why gender is key to achieving the millenium development goals (& sustainable development)

Why Gender is key to Why Gender is key to achieving the millenium achieving the millenium

development goalsdevelopment goals(& sustainable (& sustainable development)development)

CASID, 2009CASID, 2009

Why is Gender key to achieving the Why is Gender key to achieving the millenium development goalsmillenium development goals(& sustainable development)?(& sustainable development)?

Three Reasons Why Gender is a Three Reasons Why Gender is a Key considerationKey consideration

NEEDED FOR:NEEDED FOR: 1. Eradication of extreme poverty 1. Eradication of extreme poverty

& other Millenium Development & other Millenium Development GoalsGoals

2. Good governance 2. Good governance 3. Microenterprise as its focused 3. Microenterprise as its focused

on womenon women

Mainstreaming genderMainstreaming gender The ultimate goal is to achieve gender The ultimate goal is to achieve gender

equality.equality. Considers the cultural aspects of Considers the cultural aspects of

gender roles for women and men of gender roles for women and men of any planned action, including any planned action, including legislation, policies or programs, in legislation, policies or programs, in any area and at all levels. any area and at all levels.

Integrates men and women’s concerns Integrates men and women’s concerns into design, implementation, into design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs so that inequality is not and programs so that inequality is not perpetrated. perpetrated.

Elements of the women’s agendaElements of the women’s agenda1.1. RightsRights Including legal equalityIncluding legal equality

2.Entitlement2.Entitlement Access to – and control over – productive Access to – and control over – productive resources.resources.

3.Investment3.Investment Elimination of gender gaps in human Elimination of gender gaps in human development.development.

4. Voice4. Voice Women’s vision of alternative development Women’s vision of alternative development agendaagenda

5. Poverty5. Poverty Policy interventions, focus on female-headed Policy interventions, focus on female-headed household.household.

6. Reproductive 6. Reproductive labourlabour

Including males sharing child-caring Including males sharing child-caring responsibilitiesresponsibilities

7. Security7. Security From domestic violence and abuse.From domestic violence and abuse.8. Empowerment8. Empowerment Assertion of selfAssertion of self

Source: Jahan, 2002, p. 5.

Millenium Development GoalsMillenium Development Goals

Eradicate extreme poverty and hungerEradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary educationAchieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower womenPromote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortalityReduce child mortality Improve maternal healthImprove maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseasesCombat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainabilityEnsure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for developmentDevelop a global partnership for development

MDG#2 + 4+ 5: Education & Child MDG#2 + 4+ 5: Education & Child MortalityMortality..

The impact of unearned income on The impact of unearned income on child survival was child survival was 20 times20 times greater if greater if the income was brought in by the the income was brought in by the mother than if by the father (World mother than if by the father (World Banks, 2001, Abu-Ghaida and Banks, 2001, Abu-Ghaida and Klasen, 2004).Klasen, 2004).

Poverty is MultiMulti--dimensionaldimensional

Material deprivation (low food consumption, poor housing)

Low human development (education, health)

Lack of voice & ability to influence decisions

Acute vulnerability to adverse shocks(illness, economic crises, natural

disasters)

P O V E R T YP O V E R T Y

MDG #2 & 1 & : Female MDG #2 & 1 & : Female education: Tackles the education: Tackles the

Population and Poverty bombPopulation and Poverty bomb A A 1%1% increase of female education increase of female education

increases the average level of GDP by increases the average level of GDP by 0.2 to 0.37%0.2 to 0.37% (significant positive while (significant positive while male education has an insignificant male education has an insignificant impact).impact).

One yearOne year increase in the adult female increase in the adult female years of schooling is years of schooling is estimated to reduce estimated to reduce fertility by 8% -13% or 0.5 children per fertility by 8% -13% or 0.5 children per womenwomen. .

