Through its role of offering technical support and knowledge sharing on gender mainstreaming, the project promotes the ILO strategy on gender equality and gender mainstreaming, and it supports implementation of the ILO Governing Body’s decision of March 2005, which calls for a systematic integration of gender equality in all ILO technical cooperation.
In particular, the project seeks to support and build the capacity of ILO staff, constituents and other implementing partners in how gender dimensions can be addressed when designing and implementing Decent Work Country Programmes.
The project - in collaboration with those implemented in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, the Arab States and Eastern Europe - is in a strategic position to analyse, compare and advise on different approaches to integrating gender concerns in the various components of decent work country programming.
Knowledge sharing
Knowledge sharing is a key element in the ILO’s gender mainstreaming strategy. Knowledge sharing is a process that begins by capturing and organizing knowledge and experience gained from others, then made accessible to a wider audience – thus cultivating new linkages between interested groups.
“Good practices” and “lessons learnt” are valuable sources of knowledge, as they enable people to learn from the experiences of others and apply them in their own work. ILO, through its activities, has developed a considerable knowledge base on ways to enhance the capacity of both staff and constituents to more effectively promote women’s and men’s access to decent work. The ILO aims to ensure that this knowledge base is managed and made widely accessible to staff and constituents for their benefit.
Knowledge sharing of the different approaches used to promote gender equality in ILO activities allows the organization to capitalise on these experiences, and facilitates continuous implementation of the mainstreamed strategy on gender equality.
Gender equality in the world of work is recognized as essential to the achievement of sustainable global development and poverty reduction goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals. ILO promotes gender equality, not only as a basic human right, but also as intrinsic to the goals of decent work and poverty alleviation and as an instrument for a more inclusive globalization. To this end, ILO’s commitment to gender equality has been reinforced in its 2006-07 Programme and Budget by recognizing gender equality as a mainstreamed strategy for which all field offices and work units have shared responsibility.
The project strategy draws on experiences from previous knowledge sharing projects and includes:
- Technical support and capacity building on gender mainstreaming through the ILO global Gender Network to the projects implemented under the ILO/Netherlands Cooperation Programme to promote gender dimensions in the operational aspects and policy orientation of the overall programme. This strategy includes capacity building for project staff on measures to mainstream gender in the project cycle and development of relevant tools for integrating the gender dimension in project activities.
- Knowledge management and knowledge sharing of different approaches to promoting gender equality in decent work country programming. This strategy will enable ILO and its constituents to capitalize on lessons learned as well as to expand their knowledge base on gender mainstreaming approaches. This will contribute to the identification of more effective mechanisms to incorporate the gender dimension in ongoing and future technical cooperation projects.
The capacity of the ILO to provide technical support to its constituents and staff on gender equality issues is rooted in the organization’s extensive Gender Network, which encompasses gender specialists and focal points at the field level and at headquarters. This capacity has been demonstrated through implementation of gender-specific and gender mainstreamed initiatives across the organization’s four strategic areas. These are related to promoting and realizing standards and fundamental principles and rights at work; creating greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income; enhancing the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all; and strengthening tripartism and social dialogue.
Gender equality is integral to decent work. Efforts to mainstream gender into the design and implementation of Decent Work Pilot Programmes (such as in Bangladesh, Ghana and Morocco) have demonstrated that without consistent gender analysis and gender planning, which are translated into gender-sensitive outcomes, outputs and indicators, decent work country programming is less likely to equitably promote participation and treatment in employment, social protection and social dialogue. Through advancing the design and implementation of gender-sensitive Decent Work Country Programmes at the national level, the ILO also contributes to wider UN commitments to promote poverty reduction through equitable social and economic development.
The Bureau for Gender Equality coordinates implementation of the above project. GENDER supports implementation of the ILO Policy on Gender Equality and Mainstreaming through offering advice to staff and constituents on measures to help ensure that policies and programmes are responsive to gender equality concerns. GENDER works closely with the ILO Partnership and Development Cooperation Department to promote gender mainstreaming in individual technical cooperation projects as well as in all ILO/donor agreements.
For more information:
Bureau for Gender Equality
International Labour Office
4, route des Morillons
1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel.: + 41 22 799 6730
Fax: +41 22 799 6388
E-mail: gender@ilo.org
www.ilo.org/gender