Gender Mainstreaming and Targeting is an essential strategy for poverty reduction and economic growth, with wealth creation for women, men and youth in small holder households, as well as profits for enterprises higher up the value chain. Gender mainstreaming is an integral part of all Programme interventions. In the RFCIP it will support gender mainstreaming, empowerment of women, and specific targeting measures for youth, to ensure maximum participation of these vulnerable groups in various activities. Measures include targeted and tailored Community Bank CB and Financial Service Association FSA products developed for women and youth; establishment of quotas for women and youth participation in programme activities (e.g. ensuring gender balance in bank staff and board); provision of literacy and numeracy training for women’s saving/borrowing groups; ensuring outreach to the poor and to women through communication/ sensitization campaigns; and emphasis on gender and youth-disaggregated M&E.

The Gender Action Learning System (GALS) has be employed as the primary strategy to mainstream gender and operationalize the project targeting strategy in Rehabilitation and Community – based Poverty Reduction Project (RCPRP) and Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme (RFCIP) interventions, in association with the specific RCPRP/RFCIP component actions for gender mainstreaming.

The process uses pictorial tools which enable women and men who cannot read and write, as well as stakeholders at other levels, to plan strategies to achieve their visions for the future, including analysing and addressing gender-based constraints within the household, community, and in markets as challenges which prevent them from achieving their vision. The process focuses on promoting constructive communication between women and men, while also engaging with and changing private sector attitudes and behaviours for sustainable and equitable ‘win-win’ strategies.

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The process to date has demonstrated that GALS has brought about powerful, positive changes in gender norms and relations for both men and women, including youth. Changes include increased collaboration and efficiency within the household and in farming tasks, leading to increased production and income, as well as increased sharing of household income, decision-making and planning. Such changes have resulted in a reduction in conflict and violence in the household, as well as unplanned expenditures such as alcohol consumption and gambling once both men and women realised the negative impact on household resources.

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Through use of the tools, individuals and communities are demonstrating the capacity to identify the resources they need to improve their lives. The pilot will continue to upscale in communities through peer learning and move to a stronger focus on livelihoods, rural finance, value chain development and participatory planning from a gender perspective during 2013.

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