemmoretimetoattendtotheirhouseholdandfarmingwork.TheinterviewsconductedaspartofthePALprocessrevealedthisapproachisappreciatedasitismoretransparentandgivesthesameopportunitiestomenandwomen.


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3.5 Incorporating rights into programmingTherealisationofhumanrightsisanimportantconditionforachievingfoodsecurity.Thenotionoftherighttofood–therightofallhumanbeingstoliveindignity,andbefreefromhungerandmalnutrition–isfoundationaltofoodsecurityandhasbeenpromotedthroughglobalagreementssuchastheCommitteeforFoodSecurity(CFS)GlobalGuidelinesproducedin2013.Women’srights,enshrinedintheConventiontoEliminateallFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen(CEDAW)shouldbeaddressedintheirownrightaswellasbeingintegraltobroaderunderstandingsofhumanrights.InWFP,respectfortherightsofpeoplereceivingassistanceisafundamentalaspectoftheorganisation’sProtectionPolicyandpartofensuringthatprogrammespositivelycontributetoprotectionoutcomes.PALactivitiesinallthepilotcountriesenabledstaffandbeneficiariestoreflectonwomen’srights,whileinGuatemaladiscussionsledtoconcretestepstointegraterightsintotrainingprogrammes.

Who holds the purse strings? Examining gender myths and realities in Malawi’s cash and food transfers

InMalawi,thegenderadvocatesprogrammeunit(whichincludesgenderandM&E)andthereportsunitwantedtounderstandbetterwhocontrolscashandfood,bothwhenWFPdistributesit,andwhenpeopleearnorgrowitthemselves.Theycollaboratedonalargein-depthstudyofhowcashandfoodtransfersinfluencedgenderrolesandbehavioursduringtheEMOPsin2013.Thestudyconcludedthatsomeassumptionsbehindprogrammedesignswerenotborneoutinreality:forexample,womenandmeningeneralreportedagreatdealmorecollaborationovertheuseofhouseholdresourcesthanhadbeenassumed;reportsofviolenceovertheuseofcashandfoodwereminimal;andWFPcashtransferswereseenassharedorneutralhouseholdresources,ratherthanundermalecontrol,ashadbeenassumed.Thestudyarrivedatseveralpracticalrecommendationsforthere-designofreliefresponsesforfuturehungryseasons.

Theprocesshasinformedtheapproachtotheupcomingreliefresponsefor2014/15.TheMalawiofficehascommittedtoconductinganotherstudytobuildontheresearchin2013-14asawaytocontinuemakingtheiremergencyresponsemoregender-sensitiveandbuildonpotentialopportunitiestoempowerwomen.

The realisation of human rights is an important condition for achieving food security. The notion of the right to food – the right of all human beings to live in dignity, free from hunger and malnutrition – is foundational to food security.

Female focus group discussion in Mangochi district, Malawi. A woman explains to others how she and her husband make a budget with the cash assistance from WFP.

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Raising awareness of rights among women in WFP Guatemala WFPGuatemalahasbeenimplementingnutritionprojectswithindigenouspopulationsinthewesternhighlandssince2011,includinga‘mother-to-mother’community-basededucationprogramme.WFPstaffandcommunityeducatorsreflectedonthelimitationsoftheeducationcomponent,whichtodatehasfocusedonpracticalaspectssuchasgoodhygieneandnutritiousfoods,withouttacklingotherrootcausesofmalnutritionandpoorhealth,includinggenderinequalityanddifferentexpressionsofviolenceagainstwomen.Asanexampletheygavethetragiccaseofawomanwhodiedbecauseshewaswaitingforpermissionfromherhusbandtoseekmedicalcare.Theyidentifiedaneedtoincorporateeducationonrights,includingwomenandgirl’srighttohealthandtobefreeofviolenceinallitsforms,intotheireducationprogrammes,bothforwomenwhoareparticipatinginthemother-to-mothernetworks,andformenintheircommunities.TheCOGenderSpecialisthassincedevelopedthecontentandmethodologyfortrainingcommunityeducators,whointurntraincommunity-basedleadersofmother-to-mothergroups,andthisprojectisnowunderway.

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Women from Totonicapán, Guatemala, reflecting on their experience of ‘mother-to-mother’ groups.


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3.6 Promoting collective action to enable women’s empowermentItisincreasinglyrecognisedthatindividualisedapproachestowomen’sempowermentultimatelyfailbecausetheyassumewomen’sdisadvantagestartsandendsinthehome.Effortstoenablewomentotacklethelargerpowerstructuresthatsustaingenderinequalitycanincludebuildingtheircollective

capacitiestoengageinmarkets,challengeoppression,ormakeclaimsongovernmentsandlocalauthorities.Inrelationtofoodsecurity,someofthemoreimpressiverecentexamplesofwomen’scollectiveempowermenthavebeenthroughfarmercollectives.24

WithinseveraloftheCOs,discussionsaboutsupporttofarmerorganisationsthroughtheP4P(PurchaseforProgress)programmeidentifiedthisasanareainwhichWFP’sworkwasverylikelytobecontributingtowomen’sempowermentwithoutacknowledgingormeasuringthisimpact,orlearningfromit.

ObservationsduringthePALworkechoedevidence

Women’s participation in farmer’s collectives (both single and mixed sex) and other types of groups can contribute to their empowerment in multiple ways.

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Women involved in R4 activities in Senegal.

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Individualised approaches to women’s empowerment ultimately fail because they assume women’s disadvantage starts and ends in the home.

thatwomen’sparticipationinfarmer’scollectives(bothsingleandmixedsex)andothertypesofgroupscancontributetotheirempowermentinmultipleways.Empowermenteffectsincludedbuildingtheirknowledge,skillsandself-confidence,developingsocialnetworkswhichtheycandrawonintimesofneed,enhancingtheirinfluenceoverdecisionmakingintheorganisationswhichtheyarepartof,andenablingthemtoaccessservicesandsupportfromlocalgovernmentbodies.Evenparticipationinrelativelyinformalgroups,suchasthemother-to-mothergroupsinGuatemala(seesection3.5),canhavesignificantpositiveeffectsonwomen’sconfidenceandabilitytonegotiatefoodandhealth-relatedissueswithmalerelatives.ButWFPprogrammesaretypicallynotframedaroundtheseobjectives,andmonitoringandevaluationthusfailstocapturehowthecollectiveaspectsofwomen’sempowermentmaydirectlyorindirectlyinfluencefoodsecurityinthelongerterm.


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Promoting collective approaches to resilience and women’s empowerment in Senegal

Going beyond the numbers: promoting women’s empowerment in farmer organisations in Guatemala

TheRuralResilienceInitiative(R4),acomprehensiveriskmanagementprogramme,isbeingpilotedinseveralareasofSenegal.Theprogrammecomprisesasetofinterventionsthattargetwomenfarmersprimarily,includingtheprovisionofsharedland,seedsandlocalwellsformarketgardens;thedevelopmentofsafetynetssuchasmicro-insurance;andsupportforlocalwomen’ssavingsgroupsthroughaprogrammecalled‘SavingsforChange’(SFC).SFCisaninitiativebyWFPimplementingpartnersOxfamUSAandbuildsonanexistingmodelof‘tontines’,wheregroupsoffarmerscometogetherandpoolmoneythatcanthenbedisbursedwhenneededthroughloansthatarerepaidwithinterest.Focusgroupdiscussionswithwomenfromseveral

communitiesrevealedthatR4hascontributedtowomen’sempowermentinanumberofpracticalandstrategicways.Inadditiontohavingincreasedaccesstoland,seedsandwaterforirrigationanddrinking,womenhavereceivedtraininginnumeracy,literacyandbusiness.Therearealsosignificanttimegainsforthewomenastheavailabilityoffreshfoodandtheproximityofthewellsmeanttheynolongerhavetotravelfarfromhometofetchwaterorsearchforfood.Thereisalsoareductioninstressaswomennolongerconstantlyworryabouthowtheywillfindfoodfortheirchildren,andthesmallfinancialgainsfromsellingtheirsurpluscropsmeantheyarenowabletosendbothmaleandfemalechildrentoschool.

