ACTIVITY REPORT JAN-APRIL 2007

EASSI has not had a very busy first quarter of the year. However, a few of the activities have already started bearing significant impact on gender equality.

AREA 1

Monitoring Commitments to the Beijing Platforms for Action

Activity:                                    Monitoring and Evaluation Training Workshop

Venue:                       Asmara, Eritrea 26-27 February 2007.

No. of participants:               15.

Aim:                                         To provide an overview of EASSI gender monitoring and evaluation

Objectives:  

Define monitoring and evaluation

Recognize the role of gender monitoring and evaluation in advocating for women’s rights

State indicators in monitoring evaluation

Expectations:

To learn more about monitoring and evaluation and effectively put it into practice

The fears were not to be able to grasp the concepts in the short time available

Methodology:

Q and A

Lecture method on EASSI

Group work

Issues Raised:

Advocacy Issues

To have paternity leave

To lobby for a ministry of gender in Eritrea

To include showers in girls toilet in every school

Some of the questions from participants were:-

Most of the indicators are gender blind. How we formulate gender sensitive Indicators?

How is the national action plan for women of each country put into practice?

If we don’t have a good work plan is it possible to monitor the output?

When the budget is neutral how can we monitor and find out where men women benefit?

Recommendations:

NUEW to provide another opportunity for participants to familiarize them with concepts such as MDGs, BPFA, CEDAW etc Critical Areas of concern, country report and other related concepts

Add questions on the Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC)

Add questions on the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Add a question on the quality of education

In the next workshop there should be a representative from the Justice/environment and labour Ministry.

AREA 2

Financing gender equality work, progress at all levels.

Commonwealth Women’s Network (CWN)

CWN has created awareness about the Partners Forum and the 8WAMM among partners and members of the civil society both nationally and internationally. This has been possible through the media especially print media by publishing information about the CWN and 8WAMM/partners Forum in the 2 main local news papers namely the Monitor Publications and New Vision.  Other publicity materials that have been produced and distributed include brochures and fliers.  The CWN also attended a Television talk show organised by the MGLSD on Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC).

A website for CWN has been established and can be accessed at www.cwn-network.org. In addition to sending out information by e-mail, the website has helped us to reach out to people outside Uganda.

Enlisting Government involvement and support

The CWN has been working closely with the MGLSD on the preparations for the 8WAMM and the Parters Forum. The network is a member of the National Organising Committee (NOC) for the 8WAMM

Fundraising efforts by CWN

The CWN Secretariat has been able to mobilise resources from The Commonwealth Foundation (GBP 15,000), Action Aid Uganda International (Ug 7.6m = US $ 4,470 for 2006 and commitment of Ug. Shs. 7.5m [US $ 4,400] for 2007) and African Women Development Fund (US $ 5,000). These funds have gone in some way in offsetting some of the requirements on the budget such as establishment of the Secretariat, publicity and planning meetings. However, the need for more funds still remains. The CWN made a presentation to the donor round table – with the Donor Coordination Group on Gender in Uganda at the European Union Offices. Other donors contacted included The National Democratic Institute (NDI), Ms-Uganda, Argent Action-Africa and corporate bodies including The Monitor publications, Uganda Telecom Ltd, Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) and DFCU Bank.

AREA 4

WOMEN IN POWER AND DECISION MAKING

Participation in Women’s Day activities.

This year’s Women’s Day Theme. Ending Impunity for Violence against Women

Opportunities for EASSI:

Breakfast meeting on a theme of interest. (i.e. Post Women’s day Celebrations: What Next for the women’s movement in Uganda?)

Focal points to send us information regarding their women’s day celebrations; then post it on our website and include it the Jan to June initiatives

rite a proposal for next years women’s day celebration

That we engage in the United Nations Day (UN day) since EASSI is affiliated to the UN’s ECOSOC Division

Every country should reflect upon:-

What are the key/significant milestones in the process of attaining women’s empowerment in  the country?

What are the specific Government efforts to empower women?  a) In the Education Sector b) Health Sector c) Agricultural Sector d) Trade and Industry e) Microfinance f) Roads and Transport g) Water and Sanitation h) Media and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Sector i) Environment etc

What challenges have been encountered in promoting women’s empowerment in your country?

What is the way forward in Promoting Women’s Empowerment in your country?

## The Internship Programme: The internship programme started in April with four intelligent and highly motivated interns from Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda respectively.

Navatiti Nandujja is from Uganda and her expectations are:-

To participate in various activities and for a where women issues are discussed and I will get the opportunity to articulate certain concerns that l observed during my advocacy activities to improve certain women’s status in life. If there is any opportunity to conduct sensitization for grass root women of certain legal topics of their interest for example the most preferred topic by some women is how do l make my will, what is my status in law regarding my marriage status? (Sharing information and skills with various stake holders in the Women’s Movement).

To take part in the lobby processes of parliament, government and other stake holder to account to the women constituency on different issues that affect them.

To identify How women can strengthen the Women’s Movement picking a leaf from other countries e.g. Kenya that adopted the Sexual Offences Bill.

Ben-Bella Marion is from Rwanda

Exepctations:-

To identify practical ways of resolving the post-conflict issues amongst girls and women who suffered in the Rwandese Genocide of 1994.