Case studyCase study: Bangladesh Education: Bangladesh Education Compulsory primary education was introduced Compulsory primary education was introduced

in 1993. in 1993. New initiatives undertaken by the public, New initiatives undertaken by the public,

private, and NGO sectors: private, and NGO sectors: Free & compulsory primary education for Free & compulsory primary education for

primary level children including books. primary level children including books. Free education for girls up to grade eight.Free education for girls up to grade eight. Scholarship for girls: Scholarship for girls: 2.6 million 2.6 million benefited from benefited from Female stipend Female stipend program program in 1998 which is nearly 75% in 1998 which is nearly 75% of girls enrolled at secondary level. of girls enrolled at secondary level.

A food-for-education programme (FFE) A food-for-education programme (FFE) reached 20% children in rural areas .reached 20% children in rural areas .

Source: World Development Source: World Development Indicators and Human Development Indicators and Human Development

Report Report

1212

Education YoyoEducation Yoyo women’s enrollment more than men in every year women’s enrollment more than men in every year

but recent . & literacy/achievement rates low. but recent . & literacy/achievement rates low.

YearYear 20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 20052005

Development Development IndicatorsIndicators WoWo MenMen WoWo MenMen WoWo MenMen WoWo MenMen WoWo MenMen WoWo MenMen

Gross Gross enrollment enrollment ratio for ratio for secondary secondary schools (%)schools (%) 5151 4949 5544 4949 5555 4949 5454 4949 5151 4949 4848 4747

Adult literacy Adult literacy rate (age 15 rate (age 15 and above)and above) N/AN/A N/AN/A N/N/ N/AN/A N/AN/A N/AN/A N/AN/A N/AN/A 3311 5050 4141 5454

Gender Gaps in Education

How the MDGs connect with prevention How the MDGs connect with prevention of violence against women (WHO of violence against women (WHO

perspective)perspective)MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Provides an opportunity to ally violence against women with poverty reduction efforts aimed at protecting the poorest and most vulnerable women.

MDG 2: Achieve universal primary educationCan be used to highlight how the drive towards universal primary education can be hindered by gender-based factors – including violence and lack of security – that prevent girls and young women from entering and completing school. Conversely, better education for girls and boys may contribute to the reduction of violence against women.

Violence against Women Violence against Women in Bangladeshin Bangladesh

• 47 % women have endured physical abuse.• 14% of the maternal deaths are due to violence.• One women suffer from violence every hour in

BGD.• 50% of all murders are of wives being killed by

husbands. (Heise 1993, Khan 2005) • 61.5% men consider violence against wives as

justifiable.

Source: Research by RNE, UNFPA and BRAChttp://www.lcgbangladesh.org/WAGE/reports/VAW%20-%20Presentation-at%20LCG-WAGE.ppt.

World wide 1 in 3 have been beaten, coerced into sex or abused.

Governance: Greater Influence of Governance: Greater Influence of Women in Public Life, Women in Public Life,

Better government and cleaner businessBetter government and cleaner business

Women in Micocredit GroupsWomen in Micocredit Groups

Access to financial services Access to financial services (small loans) for women often (small loans) for women often including training and support including training and support networks to ensure return on networks to ensure return on

investment (for profit enterprise investment (for profit enterprise with some donor funding)with some donor funding)..

Research by Donor Information Resource Center.Research by Donor Information Resource Center.www.microfinancegateway.org, Karim 2004, Littlefield 2004, Karim 2004, Littlefield 2004

http://www.microfinancegateway.org/

Grameen BankGrameen Bank 97 per cent Women97 per cent Women No Collateral, No Legal Instrument, No No Collateral, No Legal Instrument, No

Group-Guarantee or Joint LiabilityGroup-Guarantee or Joint Liability Recovery Rate 98 per centRecovery Rate 98 per cent ScholarshipsScholarships and and Education LoansEducation Loans

Scholarships are given, every year, to Scholarships are given, every year, to the high performing children of the high performing children of Grameen borrowers, with priority on Grameen borrowers, with priority on girl children, to encourage them to girl children, to encourage them to stay ahead to their classes.stay ahead to their classes.

Key Features of BRACKey Features of BRAC Primary target group is women.Primary target group is women.