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ithRelativelyearlyintheP4Pinitiative,theGuatemalaCOdesignedagenderstrategyandactionplanwhichwouldenablethemtomeettargetsforwomen’sparticipation.Afterseveralyearsofsupportingbothmixed-sexandsingle-sexfarmerorganisations,staffreflectedonthecriticalelementsofthestrategyandidentifiedvariousgoodpracticesincluding:incorporationofgenderacrossallprogrammecomponents,ratherthanasastand-aloneactivity;participatorygenderanalysiswithfarmerorganisationsasthebasisforcreatingconsciousnessanddevelopingtargetedactionplans;andongoingsupportforfieldstafffromagenderspecialist,toprovideadviceandbuildcapacityinahands-onway.AlsoimportanthasbeentheformationofGenderCommissionswithinmixedsexorganisations,andEmpowermentCommissionsinwomen-onlyorganisations,asameanstoensurethatgenderandwomen’sempowermentareembeddedintoorganisationalthinkingandpractice.Theseeffortshavenotnecessarilyledtoasignificantincreaseinthenumberofwomenmembersinfarmerorganisation,butthequalityofwomen’sparticipationhaschangedsubstantially.

Womenhavegonefrombeinglargelypassivemembers(orabsentaltogether)toplayingameaningfulroleinorganisationallife,andattitudestowomen’scapabilitieshavechangedbeyondrecognition.Thishasstimulatedbotheconomicandsocialempowermentamongwomen,muchofwhichremainsunmeasuredbycurrentmonitoringindicators.

ABOVE

Using the ‘river of life’ to document a community-based education programme in Totonicapán, Guatemala.


4 Learning and recommendations about gender mainstreaming in WFP 4.1 The big picture of gender mainstreaming in WFP: the Levy analysisDuringthefirstphaseofInnovations from the Field,keylessonsemergedaboutWFP’sorganisationalapproachtobothgendermainstreamingandgender-specificprogramming.ItshouldbenotedthattheselessonsemergedfromtherelativelycloseengagementwiththefivepilotCOs,buttheyhaverelevancefororganisationalpolicyandplanningatWFPHeadquarters(HQ).Thisthinkingisconsistent

withtheassumptionthatgendermainstreamingfromthetopdowntypicallyfails.

DuringeachcountryworkshoptheLevyframeworkforeffectiveinstitutionalisationofgenderinpolicyandplanning(the‘webof

institutionalisation’),25wasusedtoidentifyareasofstrengthandweaknessatcountryandgloballevels.Theframeworkcomprises13domainsthatfallunderfourinterconnectedspheres:

• Beneficiarysphere:aretheroles,needsandperspectivesofwomenandmentakenintoaccount?WhatistheirlevelofactiveparticipationandinfluenceinWFPinterventions,andtherepresentativestructuresinwhichtheyparticipate?

• Policysphere:isthereastrongWFPgenderpolicy,politicalcommitmentongendermainstreamingandavailableresources?

• Organisationalsphere:whoisresponsibleforgendermainstreaming?Whatproceduresforgendermainstreamingandstaffdevelopmentmechanismsareinplace?

• Deliverysphere:howiseffectivedeliveryofprogrammesandprojectsensured?Whataretheprovisionsforresearchandtheorybuildingongendermainstreaming,andwhatmethodologiesarebeingused?

ThepremiseoftheLevyframeworkisthat13domainsandspheresneedtobestrongfororganisationaleffectivenessingendermainstreamingtobe

achieved.Figure1consolidatesfindingsfromtheworkshopsheldinthefivepilotcountries.ItrevealswhereWFPisfelttobestrong(markedingreen),medium(amber)andweak(red)withregardtotheframework.

TheconclusionsfromthisexercisearebroadlyconsistentwiththeperceptionsandexperiencesoftheIDSteaminconductingthispilot.Thesearethat:

• ThestrongestareaforgendermainstreaminginWFP,relativelyspeaking,ispoliticalcommitmentandpolicymakingatHQandseniormanagementlevels.Thismakessensegivenbothinternalawarenessofthemission-criticalnatureofgenderforWFP’smandate,andthestrengthofdonorcommitmentstotacklinggenderinequality,includingwithrespecttofoodsecurity.

• Gendermainstreamingispresent,butatmediumstrength,withrespecttothebeneficiaryandsomedomainsofthedeliverysphere.Someeffortsaremadetoensurewomenareproperlyrepresentedandabletoparticipateandgivefeedback,butthesearenotalwaysverysensitivetogenderrelationsorwomen’scapacitiesandconstraints.Forinstance,thecorporateindicatorcountingnumbersofwomeninfoodassistancecommitteesfailstorecognisethatwithoutbeingorganisedandsupportedtodoso,womenmaynotbeabletoraisetheirconcernsagainstmorepowerfulmenincommitteemeetings.Womenmaybereluctanttoparticipateiftheyhavetotravelorsacrificetimeorenergytheyneedforunpaidcareresponsibilities.

• Methodologiesandproceduresforassessingvulnerabilitiesanddesigninganddeliveringprogrammesingender-sensitivewaysareonlyatmediumstrengthonaverage,althoughsomecountriesandsectorsaremoreadvancedthanothers.

• UnderstandingabouthowgenderfitsintotheoverallmandateandoperationsofWFP,andwhygenderissocentraltoWFP’scorporatetheoryofchange,isveryweak.TheweaknessstartswiththeassessmentoftheproblemthatWFPismandatedtoaddress.Becausevulnerabilityassessmentmethodologiesarenotinformedby

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The strongest area for gender mainstreaming in WFP, relatively speaking, is political commitment and policymaking at HQ and senior management levels.


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anadequateconceptualunderstandingofwhygendermattersforprogramming,theylackaproperempiricalevidencebaseofhowunequalgenderpowerrelationsshapefoodinsecurityintheiroperationalcontext,whygenderequalityissocrucialforachievingfoodsecurityandwhatgenderequalitywouldlooklike.Thefailuretooperationalisegendermainstreamingeffectivelystartswiththefailureofassessment.

• Alsoveryweakistheallocationofresourcesandresponsibilitiesforgendermainstreaming,andstaffdevelopmentwithrespecttoknowledgeandcapacitiesaboutgender.Improvinggendersensitivityinoperationstypicallylacksurgency.

ThisanalysisenabledtheCOworkshopstoidentifyareasofconcernwhichwerethendeepenedduringthePALactivities.Thesehavebeendevelopedintothefivebroadlessonareasbelow.

4.2 Key lessons

There is untapped potential for gender mainstreaming in WFPTheprojectfoundlargereservesoflatentcapacityforgender-sensitiveprogramming.InallfivecountriestheIDSteamworkedwithWFPstaffmemberswithexcellentknowledgeandideasrelatingtogender-sensitiveprogramming,andtheenergyandwilltointegratethisintotheirwork.CountryOfficestaffareoftenawareofthemission-criticalnatureofgendermainstreamingandknowledgeableaboutthegenderrelationsandinequalitiesintheircontexts.Wheregenderadvocateshavebeenappointedtheyareoftenexperiencedand/ormotivatedtoraiseprogrammingstandardsthroughgender-sensitiveaction.Thisknowledge,skillandcommitmentwasreflectedinthequalityofdiscussion,insightsandideasgeneratedduringtheinitialPALworkshops.