Frediane Ndikumana is from Burundi

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the Public University of Burundi. Prior to joining EASSI, she was working at Novotel Hotel as a receptionist from June19th2006.

Expectations:-

to acquire more knowledge in women issues especially in gender equality, to gain skills in leadership and in research field

Eldad Girma from Ethiopia is also the Intern Coordinator.

She is an economist and has previous work experience from World Vision, Compassion International on community development programmes. She also holds a Masters degree in Education, Economic Policy Analysis and Planning from Nairobi University, Kenya.

Other Activities:

EASSI held BODs meeting in February at the KWPC. The meeting was for two days and at least 10 members attended where the work plan and budget for 2007 were approved with a few amendments to make.

The Financial Management Assessment exercise: EASSI had a financial management assessment which was conducted by ACLAIM and CDRN both consulting firms contracted by one of our Core donors CORDAID. The exercise was for five days fully engaging and Ms Jane Ocaya-Irama at that time represented the Board. The main objective of this assessment was to enable enhanced performance and impact in society, enable enhancement of sustainability of EASSI, and improve accountability in all spheres.

Recruitment of New Programmes staff:

The recruitment process for the two vacant program position started in March and interviews were held at EASSi secretariat. Two new staff are already on board as follows:

Ma Jane Ocaya-Irama ( Programmes Manager)

Ms Beverley Nambozo- Programme Officer Communication and Networking

The Finance and Administration Department also had a change in staffing. Ms Harriet Akot former Secretary was promoted to become the Administrative Assistant. A new secretary known as Ms Natabona Okwenje was recruited in March. All is going on well in the department the Audit exercise for 2006 was completed in February and the reports were disseminated to all key stakeholders.

COMMONWEALTH CAUCUS IN THE WINGS OF 51ST CSW IN NEWYORK BY THE  COMMONWEALTH WOMEN’S NETWORK – PART OF PREPARATIONS FOR PARTNERS FORUM

Theme:

“The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child”

Objective

Continue process of piggybacking on international events to gather input into suggested themes, possible speakers and participants for Partners Forum from CSO women’s representatives from CW countries attending the CSW in New York [Re: West Africa Colloquium in Ghana, World Social Forum in Kenya]

Take opportunity of attendance of women’s rights CSOS at 51stSession of CSW to publicize 8WAMM, Partners Forum as well as the Commonwealth Women’s Network

Build networks with representatives at CSW for involvement in future activities of the CWN beyond the WAMM/Partners Forum events. 

Expected Results/Outcomes

Global perspectives on financing for gender equality from internationally savvy policy-oriented women’s rights activists infused into Partners Forum themes. [Representatives of NGOs that attend CSW have experience in engaging international and national level policy processes, therefore will be plus for the Partners Forum]

More CSOs and possibly bilateral and other donors are aware of and show interest in the WAMM/Partners Forum process and their expected results. [African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has expressed an interest to provide support for the Partners Forum following activity at WSF]

Increased network base of the Commonwealth Women’s Network

Outputs

A list of potential resource persons for the Partners Forum as well as other work/assignments that CWN has outlined for its own activities after the Partners Forum.

Revised themes for Partners Forum that reflect global consensus

A mailing list of NGOs to add to the CWN listserve

Activity

A Commonwealth Caucus at the UN CSW Session. [NOTE: It is the practice that NGOs organize meetings during the CSW Session]

Date for Activity

28th February or 1st March

Content of Caucus

What does civil society want out of the 8WAMM?

What do they want to tell the Ministers?

What issues will we be putting on the table?

What key message(s) do we want to put across?

How do we intend to prepare for this process? What strategies will we be using?

How do we involve other stakeholders?

Process before the Caucus

Messages to be sent out immediately to regions and to networks that we will be holding a Commonwealth Caucus and to find out who will be present at the CSW.

A speaker from each commonwealth region will be identified to speak at the Caucus on activities carried out in the region since 7WAMM, and also propose some issues from the region that we can take to 8WAMM 

A few of the outcomes can be drawn from h e website bekow:-http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/51sess.htm#outcomes

 Report on Uganda Land Alliance –monitoring progress workshop held on 31st May 2007 at Forest Cottages Bukoto

About the lessons, challenges and Experiences from the Various Programmes Carried out

Expectations                                                                           

Outcome of engendering the National Land Policy

Ways gender challenges concerning land can be overcome

Networking

Strengthening linkages

To get a glimpse of what the 3rd draft of the land policy is about

Follow up on the Eastern and Central Land Policies

Know more about Uganda Land Alliance’s work

ULA is a member of the Uganda National working group and is working hand in hand with the Ministry. They are advocates for fair land laws and policies to address land rights of poor men, women, disadvantaged, vulnerable groups and individuals in Uganda.

ULA implementation strategies

Research and documentation

Advocacy and lobbying

Networking and information sharing

Capacity building

Making a follow on the issues how they are being implemented by Government and not remaining on paper.

Achievements:

Over 660 reached in 6 target districts

Aware of land law and roles of local councils and district tribunals.

