Capacity building for gender mainstreaming in ECA Divisions : final mission report

Abstract

This report is the synthesis of results and recommendations of a participatory needs assessment exercise undertaken by Ms Nalini Burn and Ms Gladys Mutukwa between 15 April to 15 June 1999.as well as the validation workshop held in January 26-27 2000. Three guiding principles have shaped the consultants' ongoing support of institutional development for gender mainstreaming at ECA: It has to be iterative, participatory and results- oriented. The report is meant to be an advocacy, planning, capacity building, decision-making and monitoring tool. It is also meant to foster consensus-building around the issue of gender mainstreaming and its implications for ECA's effective delivery of its package of services to the member states. The concluding chapter of part 3 distils the agreement reached during the validation workshop, on the results that need to be achieved in gender mainstreaming, on the means to achieve this, in terms of capacity building, in terms of institutional norms, procedures and guidelines and in terms of the resources required. Overall, it is crucial to work towards professional commitment to, broad ownership of and responsibility for the gender mainstreaming strategy as part of a medium and long term process .of change management.