Representative structures

Delivery of programmes &

projects

Research Theory building

Methodology

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PolicyPolitical

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infl uence

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different groups

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Figure 1 Consolidated Levy analysis for Phase One


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InmanycasestheideasforPALworkhavebeenimplementedwithrelativelylittletimeandresourcesandhaveenabledstafftoexploresmallbutimportantareasofinnovation.

Insomeofthecountriesthereareschemesandprogrammeswithstrongpotentialfordevelopingintegrated,gender-sensitive

processes.ExamplesofthesearetheInnovationTeaminKenya(seebox),andP4P’sstructureofa

centralhubcoordinatingalargenumberofin-countrypilotsinordertomaximiselearning.

However,muchofthispotentialisuntapped.Thereisalackofconsistencyinlevelsofgenderexpertisebetweenthecountries,andtypicallyanover-relianceonthepersonalinitiativeofkeymotivatedindividualstochampiongendermainstreamingandpushgender-focusedworkforward.Whentheseindividualsmoveon,thisoftenleavesavacuumofexpertise,andalackofcontinuityintheinnovativeprocessestheyhaveinitiated.

There is untapped potential for gender mainstreaming in WFP.

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Focus group discussion on women’s empowerment with a group of men in Senegal.

The value of providing space to develop and test new ideas in Kenya

Kenya’sInnovationTeamprovidesaclearandstrongexampleofahowtocreatespaceandtimeforgender-responsive(orother)programmedevelopment.Thisenablesstafftoexperimentandtestnewprogrammeapproaches,andensuresthatthereisasystematicapproachtolearning.Todatetherehasbeennomajorfocusongender,butstaffinteresthasensuredprogrammesareviewedthroughagenderlensatallstagesoftheprojectcycle.Forexamplethepilottotestaschemetointroducefreshfoodvouchersforpregnantandlactating

womeninDadaabrefugeecampincorporatedaGenderandProtectionbaselinestudy,which

influencedthedesignoftheschemeandtheindicatorsusedtomonitorresults.

Discussing WFP’s Cash for Assets programme with a community in Turkana, north-west Kenya.

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Wheregenderadvocatesandfieldstaffareavailabletoworkongenderprogramming,theyareoftennotgiventheautonomy,timeorresourcestodriveprojectplanningandimplementation,andareobligedtoworkwithintheratherinflexibleexistingprojectboundaries.Noraretheresufficientrewardsandincentivestoencouragestafftotaketheinitiativeandinnovateongender.Forexample:

• TeamsinMalawiandSenegalwereexploringwaysofmakingtheschoolmealsprogrammesmoreeffectiveandgendersensitivebyaddressingissuesofunpaidcareworkandchallengingthegendernormstheyreproduce,buttherearefewresourcesandnomandatetoaddressthisinprogramming

• StaffinKenyaandGuatemalarecognisethatP4Phasgeneratedstrongpositiveimpactsforgenderrelationsinhouseholdsandwithrespecttocommunityleadershipandinmarkets,butfinditdifficulttocaptureorbuildtheseintoprogrammingwithcurrentM&E/programmegoals

• Men’sinvolvementinnutritionprogrammesisrecognisedasimportant,butstafflacktimeandspacetoaddressthisinastrategic,comprehensiveway

Inaddition,opportunitiestolearnfromandlinkstrategicallywithpartnersarebeinglost.Implementingpartners,suchasnationalandinternationalNGOs,oftenhavewell-developedexpertiseandstrategiesforaddressinggenderissues.Otherpartners,includinggovernmentbodies,maylackcapacitybutbewellplacedtoensureWFPimpactsaresustained.Thereisconsiderablescopeforsharingknowledgeanddevelopingjointstrategiesongenderbutthisapparentlydoesnothappenoften,particularlywithimplementingpartners,whoareoftentreatedmoreasserviceprovidersthanstrategicpartners.Thereare,however,somenotableexceptions,asillustratedbythegoodpracticeexamplefromGuatemalaintheboxaboveright.

Strong leadership and accountability on gender mainstreaming are critical Theprojectfoundleadershiptobecrucialbutuneven,andaccountabilityforgendermainstreamingisdiscretionaryand,atworst,weak.TheconsolidatedLevyframeworkinFigure1showsthatWFPisseentobestrongwithregardtoitsgendermainstreamingpolicyandhigh-levelpoliticalcommitmenttogender-sensitiveprogramming.This

includedhigh-levelpoliticalcommitmenttotacklinggenderissuesbycountrygovernmentsinpartnershipwithWFPinseveralinstances.Howeverthesecommitmentsarenotalwayseffectivelytranslatedintoactionatthecountrylevel.TheInnovations from the Fieldprogrammefoundthat,althoughthereisacorporatestrategyongenderandtherehasbeenrenewedemphasisongenderinrecentyearswithinWFP,thisstrategyhasnotbeencommunicatedeffectively,norisitwidelyunderstood.Atthesametime,gendermainstreamingisoftennotbeingprioritisedbyCOs,despitetheexistenceofthecorporatestrategy.Itisnotbeingseenasmission-criticalbyallcountrydirectorsandprogrammemanagers.Leadershipongenderisunevenandultimatelydependsonindividualcommitment,notinstitutionalimperatives.

TherehavebeensomeimprovementsinaccountabilityforgendermainstreamingwiththeintroductionoftheUNSWAP/WFPGenderMainstreamingAccountabilityFramework(GMAF,forevaluatinginstitutionalperformance)andtheGenderMarker(forevaluatingprojectproposals).Howevertheimportanceofthesetoolsisdiminishedbytherelianceonself-reportingagainstindicators,andthereremainsnostronginternalorexternalpressuretodemonstrategoodperformanceongenderatCOlevel.Weakaccountabilityon

Where gender advocates and field staff are available to work on gender programming, they are often not given the autonomy, time or resources to drive project planning and implementation.

Building alliances and capacity for sustainability in GuatemalaInGuatemalathepilotphaseoftheP4Pprogrammeiscomingtoanendandstaffsoughttocapitaliseonthelearninggainedaswellasensurethatpositivegenderimpactsaresustained.ThroughthePALprocesstheyidentifiedthreestepswhichneedtobetaken,withpartnersatthecentreoftheirplans.First,thedevelopmentofgoodpracticeguidelinesandtoolkitsforstrategicpartnersandparticipatingproducerorganisations(aswellasWFPstaff)onhowtopromotegenderequalityandwomen’sempowermentinsmallproducerorganisations(basedonlessonslearnedinP4P).Second,buildingalliancesandestablishingformalcoordinationwithspecificgovernmentministriesandlocalauthoritiestoensurethereisacontinuationofsupportforparticipatingproducerorganisationsbeyondthelifeofP4P.Third,strengtheningtheGender/EmpowermentCommissionswithinproducerorganisations,includingenablingthemtoparticipateingovernment-ledinitiativesforruraldevelopment.Moregenerally,theWFPGenderSpecialistisworkingcloselywithrelevantgovernmentministries(particularlytheMinistryofAgriculture,LivestockandFood)tosupporttheireffortsongender,includingassistingwithdevelopmentofstrategicframeworks.