4500 land disputes have been handled

About 50% women related

Information to reduce on ignorance has been disseminated-both nationally and at community level

IEC have been produced for training

Communities have been reached through out

LRC (land rights center) CHALLENGES

lack of lawyers for legal redress

Slow implementation of land act and amendments

Lack of National policy

Operational costs increasingly high

Possible solutions:

Benet case-grp of people in Kapchorwa being displaced by Govt. ULA intervened and now the Benet people have repossessed the land-however Govt. is yet to put it into proper implementation.

Programmes:

Research

Documentation-ULA working as a focal point  well stocked resource centre , there is also a catalogue to guide access to internal acquisition of books

Website-Developed and complimented with an internal network to increase effective communication

Advocacy and Lobbying-at 2 levels-both national and local Govt. i.e. lobbied for the development Of Land Policy, lobbied for customary land and the land law that favours the poor

Consultation of the National Land Policy are still going on-however the Ministry lacks funds explaining the slow process

Current progress:

ULA is going to implement its issues in Buganda

Consulting people from different regions about issues that can possibly be included in the NLP –so far Western and eastern regions have been covered

In central region; they are about to meet with the Lukiiko

East African land policy is progressing however Uganda is rather slow-possibly if ULA members read on Kenya and Tanzania’s policies, there would be much more progress

Partners:

Oxfam

DFID

Action Aid  (Uganda)

Challenges:

Lack of sufficient funding with increasing activity; being 99.5 % donor funded

There is still need to go into more districts to avoid acting upon ignorance at grassroots level where politicians are manipulating the poor into selling off their land

ULA usually receives women during the community sensitization workshops; but they regularly follow up on the community mobilisation

Reactions-Issues raised

Services are being offered on payment and this causes a hindrance in progress because many people approached are poor

World Environment Day preparations are taking part-they will take place in Kasese mid-June 2007

ULA has said it is finding ways of charging just a small fee from the beneficiaries; It will just be a small percentage so that land concerns are properly rectified

VEDCO hosted people at the Uganda Land Coalition an they claim that they do not charge fees from clients; they will have to further look into it

ULA should not wait for Govt. to finish proceedings but continue to lobby

The reason why Buganda central region is raising many concerns over the land act could be because eastern and Western regions were worked upon first and therefore the Buganda region now had time to analyse and react with anger

ULA is going to attend a meeting with the Lukiiko and govt to offers the pending and concerns esp over the 9,000 sq metres about to be given away

How does ULA ensure that even vulnerable grps benefit from their activities?

ULA has identified practical ways of  getting representatives from within the communities esp after lunch and in the evenings

It is important to build the capacities of the different partner members of ULA so that they also assist in the activities of promoting land rights. ULA is actually in the process of building the capacity of people at the Land Rights Centers and after the next strategic plan, they shall build capacities of  partner members

It is important to involve people in the decision-making and finding process while ULA works on strategic plans especially people at LC 3 level and above

ULA maintains a good working relationship with people where they rarely encounter problems with funds-they make a clear stand from the beginning about their financial position and stress their goal to monitor land rights progress

One of the biggest challenges CSOs face is insufficient funding and yet sometimes this is caused from the organisations themselves i.e. from booking workshops in expensive hotels etc…

 ULA should have invited people from the working bodies to participate in the workshop e.g. government, local councils, community leaders

There is a poor reading culture in Uganda-sharing best practices is another good way of sending out information, use of E-discussions are also useful; the use of partners like Bella-Net, use of blogging and other more contemporary discussion forums. There are also telecentres that can be made use of at community levels

GROUP DISCUSSIONS

How best can ULA improve on its work basing on the presentation?

What advice can you give to ULA for it to improve on strengthening its partnership?

Advice on ways /strategies of how ULA can advise the NLP working grp to handle the consultations in the remaining regions.

Strategies on advising NLP working grp to handle consultations in the remaining regions:

ULA can work on a better communication strategy that is workable i.e. use of radio which is accessible, affordable, manageable and audience driven

ULA can work out a system where the target decision makers possibly in the Govt, Ministry, lobby visits and consultations

They should also share these findings with relevant people

How ULA can improve on its work:-

Use of theatre where role models are used to depict important information

Use of E-communiques like Uganda Debt Network

Make use of telecentres

Religious leaders and Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) should mobilize their followers into following correct land policies and to sensitize them

Traditional leaders should also mobilize people within their own communities

There should be  gender sensitive approaches right from the beginning instead of implementing practices half way and then including women

Need for participatory skills

Share experiences from other countries

Build capacities of members at the grassroots

Advice to ULA to strengthen its partnership:-

Involve other members in lobbying and advocacy so that ULA remains as the Coordinator

ULA should fundraise and permit partners to implement the activities

A few roles like research and documentation should be taken up by member organizations

Intensive capacity building for the members

Select the communication officers as part of the board

Involve partner organizations from the very beginning so that they to share in the overall goal, mission and objectives and as a result cover more activity and geographical area

Conclusion from the sponsor-UWONET

Appreciation towards the Govt. that sponsored the workshop. In reaction to the previous issue of irresponsible use of funds, the UWONET representative mentioned that many thematic forums that have been discussed have been held within offices, which cuts on cost. This workshop is part of a series of many thematic forums which UWONET is working on to give a final presentation under Gender. The other thematic forums shall be exchange visits, internet forum and documentation; all of which shall be presented to the public at a later stage.

