| 7.0 |
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK |
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The Institutional Framework for implementation of the National Gender
Policy shall comprise structures and institutions within and outside Government
which aim to achieve equity for women, men, boys and girls as participants,
decision makers and beneficiaries in the economic, political, civil, social
and cultural spheres' These structures and institutions shall be coordinated
by the Central Government body responsible for spearheading gender responsive
development and in particular ensuring the improvements of women's status.
Hence, the Institutional framework embraces all other systems put in place
by the institutions including sectoral Ministries and Departments, Non-Governmental
Organisations, the Private Sector, Civil Society, Community Based Organisations
and all donor agencies gender units under the umbrella of the Malawi Development
Assistance Group on Gender.
Bearing in mind that gender issues are multi-sectoral and cut across
all areas of development, it is imperative that interagency and inter-
institutional linkages are promoted. To promote gender equality and equity
in the national development system, the existing government and other stake-holder's
machinery at all levels shall be harnessed for the implementation and coordination
of 'he National Gender Policy. At National Level, the established
National Machinery to spearhead the overall coordination of mainstreaming
gender in national development shall be harnessed and strengthened to ensure
that gender is mainstreamed within government and civil society by transformation
of their institutions, policies, procedure budgetary allocations and priorities.
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| 7.1 |
THE NATION MACHINERY |
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The National Gender Machinery which is the Ministry of Gender, Youth
and Community Services (MOGYCS), specifically the Gender Services Department,
is charged with the responsibility of spearheading and co-ordinating gender
responsive development and in particular ensuring the improvement of women's
status. For efficiency and effectiveness the Ministry must be adequately
funded.
A gender programme shall be established within the department for day
to day management of the National Gender Policy. To facilitate efficient
and effective policy decision making, the coordination of the Gender Progranme
must be at senior level preferably Deputy Secretary grade.
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| 7.2 |
Roles of the National Gender
Machinery |
| 7.2.1 |
To co-ordinate the gender policy formulation, implementation and Mainstreaming
of gender in all sectors. |
| 7.2.2 |
To liase with other sectors in identifying and drawing attention to
key gender concerns and related needs. |
| 7.2.3 |
To provide technical guidance and back stopping services to other sectors
including gender training, gender analysis and planning skills to build
capacityfor gender responsive interventions. |
| 7.2.4 |
To ensure that policy formulation, reviews, action plans and budgeting
apply a gender responsive planning approach. |
| 7.2.5 |
To co-ordinate the collection of gender desegregated data, disseminate
the data for national development planning and develop a data bank. |
| 7.2.6 |
To produce and disseminate publications on gender issues regularly |
| 7.2.7 |
To establish and maintain a gender resource centre |
| 7.2.8 |
To promote social mobilisation for creating gender awareness and positive
attitudinal and behavioural changes necessary for the establishment and
maintenance of gender enuity and equality.
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| 7.2.9 |
To spearhead capacity building within the National Gender Machinery
and. in all sectors |
| 7.2.10 |
To spearhead advocacy for gender issues. |
| 7.2.11 |
To initiate the review of gender discriminatory laws. |
| 7.2.12 |
To lobby the Treasury, NGO's, the private sector and donors for more
resource allocation towards gender mainstreaming |
| 7.2.13 |
In liaison with the key sectors, monitor and evaluate progress made
towards achieving gender responsive national development. |
| 7.3 |
Roles of other sectors |
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Besides sectoral ministries the National Machinery (MOGYCS) shall collaborate
closely with other key actors, such as NGO's,Community Based Organisations
(CBO), the Private Sector and Local Authorities to implement and achieve
the goals of the gender policy.
Within these agencies, co-ordination of gender issues across sub-sectors
shall be enhanced through establishment of Gender Focal Points manned by
senior officers. In addition, an Inter-agency Gender Technical Committee
shall be established to oversee the mainstreaming of gender concerns within
their policies, plans, programmes and activities.
The roles of other agencies include, but not limited to the following: |
| 7.3.1 |
Co-ordination of gender activities within the sector. |
| 7.3.2 |
Mainstream gender in all sectoral policies, plans, Projects,
programmes and services. |
| 7.3.3 |
Assess and build sectoral capacities to create awareness and understand
on gender concerns. |
| 7.3.4 |
Identify, and prioritise gender concerns and issues within the sector
and take appropriate action. |
| 7.3.5 |
Advocacy and guidance within the sector to develop and implement gender
responsive programmes. |
| 7.3.6 |
Mobilise resources for gender mainstrearning |
| 7.3.7 |
Establish a documentation centre within the sector |
| 7.3.8 |
Institute information and management system that is gender sensitive. |
| 7.3.9 |
Link and collaborate with other sectors and the National Machinery
for mainstreaming and information sharing. |
| 7.4 |
National Economic, Council |
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The National Economic Council (NEC) provides professional and technical
support to government and the public on economic and social policy, management
and development. As a coordinator for development planning, NEC has an
important role in safeguarding the operational of the gender policy by
ensuring that gender issues are Mainstreamed throughout all aspects of
the national development planning. in collaboration with other sectoral
ministries, NEC shall ensure that women and men are equally targeted and
benefit from all development programmes. Specific roles of NEC in implementation
of the gender policy shall include but not limited to the following:-
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| 7.4.1 |
Ensure that allpolicies, macro and micro are Open der responsive. |
| 7.4.2 |
Build capacity of planners and policy analysts to enhance their gender
analysis skills in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Youth and
Community Services, as a strategy for establishing effective structural.linkages
between central and sectoral planning and local authorities. |
| 7.4.3 |
Ensure that all data collected, analysed and disseminated by
the National Statistics Office is desegregated by gender.
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