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gendermainstreamingiscompoundedbythefollowingfacts:

• Thereisnostrongcentralmandatetodevelopcoherentprogrammestandardswithrespecttogenderinassessment,programmedesignorimplementation

• ThereisalsoalackofclearguidelinesongendermainstreamingforWFPpartners,includinggovernments

• Monitoringandevaluationsystemscurrentlytrackgenderoutcomesonanalmostpurelynumericalbasis,primarilycountingnumbersofwomenbeneficiariesandcommitteemembers–guidedbyreportingrequirementsfromCOsandHQ.However,thesefiguresareonlylooselyconnectedtogender-equitablefoodsecuritygoals,whetherintermsofoutcomesorparticipation

• TherearenoconsequencesforCOswhenprogrammesfailtoachievepositivegenderoutcomes–orwhentheyfailtomeetgenderandprotectionstandards

• DonorscouldplayalargerroleinholdingWFPtoaccountongender,includingthroughresourcingconditionalities,but–withsomenotableexceptionssuchasUSAIDandGatesFoundation–donorprioritiesongenderdonotappeartobeinfluencingCOstrategyorperformanceinanysystematicway

Seeing the benefits of strong leadership on gender WherethereiscommittedandinformedleadershipinWFPcountriesalongsidesupportfromdonors,thishastranslatedintoacommitmenttogenderinprogramming.ForexampleinGuatemalaaseniorgenderspecialisthasbeengivenamandateandresourcestoimproveperformanceacrossallWFPprogrammesandtoengagewithgovernmentdepartments.AccordingtotheCountryDirector,MarioTouchette,theCanadiangovernmenthasplayedacriticalroleinadvancingtheirworkongender,bybothpressingforaccountabilityandprovidingfinancialsupport.

P4Palsoprovidesagoodexampleofwhereleadership,visionandresourceshavecontributedtoachievingpositiveoutcomes.Afterfailingtomeetobjectivesongenderintheinitialstages,P4Pundertookathoroughanalysisanddevisedagenderstrategywithcoreprinciplesthatparticipatingcountrieswereexpectedtoadapttotheirspecificcontextandtranslateintogenderactionplans.Additionally,enoughresourceswereprovidedtoenablepilotcountriesto‘try’newinnovationswithoutfearoffailure,whileongoingspecialistsupportwasprovidedfromHeadOffices.

There is a general unevenness in the understanding of what gender is and why it matters for WFP’s work.

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Focus group discussion with community members in Turkana, Kenya.

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A better general understanding of gender is neededThereisageneralunevennessintheunderstandingofwhatgenderisandwhyitmattersforWFP’swork.ThisispartlyaboutthelackofasharedunderstandingofwhatgendermeansforWFP’soveralltheoryofchangeandmission.Evenwhenitisconsideredimportant,gendermainstreamingisoftenseenpurelyasanissueofgenderparityinWFPstaffingandcommitteesandofmakingwomenprimaryrecipientsoffoodentitlements,ratherthanbeingafarmorecomprehensiveprocessofanalysisandactioninvolvingallprocesses,peopleandrelationshipswithintheorganisation,withbeneficiariesandwithpartners.

TheInnovations from the Fieldprogrammerevealedthatmanystaffsuccessfully‘do’gendermainstreamingwithoutlabellingitassuch;theyunderstandtheneedtotakethelocalcontextofgenderandothersocialrelationsandreal-lifevulnerabilitiesintoaccountwhentheythinkabouthowbesttodesignordelivertheirprogramme.Converselyotherstaffthinktheyaretakingagender-sensitiveapproachbecausetheyareachievingnumerical‘targets’byinvolvingwomeninfoodassistancecommitteesorasprimaryentitlementholders,butthisissimplyonepartofwhatshouldbeamoreintegratedapproach.

Additionally,eventhoughthe2009GenderPolicystressesthatitismandatorytoincorporategendermainstreamingintoallstagesofaprojectcycle,thistendstohappeninreactivewaysandisdependentonindividuals’capacity,commitmentandthepoliticalwillofseniormanagersinCOs.Thelackofmorecomprehensive,systematicgendermainstreamingprocessesacrosstheprojectcyclemeansmanychancesforsmarterprogrammingaremissed.

Theunderstandingofwhatisneededforeffectivegender-sensitiveprogrammingmuststartwithassessmentsoftheproblemspeoplefacethattakeintoaccounthowtheirgendershapestheirvulnerabilities,theircapacitiestoact,theirresponsestoproblemsandtheopportunitiesavailabletothem.

Systematicattentiontospecificgenderdimensionsandinequalitiesacrosstheprojectcyclewouldmeanall staff and partners at all levelswouldrequireaworkingknowledgeofwhyandhowtotakegenderintoaccountwhen:

• Assessingvulnerabilities:someVAMteamsdisplayedexcellentknowledgeofdebatesingender-sensitiveindicatorsinpoverty,foodsecurityandvulnerability,butthiswasoftennotthecase.Oftengenderisbeingequatedwithwomenratherthanbeingframedintermsofgenderpowerrelationsthatalsoinvolvemen.

• Promotingwomen’sempowerment:womens’empowermentiscurrentlybeingnarrowly

equatedwithwomen’sentitlementtofoodvouchersorcash,andwiththeirincreasedfinancialincomefromsellingsurpluscrops.Workhasbeeninitiatedtoassesswhetherputtingfoodandcashinwomen’shandscontributestotheirempowermentorincreasestheiraccesstofood.TheseaspectswereamongothersexaminedinajointstudybetweenWFPandUNHCRin2013:‘ExaminingProtectionandGenderinCashandVoucherTransfers’26andhavealsobeenincludedinthecorporatecashandvouchermanualandWFP’sPurchaseforProgressprogrammes.

Despitetheseinitiatives,moremustbedonetoensurethatthesedimensionsarefullyintegratedacrossallprogrammes.Otheraspectsofwomen’sempowermentlikewiseneedtobesystematicallyandconsistentlyassessed,includingtheirabilitytoaccesslandandotherresources,befreefromSGBV,spendlesstimeonunpaidcareworkifdesiredandmakeinformedchoices.Thisisimportantforidentifyingopportunitiestosupportwomen’sempowermentandensuringthatpositiveimpactsthatgobeyondwhatisbeingcountedarenotbeingmissed(seesection3.6).

• Designinginterventions:noprogrammedesigncanbegender-sensitiveifitdoesnottakeintoaccounthowitwillimpactonlivesandgenderroles.Forexample,duringthePALworkmanyexamplesemergedofprogrammeswhichhavebeendesignedwithouttakingaccountoftheimpactsonunpaidcarework,whichiswidelyacceptedasoneofthefoundationsofgenderinequality.

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Mother and child at the supplementary feeding centre in Malawi.N

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• Developingdeliverymechanisms:genderandprotectionissuesarerelativelywellgraspedwithinWFP.However,certaingenderedassumptions(e.g.,thatgivingcashtowomentriggersdomesticviolence,orthatallmenarefinanciallyirresponsible)needtobetestedintheiroperationalsettingsandadjustedasgenderrelationschangeinresponsetoprogrammeinterventions.

• Staffingprogrammes:bothpartnersandWFPstaffcanbetrainedtobemoresensitivetogenderintheirwaysofworking.Gendersensitivitydoesnotmeanallstaffmustbewomen,butthatwomenandmenhaveequalopportunitieswithinprogrammeandorganisationalstructures,andthattheyareequallyequippedtodelivergender-equitableoutcomes.Staffshouldalsobesensitivetogenderissues,havingthecapacitiestoenableandlistentobeneficiaryfeedbackinawaythatrespondstotheconstraintswomenmayfaceincomplainingorcommunicatingtheirconcerns.