TRAINING WORKSHOP PROGRAMME FOR GENDER RESPONSIVE MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF POLICIES FOR FOCAL POINTS AND EASSI MEMBERS IN UGANDA

5th – 6th July 2007

Venue: MAKERERE UNIVERSITY, DEPRTMENT OF

GENDER AND WOMEN STUDIES CONFERENCE

ROOM.

DRAFT REPORT

Organised by: UWONET

Supported by: EASSI

BACKGROUND

This was a two days workshop organised by the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) for Focal Points and EASSI members in Uganda at Makerere University, Department of Gender and Women Studies conference Room.

The Purpose of the workshop was to:

Define monitoring and Evaluation

Recognise the role of M&E in advocating for women’s rights

State indicators in M&E

Outline important issues to consider in M&E

Outline features of a gender responsive M&E system

Input in the EASSI monitoring tool that will be used to generate the necessary information on government commitments made to women at the Beijing Conference in 1995 and beyond.

Methods used included discussions, brainstorming and lecture methods.

WORKSHOP/TRAINING

OFFICIAL OPENING- By Ms. Marren Akatsa Bukachi

The workshop was officially opened by, the Executive Director of EASSI, Ms Marren Akatsa Bukachi. In her opening remarks, she thanked UWONET for mobilising the members, welcomed participants and thanked them for responding to the invitation. She pointed out that it was a blessing to have participants leaders,  those who were; objective, polite, kind, gender sensitive, non –partisan, Feminists & activists, woman of all seasons, loveable, approachable, committed humorous, Pan African and those who believe in democratic values. She emphasised that these virtues would greatly contribute to the success of the workshop.

She pointed out that as a women’s movement we operate in a hostile environment where few governments in the sub-region have mobilised the political will to comprehensively carry out the commitments made to the women at the Beijing Conference in 1995.

She briefed participants about EASSI having been formed in 1996 after the 4th World conference held in Beijing China in 1995.  At the conference world governments, multinational and bilateral agencies signed into and made commitments to implement the Platform for Action emanating from the Beijing Conference. EASSI was therefore formed to monitor government implementation of these commitments in the Eastern African Sub region. EASSI works with focal points (which are networks) in 8 countries (i.e. Somalia, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Eritria, Tanzania and Ethiopia) and for Uganda its UWONET.

About what EASSI has done to monitor what government has done?

Since the Beijing Conference in 1995 EASSI’s has been monitoring government efforts after every 5 years. She cited the report five and ten years after Beijing, dubbed Beijing +5 and Beijing +10 respectively.

The monitoring reveals that governments worldwide have adopted a piecemeal and incremental approach to implementation that cannot achieve the economic, social and political transformation underlying the promises and vision of Beijing.

The above is loud and clear that, women of the world do not need any more promises but want action, i.e. resources and governments to protect and advance women’s human rights.

She went further to say that it is for this reason that EASSI finds it necessary to design a monitoring tool that will generate information to be used for advocacy to galvanise governments to keep to their commitments made to women in 1995 and beyond, press for further commitments, and use the information as a benchmark against which women can assess future progresss and see how the countries in the sub region compare against each other and around the globe.

Brief about the M&E tool

At the end of each year, EASSI will use the findings to generate status reports that will double as advocacy benchmarks. The BPFAs are based on the twelve critical areas of concern and the M&E tool is designed in such a way that EASSI can gain information on all the areas without the tool becoming unwieldy and unusable.

The challenge has been in the design so as to collect relevant information in a format that can be easily and comprehensively analysed and used to generate credible reports.

It is for this reason that EASSI finds it necessary to design a monitoring tool that will generate information to be used for advocacy to galvanise governments to keep to their commitments made to women in 1995 and beyond, press for further commitments, and use the information as

Why the need for the M&E Tool?

Various assessments by EASSI and other agencies show that there has been little progress made in achieving development for women based on the BPFAs. Instead levels of poverty among women has increased, women are more marginalised and   are least represented in decision making processes, their education levels remain low, maternal mortality still high and are the most affected and infected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Pre-test of the tool

That the tool had been pre tested in 6 countries (Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Somalia and Eritrea) except Rwanda and Burundi. and results of the pre- test revealed that:

People interviewed and who included government officials were not aware of government commitments. There is need therefore to intensify advocacy.

Women least represented in politics

Most affected by HIV/AIDS

Education

Objectives of the M&E Tool

To enable EASSI generate credible information on progress made by governments in the sub region in implementing the PFAs that will be analysed and reproduced in the form of annual status reports.

Monitoring regimes in the plan:

The twelve critical areas of concern of the Beijing platforms for action

The roles of government in implementation

Resources (human resource) and funds used

Budgetary resources

Protocols, treaties that have been signed, ratified, implemented

Policies, legislation, Programs, budgets, researches and initiatives in favour of

the implementation

The workshop was then declared open

EASSI’S NATIONAL FOCAL POINT IN UGANDA UGANDA WOMEN’S NETWORK (UWONET) By Coordinator UWONET, Dr Daisy Namono

She thanked Ms. Marren for the brief up date and for organising the training.

In her brief she pointed out that UWONET is a membership organisation whose focus is advocating for women concerns which stem from poverty.

