Gender Policy

Background:

To review the different information about gender perspective in various countries it is proved that the women are the victims of gender discrimination. The situations prevail in family, society, even in state level. Gender as a development issues describe the discrimination between men and women through the social process. Gender agenda presents as a least participation on development process and fail to avail any good results for the women. It also reflects the bright prospect and their significant participation in the development process.
To this end, the issue has emphasized on gender balance. The reflection of the balance should be existed in family, society and state. Considering the situation, a gender policy should be existed in any organization that is involved in development activities.

Justification:

Action In Development-AID, as a development organization since 1992, has been working in the southwestern part of the country for the people, especially for the women, children and disabled. The programs have been playing role to reduce acute poverty, removal of illiteracy, health issue and human rights issues. Realizing the situation of the women, AID had designed a “Gender Policy” in some special issues considering the nature of activities.
The main issues here are:

  • The organization supports to the national and international charters and policy in gender issues. An effective gender policy is required considering the CEDAW, Beijing Platform for Action, National Policy for Women Development and other commitment.
  • The policy is also required, as Action In Development-AID believes that it was similar to the political commitment and vision, mission and objectives of AID.
  • AID believes that the policy will add multi sector results to help capacitate both female and male workers of the organization.
  • The gender policy adoption in the organization will strengthen the ongoing activities, as well as future activities and add a new era, we also believe.

Important development activities towards women development of AID are:

  • Organize the vulnerable women as a self-helped group and providing financial assistance.
  • Identify the family conflict and provide legal aid services.
  • Provide disaster management training.
  • Identify the problems of the adolescent, adolescent with disability and promote their rights through empowerment.

A number of programs have been implemented for the interest of the women with disabilities. Moreover, opportunities of the women have been reflected in staff management manual, savings and credit policy and other policies.

Principles of the gender policy:
The gender policy was designed following the basic issues:

  • All the policies of AID is prepared on the basis of gender equity and justice.
  • The gender policy will be applicable with other policies of Action In Development-AID, which is a continuous process. If any difference is identify then take initiatives to change or amend the other policies.
  • AID does not treat the gender issue as a separate issue and considers the issue as a part of parcel of the organisation.

Goal & Objectives:

Goal:
A gender friendly environment will be created within the organization changing any unlawful behavior and policy. AID believes in equal participation of men and women in any planning, program implementation, opportunity and to build a just society.

Objectives:

Institutional Objectives:

  • AID is committed to bring the gender issue in mainstream and initiative to allocate fund.
  • Create a gender friendly environment within the organization considering the male and female staff interest.
  • AID is committed to give emphasis on the interest of the persons with disability, especially, women.
  • Enhance capacity and sensitize both male and female workers to implement the gender policy.
  • Be responsible through identification of role and responsibility to ensure gender policy implementation.

Program Objectives:

  • Gender issues will be incorporated in all stages of program implementation like Need assessment, project design, planning, program implementation, monitoring, supervision and evaluation to mitigate the daily and strategic need of the target group, specially women.
  • Conscious about gender issues during reporting, training, communications materials like poster, leaflet etc.
  • Resist any discrimination like repression, fundamentalism and other unlawful initiatives against women strategic development.
  • Initiate family and community based gender awareness campaign and spread it gradually in other sectors.
  • Develop a network with like minded organizations, community and specialists to strengthen gender issues in every stages.

Steps to implement gender policy:

Institutional Steps:

  • Ensure at least 30% women in the organisation and improve the rate gradually.
  • Incorporate gender issues with all organizational policies.
  • Make the organizational management gender friendly. Allow maternal leaves for the women workers as similar to 4 months, allowed by the government.
  • Consider the transfer and posting of women workers and their family affairs with sympathy.
  • Emphasis the traveling, nighttime work and some special needs of the women workers.
  • Arrange Day Care center for the children of the women workers to develop their efficiency and eternal peace to consider their needs and ability.
  • Incorporate gender issues with all aspects of staff’s job responsibilities to implement the gender policy properly.