• Monitoringandevaluating:theindicatorsusedtomonitorprogrammeperformance,aswellasforbaselineandendofprojectassessments,rarelydomorethancountwomen.Programmeevaluationsthattakegenderintoaccountarerare.Verylittlequalitativeassessmentofthechangesinpeople’slivesismade.Theneedformorequalitative,gender-responsiveindicatorsisreflectedinthecasestudybelow.

• Asnotedinsection3.4,ifWFP’sprogrammesaretocontributemoreeffectivelytogenderequalityitisimportanttoavoidreplicatinggenderstereotypes.Assumptionsandfixedideasaboutgenderroles,normsandcapacitiesneedtobechallengedatthelevelofprojectdesign,andattentionshouldbepaidtothewaymaleandfemalebeneficiariesandstaffarerepresentedininternalandexternalinformationaboutWFPprogrammes.Inadditiontoincreasinggenderawarenessamongprogrammestaff,communicationsunitsneedincreasedcapacityandcommitmentinrelationtogender,sotheycanconveymorenuancedmessagesaroundgenderequalityandwomen’sempowermentthatgobeyondrepresentingwomenonlyasvictims,mothersand/orentitlementholders.

Creating space for reflecting, listening and learning on gender is crucialMainstreaminggenderworksbestwhenWFPstaffhavespacetoreflect,listen,learn–andapplytheirlearning.ItwasclearfromthePALworkthatregular,directcontactwithbeneficiarycommunitiesaidsunderstandingoftherealitiesWFPengageswith.Ithelpsavoidover-relianceon

Identifying the need for more flexible, responsive gender indicatorsWFPstaffoftentalkabouthouseholddecision-makingasakeyissueforthegenderedimpactofWFPprogrammes–buttherearenoeffectiveindicatorswithwhichtomonitorormeasurethis,andunderstandingofbargainingandcooperativeconflictmodelsofhouseholdsislimited.

Inadditionthepolicyoftargetingwomenforcash,vouchersandotherinterventionsispremisedonstereotypedassumptionsaboutmalebehaviour,butthiswaschallengedduringfocusgroupdiscussions.MeninterviewedinSenegalinsistedtheyiftheyweregivencashorvoucherstheywouldspendthemoneyonlyontheirfamiliesandbothmenandwomensaiditwouldbeeasierifsometimesthemenwereabletocomebythemselvestocollectfoodandvouchersbecauseofthetimeandtravelpressuresonwomen.Theirhusbandswereusuallyobligedtocomeanywaytocarryandtransportthegoodssotheywerebothoutofthehouseforthewholedayandhadtofindchildcare,aswellaslosingaday’swork.ItwasalsonotedthatthereweremaleaswellasfemalesavingsgroupsinSenegal,demonstratingmen’scapacityforfinancialplanning.

Village elders in Turkana, Kenya, interviewed during PAL study on Cash and Food For Assets.

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unhelpfulgenderstereotypesandalsohelpsensurebeneficiaryfeedbackentersprogrammelearningcycles.TheprogrammefoundthatFieldMonitorsandotherWFPstaffandimplementingpartnersinthefieldarecontinuallypickinguponqualitativegenderissuesinthecourseoftheirwork.

Theconclusionreachedisthatthereisnoneedformajornewdatacollection,especiallygiventhealreadyheavyburdenofM&EworkthatCountryOfficescarry.WhatisinsteadneededisspaceandcapacityforM&Eandprogrammestafftomakesenseofandoperationalisethefindingsfromdataandfromtheirexperiencesinthefield,andtoelevateemergingissuestoamoreseniorlevelintheorganisationiftheneedarises.InKenyaforexample,programmemanagersdiscussedintroducinganopen-endedsectionintothemonthlySitrepreportwhichispreparedbyfieldstaffsotheycanregistergenderandprotectionissuestheyareconcernedabout.27WFPKenya’sBeneficiaryComplaintsandFeedbackMechanismisanotherexampleofspacebeingcreatedforlisteningandlearning(seeboxonnextpage).ParticipatingstaffappreciatedtheopportunityforguidedreflectionandleaningaboutgenderthattheInnovations from the Fieldprogrammeoffered,andsawthePALmodelasagoodonetoapplyelsewhere.Theyfelttheexperiencehadprovidedmuch-neededspaceforreflectionandsharingknowledgeandexperiences.Italsoenabledthemtolistentoandlearnfrompeopleinaffectedcommunities.

Thereisscopeformoreproblem-basedlearningaroundgenderandfoodsecurity.Inparticularspaceisneededforprojectstafftoreflectonandidentifygenderaspectsofoperationalchallenges.Spaceisalsoneededformoredirectcollaborationwithpartnersbeyondaserviceprovidermodel,includingmutuallearningaboutgender(betweenWFPandpartnersandbetweenpartners).Atthesametime,greateruseshouldbemadeofevaluationforimprovingprogrammeapproachestogender.

Resources are critical for successful gender mainstreamingIfgendermainstreamingismission-critical,itrequiresmorefinancialandhumanresources.Genderadvocatesandgenderadvisorswiththesupportofseniormanagementcananddomakeabigdifferenceinimprovingunderstandingofthegenderissuesandmakingprogrammingmoregenderresponsive.However,mostgender-focusedstaffcurrentlyfaceseverelimitationsintermsoftheircapacity,scopeofwork,budgetsandinfluence.Inthe‘projectised’cultureofWFP,littlegetsdoneintheabsenceoftargetedfinancialresources.Programmebudgetsrarelytakeintoconsiderationthetruecostsofmainstreaminggenderandachievinggender-relatedgoals.Thereisalsoalackofresourcesforthecross-programmaticworkneededtobuildinstitutionalcapacityandresponsivenessongender.

ItisnotonlyWFPwhichdoesnotcostgendermainstreamingproperly–donorscanalsobeguiltyofthis.AlthoughmanyofWFP’sdonorsprioritisegender,theyarenotalwayswillingtocommitthelevelofresourcesneeded.However,thereareexceptionswhichprovidevaluablelessonsonhowtodothingsdifferently.TheCanadiangovernmenthasbeeninstrumentalinsupportingWFP’sGuatemala’seffortsongender,mostrecentlywithamajornewprogrammeundertheSUNinitiativewithgenderasoneofthreeheadlinethemes.Inthisprogrammearoundathirdofthebudgetisassignedforgender-relatedactivities,givingthegenderspecialistsubstantialscopeforexpandingherworkandinfluenceacrosstheprojectcycle.

Seeking beneficiary feedback to improve programming in Kenya

TheKenyaCOhasintroducedatelephonehotlinewhichbeneficiariescanusetoaccessinformationonWFPprogrammestheyarepartof,andtoregistertheircommentsandconcerns.Theinformationgeneratedthroughthehotline,andactionstakeninresponsearesummarisedinabriefreportanddiscussedatthemonthlymanagementmeeting.Thisrelativelysimplesystemhasprovenhighlyeffectiveforpinpointingblockagesinprogrammedeliveryandbuildingaccountabilitytobeneficiaries.

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WFP staff participating in PAL workshop activity in Kenya.

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4.3 Recommendations

Optimising latent potential for gender mainstreamingTomakethemostofthelatentpotentialforgendermainstreaminginCountryOffices,WFPshould:

• OptimiseexistingcapacityandenthusiasmaroundgenderamongWFPfieldstaffbyadequatelyrecognising,utilisingandrewardingit.Thismeansincludingreportingongender-focusedprogrammes,buildingonsuccessfulinitiativesintheCountryStrategyandoperationalinnovations,andincludinggendersensitivityamongtheindicatorsofprofessionalstaffperformancereview.