She went further to say in advocacy we make our voices heard and promises are then made. She emphasised the need to follow up these legally binding commitments made to women in laws and protocols.

This training is useful as a tool for collecting data for use in advocacy, If  women’s

movement or organisations is to continue being relevant, we must begin carrying on fact based campaigns.

She urged participants to share this information with colleagues back in their organisations so that they are able to use this monitoring tool.

Brief about the Monitoring tool

Participants were informed that a Consultant; would be engaged to follow up the process and she will be visiting ministries tracking what has been done regarding the protocols and she would require their cooperation.

PRESENTATIONS

By Ms. Josephine Watuulo

The following were participants’ expectations:-

To learn more about the Beijing Platform and how to make government accountable

Gain skills in monitoring and evaluation.

Acquire a Certificate at the end of the training.

Share information regarding the level of achievements of Beijing Platform Action.

Learn and share practical experience of Monitoring and evaluation

Integrate issues that come from WAMM into this M&E training.

Learn different tools of M&E

Link the training to government policy environment and other commitments on gender.

Gender Responsive Monitoring and Evaluation

The Facilitator gave a brief about the origin of EASSI, its mission and goal, its role in monitoring and evaluation, the role of EASSI’s Focal Points and members in the monitoring process and the role of EASSI’s Monitoring Tool

About EASSI

Facilitator informed participants that EASSI’s origin is linked to the 1995 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing. Founded in 1996 by women and men of the Eastern Africa sub-region as a mechanism for following up commitments made by governments to women in Beijing Conference.

EASSI’s Mission - to facilitate follow-up of the Beijing Platform for Action in order to enhance the advancement of women and social justice

EASSI’s Goal - To catalyze national, regional and international processes on critical areas of concern in order to make concrete and meaningful changes for women.

Why should EASSI monitor governments’ implementation of BPFA’s?

So as to report on the progress made in promoting gender equality of women.in the sub region using the framework of the Platforms for Action, Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) and Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The role of EASSI’s Focal Points and Members in the monitoring process

EASSI facilitates monitoring the implementation of commitments to the Platforms for action and other related instruments. Its Focal Points and members then use the information generated for advocacy at national level.

Role of EASSI’s Monitoring Tool – is to generate data for annual country status reports.

Facilitator pointed out that it was against this background that this training was organised to equip EASSI’s Focal Points and Members with skills they need in the monitoring process

CONCEPTS ON MOMITORING AND EVALUATION

What is monitoring?

A continuous or periodic review of programme/project implementation.

Whereby you assess delivery, identify difficulties, problem areas are sascertained and remedial action (s) recommended.

What is the purpose of monitoring?

To ensure efficient and effective programme/project implementation.

Why is EASSI monitoring?

To check on how government policies are transformed into action and to keep governments (accountable.

What is Gender Responsive Monitoring?

It was defined as a deliberate effort to review progress against planned activities and targets designed to redress gender inequality. while paying particular attention to Specific outputs and targets for women and/or men.

A Gender responsive work plan should provide:

Specific outputs and targets for women and/or men  and outputs should be in line with sequential activities that relate to each immediate objective.

Evaluation is a key tool for:

Identification of gaps that can be used for advocacy.

Improving the preparation of new programmes and projects; and

Providing inputs into broader programme or thematic areas/evaluations.

Gender Responsive Evaluation

Is an exercise done to ensure that the needs, priorities and constraints of both women and men are addressed.

Evaluation assesses the effects and impact of programme/project performance, focusing on the gender analysis of the progress made towards the achievement of the programme/project’s objectives.

Gender Responsive Evaluation

The systematic collection of information about the activities, characteristics, and outcomes of programs to make judgments about the program, improve program effectiveness, and/or inform decisions about future program development to address the needs , priorities and constraints of both women and men .

Gender Responsive Evaluation

Facilitator pointed out that this kind of evaluation is concerned with effectiveness equally to women and men, efficiency – benefiting both women/men, and relevance – to both women and men.

While dealing with unanticipated effects along the way before the progrmme implementation by using alternative strategies. It is also concerned with sustainability

Modes of Monitoring and Evaluation

Continuous Data Collection by Focal Points and members

Data  will be collected on governments’ implementation of policies and programs related to the 12 critical areas of concern, the MDG’s, CEDAW and other regional and international instruments pertaining to women’s rights on an annual basis.

Data Collection by the Consultant

The Consultant will collect data using the 12 questionnaires provided by EASSI.

A question was paused: What is the link with reviewing Government Progress?

Government Progress Review should answer the following;

 Is government availing funds to implement the policies enacted?

Is government carrying out activities as planned in the National Action Plan?

Are outputs being delivered as planned/and or expected?

What changes have taken place, particularly, Are women’s and/or gender interventions still on track?

What problems or difficulties have been encountered in implementing the activities in general, and gender responsive interventions in particular?

What remedial actions have been taken or are planned?

Indicators in Gender Responsive M & E

An indicator is an observable or measurable phenomenon that can be analyzed for the purpose of establishing the baseline information and programme change and its effects on women and men.

Facilitator went further to explain that we look at indicator for the following reasons:

As we collect data is there change?

