Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT ministries, departments, and agencies have been urged to extend the gender mainstreaming agenda to rural communities through inclusive programme planning and implementation, in order to achieve meaningful progress in gender equality.
Speaking at a recent training session for various stakeholders from Gwanda District, Mr Thulani Sibanda, the Administrator in the District Development Co-ordinator’s Office, noted that a significant gap still exists in the adoption of gender equality in rural areas.
He emphasised the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to bridging this gap.
“We must address gender-based disparities by identifying the specific needs and concerns of both women and men within our institutions. We must ensure that women actively participate in local councils, committees, clubs, junior councils and gender training workshops.
“If such programming is implemented and cascaded to grassroots level, communities will gain a better understanding of gender equality and integrate it into their daily lives.
“By practising gender mainstreaming in our programming, no one will be left behind.
“The patriarchal systems entrenched in our communities will be dismantled, enabling everyone to move forward together towards Vision 2030,” he said.
The training also aimed to promote equal opportunities for women and men in local governance, by increasing women’s participation and representation in decision-making processes from the grassroots level upwards. Government ministries and agencies that attended were equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively mainstream gender in their programming, thereby enhancing their capacity to promote gender equality and inclusivity.
Mr Sibanda highlighted the importance of introducing young people to gender mainstreaming from primary school level, ensuring that they are incorporated into various gender-related initiatives from an early age.
Speaking during the event, Gwanda District Development Officer for the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Ms Sipho Maphosa, said that prioritising gender mainstreaming is essential to the country’s development agenda.
“When we practise gender equality within our institutions, we ensure that women and other marginalised groups are represented in leadership and decision-making roles. Collaborative efforts between men and women on development projects lead to more successful outcomes. It is equally important to involve both men and women in the planning and implementation of community projects.
“Organisations must consider gender and sex in policy-making and budget allocation. Stakeholders must also ensure that resources are available to address the biological needs of both women and men — including issues related to childbearing for women. We urge every institution to practise gender mainstreaming in order to foster equality and balanced representation of both women and men in all programming,” she said. — @DubeMatutu
Londile Moyo