BRAC recognized women as the primary BRAC recognized women as the primary caregivers who would ensure the caregivers who would ensure the education of their children and the education of their children and the subsequent inter-generational subsequent inter-generational sustainability of their families and sustainability of their families and households. households.

Microfinance under BRAC's Microfinance under BRAC's Economic Economic Development programmeDevelopment programme with with HealthHealth, , EducationEducation and other and other Social Development Social Development programmesprogrammes, linking all the programmes , linking all the programmes strategically to counter poverty.strategically to counter poverty.

Is microenterprise making a Is microenterprise making a difference?difference?

Source: MicroBanking Bulletin, no. 9 (July 2003).

INDICATORSINDICATORS Average Average for for

Average for Average for All MFIs All MFIs (n=124) (n=124)

WorldwideWorldwideAsia - Asia - large large

InstitutionInstitutions s

SCALE:SCALE: 1,281,9251,281,925 15,55315,553Number of Active Borrowers Number of Active Borrowers OUTREACH: OUTREACH: $394 $394 $532 $532 Average Outstanding Loan Average Outstanding Loan SizeSizeEFFICIENCY:EFFICIENCY: $43 $43 $142 $142 Cost per BorrowerCost per BorrowerPROFITABILITY: PROFITABILITY: 4.50%4.50% 0.10%0.10%Adjusted Return on AssetsAdjusted Return on Assets

Reaching the Poor SustainablyReaching the Poor Sustainably

Selected Institutions Selected Institutions Serving the Poor Serving the Poor

Return on AssetsReturn on Assets(2001)(2001)

BRAC (Bangladesh)BRAC (Bangladesh) 4.3%4.3%

Pro Mujer (Bolivia)Pro Mujer (Bolivia) 1.3%1.3%

Zakoura (Morocco)Zakoura (Morocco) 2.0%2.0%

EMT (Cambodia)EMT (Cambodia) 2.3%2.3%

Padme (Benin)Padme (Benin) 10.3%10.3%

Source: Karim 2004Source: Karim 2004 2727

Cons/Weaknesses of NGO Cons/Weaknesses of NGO activitiesactivities

The relationship between management and borrowers are not The relationship between management and borrowers are not congenial all the time congenial all the time

Pressure for repaymentsPressure for repayments Loans sometimes misused by men in the familyLoans sometimes misused by men in the family Women’s engagement in the management is unequalWomen’s engagement in the management is unequal Women are used as cheap labor to produce output for Women are used as cheap labor to produce output for

multinationals (handicrafts) and use inputs supplied by multinationals (handicrafts) and use inputs supplied by multinationals (Cell phones, hybrid seeds and fertilizer) multinationals (Cell phones, hybrid seeds and fertilizer)

Sometimes members were Sometimes members were forced to take partforced to take part in activities that in activities that are not related to actual programsare not related to actual programs Rally, extra curricular activitiesRally, extra curricular activities

Gender composition of staff in Projects Gender composition of staff in Projects often mostly men. often mostly men.

ANR projects with aquaculture ANR projects with aquaculture components outreached to womencomponents outreached to women

ProjectProject MaleMale FemaleFemale % women% women

INTERFISHINTERFISH 135135 5353 2828

NOPESTNOPEST 9393 4444 3232

CAGESCAGES 2323 44 1414

GOLDAGOLDA 8888 6969 4343

LIFELIFE 5252 1414 2121

TotalTotal 391391 184184 2828

Proxy loans: Women’s name Proxy loans: Women’s name only on investmentonly on investment

Being a conduit establishes the importance Being a conduit establishes the importance of that woman in securing resources for of that woman in securing resources for investment.investment.

Sufia (Kaliganj, Gaipur) said: “I gave Taka Sufia (Kaliganj, Gaipur) said: “I gave Taka 20,000 to my husband for his firewood 20,000 to my husband for his firewood business; now my voice is louder than his [in business; now my voice is louder than his [in this household].” this household].”

Violence is reduced in SCG but change is Violence is reduced in SCG but change is somewhat uneven.somewhat uneven.