To what extent

Sometimes we look at trends e. school drop out rate, has it increased or reduced?

This helps Uganda to compare its progress with other countries we are implementing with the programme with.

EASSI continuously collects information after every 5 years on the progress made since the Beijing Conference in 1995.

TYPES OF INDICATORS

Input indicators e.g loans to women, engagement of women in the peace process, affirmative action

Process indicators – e.g. establishment of Gender department in MGLSD, Beijing Platfrom for Action

Output indicators – are the end results e.g women graduating from school, Women in Parliament

Impact indicators.- is the change that has been made e.g reduction in literacy levels increased employment opportunities for women

It was pointed out that EASSI uses milestones to measure impact i.e Beijing + 5 B+10 etc

Change in perceptions and laws passed

Why does EASSI want to evaluate?

We want governments to keep their commitments to women in order to promote equitable development.

Important Issues to note in M & E

It takes place at all levels

Carry out on-spot checks

Have a monitoring checklist for each implementation period according to work plan

Being positive about the exercise.

Key Monitoring functions

To asses impact on intended beneficiaries

For quality control

Follow up – is an integral part of evaluation

Get an external person.

Evaluate mid way and end of the project (final evaluation) to see if objectives have been achieved.

Pointed out that monitoring and evaluation complement each other.

Questions

What are the outcomes of EASSI’s M&E over the last 10 years?

When EASSI goes to monitor does she use its indicator or government indicator?

Potential Sources of Information

Government Ministries concerned with the critical areas of concern for women e.g. Ministry of Gender and Ministry of Finance

Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s)

Anti corruption offices

Universities

Libraries

Internet, etc

Potential challenges in Data collection on government implementation of women’s rights

Lack of information

Unwillingness to provide information

Potential ways in mitigating the challenges

Use of a consultant

Formally seeking for interviews

Making prior arrangements for interviews

Expectation of EASSI on the role of Focal Points and Members in data Collection

Receive questionnaires

Engage a consultant

Prepare a report from the data collected

What to expect from EASSI

EASSI will synthesize the report and identify issues for advocacy.

EASSI will also provide training in advocacy and monitoring and evaluation.

Conclusion

She concluded by calling for collective effort in the bid to generate useful information about governments’ implementation of policies and programs. This will go a long way in raising issues for advocacy to address the needs, priorities and constraints of women in the Eastern African Sub-region.

DAY 2

RECAP

This was done in form of brain storming; highlighting objectives, mentioning what was covered during presentations such as; definition of M&E, components of gender Responsive work plan, modes and types of M&E indicators, Sources of Information for monitoring and evaluating governments efforts, challenges in Data collection on government implementation of women’s rights and Potential ways in mitigating the challenges

Also reviewed was the expectation of EASSI on the role of Focal Points and members in data Collection and what to expect from EASSI.

Other issues  stressed included 

The relevance of a work plan and strategic plans in organisations. Once work plans are in place, the burden of implementation to one or two people.

Annual plans which spell out activities, time frame, expected results, indicators, responsible persons and means of verification, are based on Strategic plans.

Basing on a work plan a budget is prepared and a report written during the time of implementation.

Having a  3-5 years strategic plan helps spell out programme areas, and activities of the year. The logical framework spells out activity, indicators, responsible persons and means of verification. This is also a good monitoring tool.

GROUP PRESENTATIONS

GROUP WORK

To discuss EASSI’S M&E TOOLS, participants were divided  groups discuss questionnaires.

The purpose of the group discussions were for:-

(Using the questionnaire provided;)

Participants to propose indicators for monitoring progress

Suggest how the questionnaires should be improved in order to  generate

the necessary information?

Propose ways of structuring the questionnaire in order to obtain the right  information.

The out come of the discussions are in the  appendix.

WAY FORWARD

The following suggestions were made:

Input suggestions by participants into the tool (EASSI)

Identify specific target

Share the tool with participants after including suggestions

Consultant to use the tool for data collection

EASSI to share information with participants on e-mails given.

Cooperate with Consultant during data collection exercise.

EVALUATION

The outcome of the evaluation exercise was as follows;  

What worked well?

Attention of participants

Participations and involvement was good

Good time management

Food was good

Spacious room

Brilliant ideas

Quite environment

Content was covered in time

Display of organisational materials was good

Facilitators competent, confident, precise and flexible.

Facilitator dealt with participants’ fears and linked them to the objectives.

Mutual respect

What didn’t work well? 

Identification of participants (intruder).

Invitation was at short notice.

Late start disorganised the programme and this resulted into not finishing on time.

Last part on reviewing tools was complicated (given that people were already tired.

Some participants did not get invitation letters

CLOSING REMARKS

The Executive Director NAWOU Mrs. Peace Kyamureku thanked the EASSI/UWONET for getting all many participants together.

She emphasised that although M& E is very important it is lacking in our organisations leading to a number of weaknesses.

She equated monitoring to digging, where you look back at what has been done compared to what was set to be done.

She was happy that the facilitator had talked about Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as this would be used to monitor what policies and laws are in place  and are in place since the Beijing Platform of Action.

Monitoring helps us to report to government what needs to be done report and helps us to identify such as the DRB that are still not in place .

As women organisations we do a lot, and we monitor to hold government accountable. Are we building up on what our findings were last year?