• EnsureGenderAdvocateshaveaclearmandateandadequatetime,capacityandresourcestofulfiltheirfunctioneffectively.Thisincludesensuringtheirworkongenderisprioritisedoverotherresponsibilities.Whilethereareexcellentreasonsforthegenderadvocateroletobeincombinationwithotherprofessionalfunctions(e.g.,VAMstaff,ProgrammeOfficer,DCD),genderadvocatesshouldalsohaveaclearportionoftheirtimeallocatedtogenderwork.TheirannualworkprogrammesshouldincludeclearstrategiesforadvocacyattheCountryOfficelevel.Itispreferableforgenderadvocatestoberecruitedatrelativelyseniorlevels.Menwithgenderanalyticalcapacitiesandexpertiseshouldalsobeencouragedtoapplyforsuchroles,sothatgenderisnotseenasexclusivelytheresponsibilityoffemalestaff.

• ThereisalsoagreatdealofscopetoengagemorestrategicallywithCOpartnersongenderissues.ManyofWFP’simplementingpartners(suchasinternationalandnationalNGOs)areveryexperiencedandadvancedwithrespecttogenderissues.WFPcandomoretobuildonthatcapacity,

tobuildcommonobjectivesandstrategiesongenderonanequalpartnerbasis.Thiscaninvolvebothlearningfromandrequiringhigherstandardsofpartnerswithrespecttogender-sensitiveprogrammedelivery.

Strengthening leadership and accountability for gender TobuildonWFP’scorestrengthsinpoliticalcommitmenttoandpoliciesongenderitisnecessaryto:

• BuildarobustbusinesscaseforwhygendermainstreamingismissioncriticalforWFP.InthepressuredatmosphereofemergencyandhumanitarianaidworkitisnotsurprisingthatsomeseniormanagersdismissgenderasalowpriorityorlackthetimeorspacetoengagewithitasacoreWFPconcern.Aspartofitsgenderstrategy,WFPshouldbuildanauthoritative,succinctaccountorbusinesscaseofwhygendermattersforWFP.Thismaymeancommissioningcost-benefitanalysesofkeyareasofWFP’soperationstoconvincescepticsofthecontributiontothecorporateresultsframeworkorofthemonetaryvalueoftakinggenderintoaccount.However,WFPispartoftheUNsystem,andgenderinequalitymustbeviewedwithinthehumanrightsframeworkandnotmerelyasinstrumental,contributingtomoreefficientoutcomes.ThebusinesscaseshouldalsoreviewWFP’sroleincontributingtogenderequalityglobally.

• Allocateresourcesandauthoritytocommunicatethiseffectivelytoallseniormanagers.WFPstaffrespectclearmessagescomingfromtheleadership.Ifthemission-criticalnatureofgenderforWFPiscommunicatedthroughawell-resourcedstrategy,backedbytheauthorityofseniormanagementatHQ,thishasanexcellentchanceofbeingheardandinternalisedasthelogicofgender-sensitiveoperations.

• StrengthenexistingaccountabilityframeworksandindicatorstoensureseniormanagersareheldresponsibleformeaningfuloutcomesongenderattheCOlevel.Morecanbedonetoensureseniormanagementisheldandholdsitselftoaccount,inparticularatCOlevel.Self-reportingongenderindicators,forinstance,canbesupplementedbyexternalreviews.Seniormanagers’performancereviewscanincludetheireffortstoadvancegendermainstreamingacrossprojectcycles.

Strengthening understanding of the gender issuesTherearemanyentrypointsforimprovingunderstandingofthegenderissuesacrossWFP,includingthroughinitiativessuchasthepresentprogramme.Forexample:

ABOVE

Female focus group discussion in Mangochi district, Malawi.


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• Investmentinstaffcapacitiesongenderthroughtraining;identificationofgenderfocalpointswithineachsection(e.g.,forM&EandVAM;logisticsandprocurement;eachofthemainprogrammes);andcommunicationsunits.

• RethinkingoftheVAMapproachandprocess,includinganexpertreviewofVAMstaffingandprocessesforgender-sensitivity;considerationofalternativevulnerabilityconceptualframeworks;anddevelopmentofmoregender-sensitivetools(indicators,questionnaireormoreparticipatorymethodologies).

• Reviewingquantitativemonitoringindicatorsandexperimentingwithparticipatoryandqualitativeindicatorstobettercapturegenderdimensions,impactsandchanges(orlackofchange)inequality.

• Allocatingapercentageofprogrammebudgetsforevaluation,mainstreaminggenderthroughtheTermsofReferenceforevaluationsandappointingadequatelyskilled,experiencedandgender-sensitiveevaluationteams.

• BuildingcapacityongenderandensuringcorestaffareskilledingenderanalysistonotonlytosupportVAMandM&Ebutalsotobepartofproposalpreparation,programmedesign,reportingandcommunications.Genderspecialistsareincreasinglybeinginvolvedinproposalorreportwritingorcommunicationsworkbecauseofthegrowingdemandfromdonors.Gender

CapacityAdvisorsfromtheIASCarehelpingtofillacapacitygap,buttheongoingneedforspecialistskillsisnotadequatelyrecognisedwithinWFP.TheGenderPolicyhighlightsWFP’scommitmenttodevelopingstaffcapacityongendermainstreamingandgenderanalysis.

Resourcing gender mainstreaming • WFPshoulddeveloporganisationalunderstanding

ofthetruecostsofgendermainstreaming,includingcostsforachievinggender-relatedgoalswithinspecificprogrammesandcostsforcross-programmaticworktobuildinstitutionalcapacityandresponsivenessongender.Thereshouldbeastandardrequirementthatallprogrammebudgetsincludespecificlinesforgender-relatedcostsundereachprogrammeactivity(i.e.asacross-cuttingtheme).

• ManyofWFP’sdonorstreatgenderasapriority,buttheyareinconsistentintheextenttowhichtheyrequireWFPtomakemeaningfulprogress,atleastattheCOlevel.Certainlyitseemsthatdonorscoulddemandmoreintermsofgender-sensitivedesignandresultsreporting.However,theyneedalsotorecognisethatgendermainstreaminginvolvesstafftimeandresourcesforarangeofactivities.TheyshouldthereforeencourageWFPtoincludeatruecostinginprogrammebudgets,andbewillingtocoverthesecostsinrecognitionoftheimportantofgendermainstreamingtotheachievementofWFP’smission.

LEFT

A member of a vulnerability targeting committee in Kaolack region, Senegal, participating in a PAL activity.Si

rand

ouF

all


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Annex one Keyinquirythemes,questionsandmethodologiesforthePALactivitiesineachcountryareoutlinedbelow:

Guatemala Theme 1: Building capacity for gender analysis among WFP staff to improve programming

Questions:WhatarethemostappropriatestrategiesforbuildingcapacityforgenderanalysisamongWFPstaffresponsibleforplanning,implementingandevaluatingprojects,inordertoadvanceprogressongendermainstreaming?

Methodologies:GenderSpecialistevaluatedthecapacityofallstaffanddevelopedtermsofreference(TORs)foranexternalgenderspecialisttodevelopatrainingpackagespecificallyfortheneedsofWFPGuatemala.Anevaluationofthetrainingwillbeconducted.

Theme 2: Improving project design and M&E in nutrition programmes

Questions:Howcanagenderfocusthatgoesbeyondonlyworkingwithwomenbefactoredintothedesign,implementationandmonitoringofnutritionprojects?

Methodologies:ReviewoflogframeandbaselineM&Eindicatorsfornutritionprojecttoidentifyimprovementsthatcanbemadeinfuturenutritionprogramming.

