OUTCOMES MAPPING - December 2004

Section II: Outcomes Mapping

11. Outcomes in the District

Implementation of other projects demonstrating gender integration |
Results among other NGOs

11.1.Results in the Community

11.1.1. CBI #2 - Community Development

CBI #2 - Community Development Outcomes Reached 15,697 women and men on gender integrated development project/ gender awareness Increased women's/girls access and control of development benefits Introduced or reinforced gender equality concepts at community level Organised community level sub committees, ward level gender allies and/or gender motivators at community level

The CNGO Semi-annual report #8 noted that 8,771 women and 6,926 men (total 15,697) participated in these community projects.²⁰ Overall, the PNGOs reported that the CBI projects contributed to raising awareness of gender equality concepts and resulted in some changes in behaviour between males and females. There was an increase in women/girls access to development benefits, and in their level of control over these benefits, and an increase in the number of women who feel able to act in their own interest. Most of the communities received a tangible benefit such as latrines, water supply or income generating schemes.

The outcome mapping team conducted a Gender Analysis Matrix exercise with a selected group of women and men from each project to determine who benefited and how from these CBI Fund projects. Results were reported in attitude and behaviour in gender relations in the family and community (although this is likely as a cumulative effect and not solely due to the CBI). Most of the projects included training on gender concepts and women's empowerment, as well as a practical / tangible benefit.

Assessment of Results

Some of the outcomes reported in the community focus groups using the Gender Analysis Matrix and in the general discussions are as follows:

• WAM focused on violence against women, and women reported a decrease in violence along with their feeling of empowerment to raise their voice against the abuse. Men also give more respect to input from their wives in family decision-making. WAM also established ward level gender allies groups to handle cases of violence against women, which is looked at by women as a way to increase their access to justice.
• EDS focused awareness raising at schools, and as a result, girls felt more comfortable staying in school. A girl's toilet was constructed. Boys became more helpful in the household, enabling their sisters to study. EDS integrated gender issues in their community education centres, thereby developing gender awareness of community women and men.
• WDS continued their work with the community pressure groups, providing gender awareness that helped to change some of the chhaupadi practices, decrease dhan khanne and improve sanitation practices. Women increased their income with goat raising.
• MPDS conducted income generating activities and gender awareness activities such as domestic violence training. Participants reported less domestic violence and a cleaner village environment due to the latrine construction
• EDC supported a dalit community in vegetable growing and goat raising for income generating. The animals are sold with women's participation in decision-making. Along with awareness raising, women have increased their mobility and now are able to go to the municipality office to demand services. This group has also started advocating against the dhan khane system in their own and neighbouring villages.
• RCDSC worked with one of their groups in literacy training and sanitation awareness including gender awareness raising. They addressed mainly violence against women issues. Women reported feeling able to solve problems in the groups and increased skills to manage their savings.
• WCDC provided drinking water taps, which addressed practical needs of women for water and relieved their burden, and a gender awareness campaign. The public authorities, such as, women's cell in the district police office, are actively involved in dealing with cases of women's violence at WCDC's request.
• RWUA promoted girls education, although girls' burden of household work has not been shared by their brothers or other men at home. They also supported a Tharu women's group with literacy classes, group saving and awareness raising. Women report less abuse from husbands and more participation in family decision-making, as well as an increase in their mobility. The women raised their position by being able to mobilize group savings so that they no longer needed to take high interest loans from landlords.
• VCDC conducted awareness training and participants noted that they have more freedom to discuss issues in the family and work together. Cases of domestic violence have been addressed and dealt with by women's groups.
• Seto Gurans conducted classes for dalit children to enable them to attend regular school. Most parents reported they appreciate the opportunity for their children to attend classes. Parents have been made aware about the importance of treating boys and girls on an equal basis.
• JJA also did non-formal education for women who felt an increase in their status due to the class, and some grasp of gender concepts. They also supported a water tap scheme which addressed the practical needs of a discriminated group of dalit women for access to water. Women became aware of their water rights, and their strategic interests were met by feeling empowered to demand their rights.

In summary, these projects were short in duration, and created expectations among the communities for additional support from the PNGO. All the PNGOs were able to demonstrate some impact at the community level, but follow-up is needed to support these changes.

11.1.2. Implementation of other projects demonstrating gender integration

Other projects implemented by the PNGOs (for other donors or on their own initiative) have benefited from PNGO skills in gender integration and supported change in the district. Some PNGOs have taken the initiative to spread their gender integration skills to other organizations' projects, either in a project contract or voluntarily. On their own initiative and voluntarily, the PNGOs address gender equality issues in their community. Some examples given during the outcome mapping interviews:

WDS - One Police Inspector used to lock his wife in their room when he would go to the office. He used to abuse her physically every day for no reason. The WDS women came to know about it and sent a letter to the victim through the window, to encourage her to write to them about her situation. The woman then wrote them her story about her husband's violent behaviour towards her in a similar secret manner. The WDS women addressed the case tactfully through counselling the husband and wife first separately and then together. The husband was convinced and let his wife live a violence free life, and left her free at home without the door closed behind him.