She mentioned other M & Es frameworks or mechanisms such as Africa Peer Review Mechanisms (APRM) for people to monitor what is happening in their countries. She  hoped  that the knowledge gained at the workshop would also help in the APRM work.

Participants were encouraged to evaluate each other and help each other to improve.

She concluded by urging participants to be ready to keep monitoring activities in their organisation.  

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1

PROGRAMME TIME TABLE

Appendix 2

List of Participants 5/07/2007

List of Participants 6/07/2007

The University of British Columbia with MakerereUniversity workshop on strengthening online scholarly publishing in Africa.

Sponsors:    The Public Knowledge Project (PKP), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Carnegie Foundation and University of Witwatersrand

Venue:                       MakerereUniversity

Date:                          14-15 June 2007

DAYONE

Introduction:

This is a great opportunity to strengthen information, flow, and communication, visibilise research and continue with up-to-date documentation as the people from the Northern Hemisphere.

Objectives:

To strengthen and polish scholarly publishing training

Collaboration with greater achievers in the field of scholarly publishers

To train trainers to network and share the findings

Share the importance of E-resources

Aims:

Introducing researchers from universities and research institutions, journal editors, potential journal editors, librarians, IT specialists and students etc to the Open Journal System

Examining perceived challenges of online publishing in Africa vis-a vis the challenges of traditional scholarly publishing

Knowing what ways can online technologies can be used to strengthen and support scholarly publishing

The feasibility of establishing online publishing sites in Africa and moving journal to online management and full-text publishing

Challenges of current publishing in Africa:

The capacity to create knowledge has decreased

The publications run out of stock and research gets repeated instead of replicated

Editors in Africa have a very heavy workload reducing the quality

Lack of resource to continue publishing

Irregularity in publication dates

Publications do not last long enough on the market

Africans do not document their own stories but leave it to the West

NB:   Online journal systems are easily accessible, free and compatible with many operational

systems.          

Benefits of online scholarly publishing:

Sharing knowledge with scholars worldwide

Improving career status of author

Making local research visible in Africa and the global markets

Generating knowledge essential to national development

Supporting objectives of the institution

Issues Raised:

Plagiarism

Reaction:      It actually promotes work and makes it more accessible and there are few reasons to fear plagiarism; people always get caught as well.

African scholars need to treat their work as a business product and do self-promotion

There is no pay for work submitted online which is difficult for most African scholars who face financial crises most of the time unlike their Western counterparts

Database for recommended online journals-not available.

DAY TWO

Three considerations in online publishing:

Online management

Online publishing

Online access

Economic advantages:

Immediate availability

Can be used with or without prior editors

If there is a wider readership, there is more room for authenticity

Online access increases reputation

Reference links facilitates research

Challenges:

Many website links to African universities are broken making research difficult

Many IT personnel are ignorant outside their field

Journals do not bear significant impact on society because of their low circulation

Issues Raised:

Are there multi-lingual O J systems available?

Yes: In the main international languages

Are there regular updates?

Yes:             Every so often, the administrator updates

Is online training available?

Yes

Way ffwd:

To act upon the initiatives and not sit back

To train others within learning institutions on the value of Online scholarly publishing

To work on a grant for funding for this online journal system to be operational on a large scale in Uganda

Report compiled by Beverley Nambozo Sengiyunva-P.O. C&N.

EASSI Strategic Plan 2005-2008.

FAO, 1990

Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme. AU/NEPAD, July 2003

Land Tenure Systems and their Impact on food Security and Sustainable Development in Africa. UN/ECA/SDD/05/09.

Poverty, Adjustment and Growth in Africa, by Ismail Seragildin. A World Bank Publication, 1989.

Gender and Poverty, by Nulifer Cagatay. UNDP Social Development and Poverty Elimination Division, Working Paper Series, !998

Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration, Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China, September 1995.

AIDS epidemic update, December, 2005. UNAIDS and World Health Organization.

AIDS Impacts on rural livelihoods and households. Fourth African Development Forum ADF Today Newsletter.

FAO, 2002

Drimie Scott, The Impact of HIV&AIDS on Land: Case Studies from Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa. A Synthesis Paper prepared for the Southern Africa, Regional Office of UN-FAO, 2002.

Drimie Scott, The Impact of HIV&AIDS on Land: Case Studies from Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa. A Synthesis Paper prepared for the Southern Africa, Regional Office of UN-FAO, 2002.

Bosire, E.; Kiai,W. Mwangi, W. , The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Land Issues in Kenya. Unpublished report of FAO.

Ibid

Ibid

Maxwell, D. and Wiebe, K. Land Tenure and Food Security: Concepts, Evidence and Methods, Research Paper No 129, Madison: University of Wisconsin.

Ibid.

Land Tenure Systems and their Impact on food Security and Sustainable Development in Africa. UN/ECA/SDD/05/09.

Women’s Land Rights, Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Uganda: A Case Study in Lira and Mbalae Districts. By Kharono, E. Research Report Commissioned by FAO, Sub-Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa, Harare.

Ibid.

Ibid.

To Have and to Hold. Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

UN-HABITAT 2002.