Theme 3: Enhancing the participation of women in all WFP projects

Questions:InclusionofwomenisacorporaterequirementinWFPbuttheGuatemalaCOhasstruggledtoachievethisacrossallitsprogrammes.WhatcanbelearnedfromgoodpracticesdevelopedinP4P,aswellasfrompartnerorganisationsandparticipantsinWFPprojectsthemselves?

Methodologies:FourregionalworkshopswereheldtogathertogetherWFPstaff,partners,projectparticipantsandlocalauthorities,tojointlyidentifygoodpracticesforincreasingtheparticipationofwomeninWFPprogrammes.ThegoodpracticesarebeingdocumentedandsharedacrossWFPandwithotherrelevantstakeholders.

KenyaTheme 1: Gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation: learning from Fresh Food Voucher programme

Questions:WhataresomekeyfindingsfromthisM&Edataandhowusefulhavetheinnovationshavebeenforimprovedtrackingandunderstandingofgenderoutcomes?

Methodologies:ReviewofM&Edatabasedonqualitativefollowupstudy

Theme 2: Communicating with the field: exploring complaints and feedback mechanisms

Questions:Whatarethecommunicationneedsandpreferencesofdifferentgroupsofbeneficiaries?

Methodologies:Fieldstudieswerecarriedoutwithbeneficiariesandnon-beneficiariesintworegionsofKenyatoexploretheirinformationneedsandpreferredchannelsforaccessinginformation.

Theme 3: Embedding good practice: from pilots to programmes: the case of P4P

Questions:WhichelementsoftheP4Papproachhavebeenmostimportantforpromotinggender

equality,andhowcanthesebeadaptedforfutureprogramming?

Methodologies:P4PstaffhavereviewedprojectreportsandM&Edatatodocumentgenderimpactsandreflectonhowthesewereachieved.The‘P4Pstory’isbeingtoldusingPrezi,withtheaimoftestingthisengagingvisualformatasaknowledgesharingdeviceinWFP.

Theme 4: Deepening understanding of gender relations in Food for Assets (FFA) and Cash for Assets (CFA) programmes

Questions:HowcanCFAandFFAtakemoregender-awareapproaches,ensuringtheydonotincreasetheburdenonwomen,andthatmenaremoreengagedandsupportiveoftheprojects?

Methodologies:FieldstudiesintwopartsofKenyainvestigatedgenderdynamicsinFFAandCFAcommunitiesandprovidedanuancedaccountofgenderimpacts.TheteamalsoexploredtheuseofvideoasawaytodeepenunderstandingofgenderrelationsinWFP.


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MalawiTheme 1: Gender case study of WFP Malawi’s lean season response.

Questions:Howisdecision-makingandcontroloverresourcesorganisedwithinahouseholdanddoesWFPfood/cashassistancemakeadifference?Howdoestargetingandsensitisationimpacttheidentifieddifference,ifany?

Methodology:Acasestudyinvolvinglearningfromtheexperienceof300beneficiariesthrough42focusgroupdiscussionsintwodistricts.

Theme 2: Addressing the burden on women in school feeding

Questions:Whatapproachesareneededtorecognisewomen’sunpaidtimeandlabourontheschoolmealsprogramme,andhowcanthehardworkandhazardsbereduced?

Methodologies:informaldiscussions,learningandsharingbySchoolMealprogrammeofficers.RaisingawarenessoftheissueswithseniormanagersinWFPMalawiandwithgovernmentpartners.Thevalueofthewomen’svolunteerworkandof

encouragingmentoparticipateinmealpreparationhasbeenraisedincommunitysensitisationsandschooltrainings.

Theme 3: Identifying opportunities and constraints for involving men in nutrition programmes

Questions:Towhatextentdoassumptionsandstereotypesaboutmen’sbehaviourinformcurrentprogramming,andhowcanthisbeaddressed?Howcanmenbeinvolvedmoreeffectivelyinnutritionactivities?

Methodologies:Focusgroupdiscussionsetc

Theme 4: Protection issues in emergency operations

Questions:Whatrisksofviolencedowomenfaceinrefugeecampsandhowcanthesebereduced?

Methodologies:RevisitingtheStandardOperatingProcedurestoidentifyhowtheycanminimisetheriskofgender-basedviolenceandsexualexploitationinrefugeecamps BELOW

PAL workshop activities.

Senegal Theme 1: Analysing the gender implications of School Feeding Programmes

Questions:Towhatextentdoestheinvolvementofmen,women,boysandgirlsintheplanningandimplementationofactivitiesrelatedtoschoolfeedingresultinimprovedoutcomesandgenderequality?

Methodologies:Focusgroupdiscussionswithseparategroupsofmaleandfemalestudents,andadultmembersofschoolfeedingcommitteesinthreeschools,usingparticipatorymethodssuchastheRiverofLife.

Theme 2: Mapping benefits and constraints for men’s involvement in nutrition activities

Questions:Inwhatsituationsaremenmostlikelytotakeakeyroleinassuringthenutritionalhealthoftheirchildren?

Methodologies:Focusgroupdiscussionswithseparateandmixedgroupsofwomenandmen.Lifestoryanalysis.

Theme 3: Analysing the gender implications of the Rural Resilience Programme (R4)

Questions:Whataresomeoftheshort-termeffectsofstrategiesintermsofaddressinginequalitiesinaccesstostrategicandpracticalresources?

Methodologies:Focusgroupdiscussionsusingparticipatorymethodssuchasdrawing‘before’and‘after’picturesofwomenwhowereengagedinR4.

Theme 4: Analysing the gender implications of Cash and Voucher Processes

Questions:Howfarhastherepresentationofdiversesocialgroups(includingmenandwomen)intargetingcommitteescontributedtothesuccessofcashandvouchersinitiatives?

Methodologies:Focusgroupdiscussions,mappingexercises,questionnaires.


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Lesotho Theme 1: Lessons learned from the Positive Deviance programme

Questions:Towhatextentweremeninvolvedinthenutritionawarenessraisingactivitiesandtheimpactsoftheirinvolvement?

Methodologies:InterviewsandfocusgroupdiscussionswithbeneficiariesandWFPpartnerswhowereinvolvedinthePositiveDevianceprogramme.

Theme 2: Engaging men in school meal preparation

Questions:Whatgenderedassumptionsandstereotypesinformtheappointmentofcooksforschoolfeedingprogrammesandhowcanthesepracticesbemoregenderequitable?

Methodologies:Interviewswithdifferentstakeholders,withanalysisinformingcasestudiesforsharingwithinLesothoandWFPmorebroadly

Theme 3: Implementing gender-sensitive lessons and recommendations in the new DRR programme

Questions:WhatisneededtominimisetherisksandmaximisethebenefitsofDRRprogrammes,andensuretheypromotegenderequality?

