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MDGs and Gender

MDG TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR THE PARLIAMENTARIAN WOMEN’S CAUCUS

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The MDGs

UN General Assembly adopted the MD and the MDGs in 2000

Mandated the UN to be the

scorekeeper of progress

towards achieving the MDGs

The eight MDGs break down

into 21 quantifiable targets that

are measured by 60 indicators

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Linking Gender Equality to the MDGs

Gender issues are relevant to achieving all the MDGs, be it protecting the environment, achieving sustainable development or enabling universal access to health care.The MDGs are mutually reinforcing, therefore progress towards one goal affects progress towards the others.Success in many of the goals will have positive impacts on gender equality, just as progress towards gender equality will help further other goals.The 3rd MDG on promoting gender equality and empowering women addresses gender equality specifically.

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Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Women in most communities are disproportionately represented among the poor.

Gender equality in capacity and access to resources accelerates economic growth.It also enables poor women to climb out of poverty more easily.

Extreme poverty declined from 58% in 1991 to 51% in 2006. It’s much higher in rural (67%) than urban (20%) areas.

It terms of HH characteristics, extreme poverty stood at 57% in female-headed households compared to 49% for male HH.

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Links to growth and Poverty

Investment in human capital, especially girls’ and women’s education and health raises productivity.Increased access to productive assets and resources also raises productivity. E.g. 30% of land in Zambia allocated to women.Time poverty created by poor infrastructure reduces productivity.

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Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

The challenge though is still the practice of early marriage

South Africa has attained almost universal access to Primary Education.

Attendance for those aged 7-13 has increased from an already high level of 96.7% (boys 96.4% and girls 97.0%) in 2002 to 98.6% (boys 98.4% and girls 98.8%) in 2009.

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Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Relevance of gender equality to this goal is obvious! Women contribute significantly more to human development than is commonly acknowledged

Target for this goal involves achieving equality in schooling at all levels by 2015, but goal is far broader

Includes political participation, participation in paid work, access to resources….

Achieving this goal is key to achieving the rest of the MDGs

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Goal 3: Gender equality and the empowerment of women

There is almost gender parity in basic primary education . At secondary and tertiary levels gender parity is still elusive.In 2009, there were 96 girls for every 100 boys in primary schools, up from 90:100 in 1990. The ratio of girls to boys in secondary education fell from 0.92 in 1990 to 0.88 in 2009. At 0.74, equality in tertiary education is far from being achieved.There are also gender disparities in areas of study, especially at the tertiary levelsCompletion rates tend to be lower among females than males.

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Gender continued

Women constitute d 43% in 1996of wage employment if agriculture is excluded and rose to 45% by 2010.Women if allowed can be important change agents at family, community and national level. South Africa has performed very well with regard to political participation of women.The proportion of seats held by women in parliament is 44%.

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Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Under-five deaths based on the 2001 census and 2007 Community survey of 104 per thousand live births and 97 per thousand live births in 2001. MDG target is 20 per thousand live births so further efforts are necessary.Improve access, outreach and awareness on immunization and nutrition and food security in rural and peri –urban areas and more interventions targeting men.

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Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Maternal mortality ratio is high and is increasing. The SA DHS was 150 per 100,000. The MDG target of 38 per 100,000 live births by 2015

Education, income and empowerment of women all contribute to improved maternal healthHaving a choice in sexual and reproductive health reduces the chance of maternal mortalityOther success factors are presence of trained mid-wives at birth, rural feeder roads & transport.

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Goal 6: Fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Growing HIV infection rates among women reflect women’s economic dependency on men, inability to negotiate safe sex, and traditional norms about sexual relations

The national HIV prevalence rate is stabilizing after a peak in the 1990s and early 2000sThe differential infection rates point to predominance in rural provinces.

Young girls exposed to HIV and AIDS because of having sexual relations with older male partners.

Women and girls are the most vulnerable because of biological and structural inequalities in society like culture and tradition

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Goal 6: Fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Growing HIV infection rates among women reflect women’s economic dependency on men, inability to negotiate safe sex, and traditional norms about sexual relations

The burden of caring for AIDS victims falls disproportionately on women and girls, as does the care of AIDS orphansEmpowering women reduces their risk of contracting the virusThe role of choice in sexual and reproductive health reduces opportunities for infectionHIV infection has far reaching consequences on the achievement of all the other MDGs

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Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

South Africa has significant environmental challenges specifically its dependence on coal based energy production

Increase the pace of delivery of sanitation facilities especially in rural areas and informal settlements.Pace of delivery of portable water especially to rural women.Access to clean water by indigents and female headed households and prioritise service delivery to these.

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Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

Target 8a: Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system!!

Commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction at the national and international level

Target 8b: Address the special needs of LDCs

Access to markets in developed countries

Target 8F: : In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications

Telephone lines and cellular subscribers per 1,000 people

Foreign Direct Investment

Official development assistance

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Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

Women are underrepresented in decision making bodies at all levels in almost every country, Zambia inclusive. Greater gender equality in the political sphere might mean stronger investment in development cooperationEvidence has shown that women tend to be particularly concerned with poverty reduction and investing in human capacity.

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Thank you