Land Reform in Southern and Eastern Africa: Key Issues for strengthening women’s access to and rights in land By Cherryl Walker. Report on a desk study commissioned by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)- Sub-Regional office of Southern and Eastern Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2002.

The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Eradicating world hunger-key to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. FAO 2005.

H.Kamusiime, E. Obaikol; Intergrating HIV/AIDS in Land Reform Process. Land Research Series No.3. Associates for Development, August, 2004.

UNAIDS 2002; UNDP Human Development Report 2002, World Bank Website

To Have and to Hold. Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Working Paper, by Richard S. Strickland.  ICRW. Published in collaboration with The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, June 2004.

Impact of HIV& AIDS on Food Security and Rural Livelihoods.

Bosire, E.; Kiai,W. Mwangi, W. , The Impact of HIV?AIDS on Land Issues in Kenya. Unpublished report of FAO.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

To Have and to Hold. Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ibid

Ibid.

Gender Access to Land. FAO Land Tenure Studies 4. Rome: FAO

To Have and to Hold op.cit

Land Policies for Growth and Poverty Reduction by Klause Deininger.  A World Bank and Oxford University Press. 2001

Ibid.

Ibid,.

Ibid.

Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE). “Placing Women’s Inheritance Rights on the Agenda in Sub-Sahran Africa.” COHRE Newsletter, 1 (1): 6, 2003.

“The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Land. Case Studies from Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa.’ Synthesis Report prepared for FAO Southern African Regional Office. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council.

Ibid.

‘HIV/AIDS and its Impact on Land Issues in Malawi” Background Paper for FAO/SAPRN workshop on HIV/AIDS and Land Tenure, 23-25 June 2002, Pretoria, South Africa.

To Have and to Hold. Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

UWESO 1999

‘The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Land. Case Studies from Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa Synthesis Report prepared for FAO Southern Africa Regional Office.” By Drimie Scott. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council 

To Have and to Hold

The Effects of HIV/AIDS Pandemic on Women’s Land Rights: Selected Case Studies from Rukungiri and Kampala Districts in Uganda.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Poverty Reduction Strategies and Millenuim Development Goals

Gender and the Millennium Development Goals; UNDP-Discussion Paper, January 2003

World Food Summit, Rome Declaration, 1996

Millennium Declaration, 2000

The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Eradicating world hunger-key to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. FAO 2005.

HIV/AIDS and Poverty Reduction Strategies. Policy Note. UNDP, August 2002

Ibid

Ibid.

HIV/AIDS, Gender Inequality and the Agricultural Sector: Guidelines for incorporating HIV/AIDS and Gender Considerations into Agricultural Programming in High Incidence Countries. CIDA, Interagency Coalition on AID and Development; Partners in Rural Development; Dahousie University, November 2004.

Towards Women’s Equal Rights to Land in Eastern Africa by Akinyi Nzioki. EASSI Publications, 2002

The State of food Insecurity in the World; Eradicating World Hunger-key to achieving MDGs. FAO, 2005.

Land Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Compiled by Akinyi Nzioki, The Centre for Land, Economy and Rights of Women., 2006

UNDP in Eritrea Poverty Reduction. http://www.er.undp.org/

Land Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Compiled by Akinyi Nzioki, The Centre for Land, Economy and Rights of Women., 2006

Ethiopia: Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies; Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED), July 2002.

Investment Programme for The Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth Creation and Employment creation, 2003-2007. Prepared by the Government of Kenya, June 2004

National Poverty Reduction Orogramme. The Government of Rwanda, June 2002. 

Land Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Compiled by Akinyi Nzioki, The Centre for Land, Economy and Rights of Women., 2006

Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. Progress Report 2000/01. Republic of Tanzania, August 2001

                Poverty Eradication Action Plan 2004/5 – 2007/8. Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. The                 Republic of Uganda

To Have and to Hold: Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. By Strickland Richard, Working Paper, ICRW Published in Collaboration with The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, June 2004.

Land Policy in Africa: A Framework to Strengthen Land Rights, Enhance Productivity and Secure Livelihoods: Background Document. African Union, UN- Economic Commission for Africa and African Development Bank.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Towards Women’s Equal Rights to Land in the Eastern Africa sub-Region by Akinyi Nzioki, EASSI publication. 2002.

Women and Land Rights in Eastern Africa, Conference Report, EASSI Publication, 2002

Ibid.

Ibid.

To Have and to Hold

To Have and to Hold ICRW and The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, June 2004.

To Have and to hold

Ibid.

Ibid.

‘The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Land: Case Studies from Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa” by Drimie Scott. Synthesis Report prepared for FAO Sub-Regional Office of Southern and Eastern Africa, Pretoria. Human Rights Research Council, 2002

Human Rights Watch 2003. Policy Paralysis: A call for Action on HIV/AIDS Related Human Rights Abuses Against Wopmen and Girls. New York. Human Rights Watch

To Have and to hold

Ibid

Ibid.

‘Land Reform in Southern and Eastern Africa: Key Issues for Strengthening Women’s Access  to and Rights in Land.’ By Walker Cherryl. Report commissioned by FAO. Harare: FAO Sub-regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa. 2002

Land Tenure Systems and Sustainable Development in Southern Africa. Lusaka:UNECA, Southern Africa Office, 2003

To Have and to hold.

Ibid.