Methodologies:Preparationofagender-sensitiveprotectionstrategyforLesotho


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Endnotes1FoodandAgricultureOrganisation(FAO)(2010)The State of Food and Agriculture 2010-2011: Women in Agriculture, Closing the Gender Gap for Development,NewYork:FAO

2Holmes,R.etal(2009)‘Gendervulnerabilities,foodpriceshocksandsocialprotectionresponses’.ODI Background Note.London:OverseasDevelopmentInstitute;Jiggins,J.(1986)‘WomenandSeasonality:CopingwithCrisisandCalamity’,IDS Bulletin17(3),Brighton:IDS

3Smith,L.;Ramakrishnan,U.,Ndiaye,A.,Haddad,L.andMartorell,R.(2003)TheImportanceofWomen’sStatusforChildNutritioninDevelopingCountries,Research Report No. 3,Washington:IFPRI

4R.Meinzen-Dicketal(2011)‘Gender:AKeyDimensionLinkingAgriculturalProgramstoImprovedNutritionandHealth’,Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health 2020 Conference Brief 9,Washington:IFPRI;IDS(2012)FoodSecurityInsightsno.82‘Innovativeapproachestogenderandfoodsecurity’,Brighton:IDS

5Genderrefersheretosociallyconstructedroles,behaviours,attributes,aptitudesandrelativepowerassociatedwithbeingfemaleormale(Esplen,E.(2009)GenderandCare,BRIDGECutting Edge Overview Report,Brighton:IDS.).AccordingtotheWFP,genderequalityreflectstheequalityofmenandwomenunderthelaw,anequalsharingofpower,equalityofopportunities,includingequalityinaccesstohumanassets(health,education,etc.)andotherproductiveassets(land,information,financialresources),equalrewardsforworkofequalvalue,equalityofvoiceincludingpoliticalrepresentation.

6WFP(2002)GenderPolicy(2002–2007):EnhancedCommitmentstoWomen,toEnsureFoodSecurity,Executive Board Third Regular Session,21-25October,Rome:WFP

7Inoneexample,aformerCountryOfficeDirectordescribedhownutritiontrainingwasbeinggivenonlytowomeninBangladesh,ontheassumptionthatwomenwereresponsibleforpurchasingfood.Infact,inthatparticularculturalcontext,mendothefoodshopping,becauseofcustomaryconstraintsonwomen’smobility.

8Fivebackgroundpaperswereprepared:Engagingmenandboysineffectivehungerresponses;Identifyingeffectivemodalitiesforwomenfarmers’groups;Addressingwomen’sunpaidcare-work;Exploringthepotentialrisksandbenefitsofmakingwomenfoodentitlementholders;Addressingtheneedsandconcernsofyoungwomenandmen.

9Thesecountriesprovidea‘window’onthediversecontextswhereWFPworks,butnotthefullpicture.Assuch,wewouldaimtoincludecountriesfromAsiaandtheMiddleEastduringasecondphaseoftheprogramme.

10AthirdcountryvisitwascarriedouttoSenegal,toprovideadditionalhands-onsupport.

11WFP(2013),Protection in Practice: Food Assistance with Safety and Dignity,Rome:WFP

12SeeforexampleBRIDGE(forthcoming2014)GenderandFoodSecurity,BRIDGE Cutting Edge Pack,Brighton:IDS;FAO(2007),Gender-basedviolenceandlivelihoodsinterventions:focusonpopulationsofhumanitarianconcerninthecontextofHIV,Guidance Note,Rome:FAO

13WFP(2011)Enhancing prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence in the context of food assistance in displacement settings,Rome:WFP

14Thereisavastliteratureontheextentofunpaidcarework,andthegendereddivisionsoflabourindifferentcountrycontexts.Timeusestudies–surveysmeasuringhowmuchtimemen,womenandchildrenspendondifferentdailytasks–consistentlyprovethatwomena)workmorehoursthanmenonb)unremuneratedworkonfamilybusinessesandonc)unpaidcarework,onwhichmentypicallyspendafractionofthehoursspentbywomen.Fordatafromcountriesaroundtheworld,seeBudlender,D.(2010)What do Time Use Surveys Tell us about Unpaid Care Work,Geneva:UNRISDandEsplen,E.(2009)GenderandCare,BRIDGE Cutting Edge Report,Brighton:IDS

15The‘recognise,reduce,redistribute’formulaforaddressinggenderinequalitiesarisingfromwomen’sunpaidcareworkwasfirstdefinedbyDianeElsonataUNDPworkshop.

16Esplen,E.(2006)EngagingMeninGenderEquality:PositiveStrategiesandApproaches,OverviewandAnnotatedBibliography,BRIDGE Bibliography No. 15,Brighton:IDS

17Cornwall,A.(2000)‘MissingMen?ReflectionsonMen,MasculinitiesandGenderinGAD’,IDS Bulletin31.2,Brighton:IDS

18Studieshaveshownthatfatherswhoarepositivelyengagedinthelivesoftheirchildrenarelesslikelytobedepressed,tocommitsuicide,ortobeviolenttowardstheirwives.Theyaremorelikelytobeinvolvedincommunitywork,tobesupportiveoftheirpartners,andtobeinvolvedinschoolactivities(seeMorrell,R.(2003)‘Youth,Fathersand


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MasculinityinSouthAfricaToday’,Agenda,SpecialFocusonGender,CultureandRights).http://www.xyonline.net/sites/default/files/Morrell,%20Youth,%20Fathers.pdf19Barker,G.,Ricardo,C.andNascimento,M.(2007)Engaging Men and Boys in Changing Gender-based Equity in Health,Geneva:WHOandPromundo20WFPGenderPolicy,2009:page7.21SUNisauniqueMovementfoundedontheprinciplethatallpeoplehavearighttofoodandgoodnutrition.Itunitespeople—fromgovernments,civilsociety,theUnitedNations,donors,businessesandresearchers—inacollectiveefforttoimprovenutrition.WithintheSUNMovement,nationalleadersareprioritisingeffortstoaddressmalnutrition.Countriesarestrivingtoputtherightpoliciesinplace,collaboratingwithpartnerstoimplementprogrammeswithsharednutritiongoals,andmobilisingresourcestoeffectivelyscaleupnutrition,withacorefocusonempoweringwomen(http://scalingupnutrition.org/about).22Kabeer,N.(1999)Resources,Agency,Achievement:ReflectionsontheMeasurementofWomen’sEmpowerment,inDevelopmentandChange,Vol.30,UK:Wiley;Batliwala,S.andDhanraj,D.(2004)GenderMythsthatInstrumentaliseWomen:AViewfromtheIndianFrontline,In IDS Bulletin,Vol.34,Issue4,Brighton:IDS23SeeCornwall,A.,Harrison,E.andWhitehead,A.GenderMythsandFeministFables:theStruggleforInterpretivePowerinGenderandDevelopment,InDevelopment and Change, Vol. 38,Issue1,TheHague:InternationalInstituteofSocialStudies.24Baden,S.(2013)Women’sCollectiveAction:UnlockingthePotentialofAgriculturalMarkets,Oxfam Research Reports,OxfamInternational25C.Levy.(1996)‘TheProcessofInstitutionalisingGenderinPolicyandPlanning:thewebofinstitutionalisation’,DPU Working Paper No 74,London:DevelopmentPlanningUnit,UniversityCollegeLondon26Berg,M.,Mattinen,H.andPattugalan,G.(2013)Examining protection and gender in cash and voucher transfers, Case Studies of the WFP and the Office of the United Nations high Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),Rome:WFPandUNHCR27ThiswasanoutcomeoftheKenyaCO’sPALonCashandFoodforAssetsprojects,asreportedinsection3.1.

http://www.xyonline.net/sites/default/files/Morrell,%20Youth,%20Fathers.pdf

http://www.xyonline.net/sites/default/files/Morrell,%20Youth,%20Fathers.pdf

http://scalingupnutrition.org/about


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The findings and recommendations for this report are drawn largely from Participatory Action Learning activities conducted between September 2013 and September 2014 by WFP country staff, with support from IDS.


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Documents

INNOVATIONS FROM THE FIELD: GENDER MAINSTREAMING FROM THE GROUND UP FOR THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME Synthesis report Innovations from the Field Gender mainstreaming from the ground up