Shakuntala Bhatta - WDS formed seven community pressure groups several years ago on their own initiative. At first the women told them to go away, but now their attitude is completely different. They ask, what is the next WDS training event? They want WDS to help them with literacy, address domestic violence and provide legal advice.

Gannu Sijapati, WDS - In one of the community pressure groups, a woman was beaten by her husband and her work in the family was not appreciated. The group then sent her to her parent's home for fifteen days, so that the husband could appreciate her contribution to the family livelihood. During this time the paddy was to be planted, and it was not done. So the husband realized the contribution of his wife and called upon the group to bring her back home as he realized she worked hard for the family. The group brought her back and all the group helped to plant the paddy. The point was made that women's economic contribution in the family is important, and now he appreciates her.

Other examples are from JJA, which conducted a mass rally for women claiming equal wages for equal work with men on International Labour Day, with support from Action Aid. RCDSC has taken up a study about violence against women in three districts, assisted by Action Aid.

11.2. Results among other NGOs

11.2.1. CBI #1 - NGO Capacity Building

CBI #1 - NGO Capacity Building Outcomes 42 district NGOs/CBOs (PPNGOs) with strengthened gender awareness and increased organizational capacity for gender integrated program delivery Small gender projects implemented in communities (PIFs) PPNGOs committed to work with PNGOs on gender equality Women encouraged to participate in the PPNGO Gender integrated PPNGO projects accepted in their communities (donor funded and voluntary) whereas before they were criticized when women and men meet together

PNGOs replicated the CNGO capacity building model in their district, and each PNGO built the capacity of two to five NGOs/CBOs, for a total of 42 PPNGOs. A total of 1,796 people participated in the trainings: 1,032 women and 766 men (this counts each person each training). On average five people were trained from each PPNGO in each training event.

The PNGOs were ambitious in designing the PPNGO capacity building project and conducted from 10 to 14 learning events. Most began with organizational assessments, and then training in gender and development, group dynamics, training of facilitators, gender-sensitive organizational development, gender in program planning, linkages and violence against women.

At baseline, some PPNGOs were grassroots CBO level, while others were active with donor funded programs. Some were male dominated while some were women only organizations. Thus CNGO did not expect each PPNGO to achieve a similar level of capacity at the end of the CBI project, rather that each PPNGO would be internally more gender sensitive and be better able to integrate gender in their program implementation.

The outcome mapping team conducted participatory focus groups with one PPNGO per PNGO, using the same data collection tools as with the PNGOs.²¹ The expectation was that the PPNGOs would have much less capacity than the PNGOs. For example, while the PNGOs reported that the PPNGOs are now more gender-sensitive, and had more women represented on the Executive Committees, and gender policies adopted, the reality is that gender change takes much longer to internalize and result in changed behaviour.

Assessment of Results

The empowerment exercise indicated that awareness about the concept of women's empowerment is growing, although in the mixed organizations women are not yet near feeling control level of empowerment. In a small number of PPNGOs, they are still not motivated to actively participate as men remain dominant. A few PPNGO women said they feel empowered in their own life but due to the societal culture, they cannot say they are empowered. They are not satisfied but realize they are at least learning. Men now realize that women are essential in the organizations and so are including them. In the three women only PPNGOs interviewed, women may be "in control" of the organization, yet they don't feel at a control level of empowerment. They feel marginalized by donors, for example.

The decision-making matrix showed that men still control the organizations, but that in most PPNGOs women are feeling more motivated to participate, when they are properly informed of meetings. As women are generally socialized NOT to make decisions in their family life, and for the most part are totally absent in community decision-making, facilitating women to analyze issues and make choices is a new practice for them. When women have attained posts such as treasurer or vice-chair, it would seem that they are active, but still sometimes they are weak or marginalized. One already strong women's PPNGO responded to the decision-making questions that the training has improved their transparency and democratic practices.

Most PPNGOs have not understood the strategic interests versus practical needs aspect when designing or delivering their programs. However as a result of the CBI project, many have become more proactive in their communities for gender. Some are doing violence against women programs and other gender awareness programs, as a result of the PNGO training. One PPNGO ensured that women are placed as decision-makers in the forest users groups. A dalit male dominated PPNGO has changed its attitude about gender relations in their community. The PPNGOs attributed these changes to the PNGOs.

The PPNGOs have extended their linkages with new organizations, and sometimes were able to link LA services with the community needs. A few government line agencies, such as, Cottage Development Office and District Education Office have been linked to the village communities through the PPNGOs; however government staff are not able to provide supervision to these groups. The PPNGOs view is that in the conflict situation, donors should assist them to provide services to the communities, especially in education and reproductive health.

The PPNGO capacity building project time period was short and not surprisingly the results show that more time is needed to internalize gender equality and transform their organization. In the PPNGOs interviewed, no conclusions could be reached on whether a PNGO that has a high rating on gender mainstreaming had more or less success with the PPNGOs. There were too many external factors and PPNGO baseline was too varied to make such analysis.

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