CANADA NEPAL GENDER IN ORGANIZATIONS

Section VI: References

Reference #10: Gender Allies

| Objectives |

Introduction

"Gender Allies" is a pressure group serving as a district level platform where the development players have the opportunity to promote gender equality as well as exert pressure against gender discrimination. The two PNGOs are the key to operate the allies and make it function continuously.

It is a known fact that there are many social behaviours, norms, and values as well as national and district government policies against the gender equality principal. So, it is necessary to prepare a group of like-minded people who are very capable and strong to advocate for gender sensitive development and against people who resist change. The allies' voice is a complementary support to PNGOs effort to bring gender change in society and concerned agencies.

The CNGO gender conference organized in Kathmandu during July 2001 highlighted some key questions about Gender Allies:

What is a gender pressure group?
Why have a pressure group?
Types of pressure groups - formal and informal
Working issues of pressure groups
Strategies of progressive and successful coalitions
Values and expected behaviours for a successful coalition
Operational methodologies of the coalition

CNGO presented the concept of a triangular relationships among demand (for gender equality from communities) - supply (the PNGOs as GROs) - provision of resources (donors or local government). The concept emphasizes the following three weak areas in the district from the gender point of view:

Gender is not incorporated in the planning and implementation of development agencies such as, government line agencies, local government, NGOs and private sector.
There is no mechanism in the district which can articulate that gender integration is essential for the different governmental and non-governmental development agencies.
There are no gender resource organizations in the district, which can provide gender services to the different needy institutions.

To address the above needs, PNGOs came to the conclusion to lead in the Allies formation process in their own district. CNGO agreed to provide support for a paid staff to work on the formation process. The staff was assigned in each PNGO in the initial year, who devoted 50% of his/her time to form and make gender allies functional in each district.

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Objectives
The objectives of the allies are to explore gender issues and lobby office bearers within the district. If necessary, allies mobilize the people also to keep pressure upon the concerned body to take action against gender injustice or to apply gender policies in practice.

The allies promote incorporation of gender in every governmental or non-governmental organization within the district, not only in terms of organizational structure but in terms of program planning and delivery also. Allies also influence local policy makers to formulate gender sensitive policy. Furthermore, the allies is a platform for PNGOs to promote its expertise as a gender resource organization.

Formation Process
CNGO followed several steps first to help PNGOs in the formation process of district Gender Allies. National level gender experts, and CNGO consultants and training teams, were consulted to get input and suggestions in allies formation process. CNGO organized a two day workshop with PNGO representatives to foster a common mindset for allies formation in the districts. The workshop created a concrete foundation to go ahead in this process.

In the CNGO working districts, PNGOs negotiated and facilitated individuals and organizations to form the allies. There was a constructive discussion among stakeholders whether to make a formal structure or informal structure for the allies. Finally they came to form an informal structure in all of the districts. Gender Allies is just a group of like-minded people who are committed to gender equality and envision working informally. Some useful steps to form the allies are as follows:

PNGO/PNGO regular meeting to mindset the structure and process of the Allies.
PNGOs act together to form gender allies because they are the key responsible organization to initiate this process in the district. Two PNGOs first clarify various important issues in these meetings, such as role of the allies, objectives/content and process of allies formation, planning, individual roles and work division, resources, identification of like-minded people/ organization and most importantly creation of common understanding about gender allies and working procedure.

Individual meetings and sharing to identify like-minded individuals and organizations.
Another important action was meeting people separately to share ideas on the concept and importance of gender allies. An assigned person needs diplomacy and negotiation skills to do this work. A core group of interested people was identified and given responsibility to convince people on the necessity of such allies.

Correspondence and follow up to motivate people.
PNGOs corresponded with like-minded people/organizations on clear objectives to participate in the workshop. But only an invitation letter was not enough, as PNGOs needed to meet the invited persons, remind them about workshop dates and clarify workshop objectives from time to time in informal talking.

Organizing Workshop to form "Gender Allies"
The workshop was a big milestone for the holistic process. District level ToF graduates designed and facilitated the workshop. The formation workshop was short, about 4-5 hours, as participants were not provided allowances to participate in the workshop. Influential persons blessing was also important, so DDC Chair, CDO and other important people were also invited.

The formation process of the Allies was as important as the work it came to do. Allies formed consisting of 11 to 15 people from the different sectors of life, who were actually interested and committed to gender equality. In the initial period, PNGOs convened and acted as secretariat of the allies to lead it in proper direction. After some time, convener ship and secretariat were handed over to other individuals or NGOs. The allies members represent different sectors of the society such as teachers, NGOs, federations, INGOs, line agencies, journalist, lecturers, chamber of commerce, local government bodies, CBOs, national NGOs working in the district, and other opinion leaders.

PNGOs introduced themselves as a gender resource organization during the workshop and after the workshop, every time they have an opportunity. A paper introducing GRO plus answer/question was presented usually for that purpose. PNGOs publicized the workshop using print or other media. Promotion of every activity supports to create gender environment in the district, which is very important for PNGOs.

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