Women in Micocredit GroupsWomen in Micocredit Groups

Access to financial services for women.Access to financial services for women.


•Increase & diversify incomes Increase & diversify incomes • from purdah there is a shift from purdah there is a shift

to respect for capability & assetsto respect for capability & assets•Build assets Build assets

•Increase decision-making power in family and Increase decision-making power in family and public life with more women elected.public life with more women elected.


Source: Littlefield Source: Littlefield et al. 2003et al. 2003 3131

Studies on Women’s saving groups:Studies on Women’s saving groups:

BRAC members of 4 years BRAC members of 4 years increased household expenses increased household expenses by 28% and assets by 112%.by 28% and assets by 112%.

Grameen members enjoy 28% Grameen members enjoy 28% higher income than that of the higher income than that of the members of non-participants.members of non-participants.

5% of total borrowers of BRAC 5% of total borrowers of BRAC graduate and find permanent graduate and find permanent exit from poverty each year.exit from poverty each year.

MCF Women increasing personal MCF Women increasing personal asset securityasset security

LAND ACQUISITIONLAND ACQUISITION ## %%

Women’s own nameWomen’s own name 8787 7575

In joint namesIn joint names 44 33

In men’s name bought by In men’s name bought by womenwomen

2626 2222

Total number of land Total number of land acquisition cases acquisition cases

117117 100100

Kelkar, Nathan & Jahan(2004) of 261 women interviewed 117 reported purchase or lease

Access to propertyAccess to property

Source:Source:http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGENDER/Resources/AEDSB_CGApresentation.pdf ..

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGENDER/Resources/AEDSB_CGApresentation.pdf

Women in Micocredit GroupsWomen in Micocredit GroupsAccess to financial services for women including Access to financial services for women including

training.training.

Increase & diversify incomes – purdah to respect for capability & assetsIncrease & diversify incomes – purdah to respect for capability & assetsBuild assets, Increase decision-making power in family and public life with Build assets, Increase decision-making power in family and public life with

more women elected.more women elected.

Mitigate risk/less hazard, Plan for the futureMitigate risk/less hazard, Plan for the futureLesser population growth, More mobilityLesser population growth, More mobility




Enhancing children’s education Enhancing children’s education Children of microfinance clients are more likely to go to Children of microfinance clients are more likely to go to

school due to awareness and access provided by the school due to awareness and access provided by the NGOs. NGOs.

A longitudinal study shows that BRAC is able to A longitudinal study shows that BRAC is able to increase the basic competency in reading, writing, and increase the basic competency in reading, writing, and arithmetic among children from 12% in 1992 to 24% in arithmetic among children from 12% in 1992 to 24% in 1995 (within 3 years).1995 (within 3 years).

Improving health outcomes for women and childrenImproving health outcomes for women and children Households of microfinance clients appear to have Households of microfinance clients appear to have

better nutrition, health practices, and health outcomes better nutrition, health practices, and health outcomes compare to any control group without microfinance.compare to any control group without microfinance.

A study shows that fewer members suffered from A study shows that fewer members suffered from malnutrition after joining the program.malnutrition after joining the program.

Higher rate of contraceptive use.Higher rate of contraceptive use. A 10% increase in credit is associated with 6.3% A 10% increase in credit is associated with 6.3%

increase in mid-arm circumference of daughters.increase in mid-arm circumference of daughters.

Women in Micocredit GroupsWomen in Micocredit GroupsAccess to financial services for women including Access to financial services for women including

training.training.

Increase & diversify incomes – purdah to respect for capability & assetsIncrease & diversify incomes – purdah to respect for capability & assetsBuild assets, Increase decision-making power in family and public life with Build assets, Increase decision-making power in family and public life with

more women elected.more women elected.

Mitigate risk/less hazard, Plan for the futureMitigate risk/less hazard, Plan for the futureLesser population growth, More mobilityLesser population growth, More mobility

Increase food consumption, Invest in education & health, housing,Increase food consumption, Invest in education & health, housing,water, sanitation, Greater control of women over resourceswater, sanitation, Greater control of women over resources



BRAC’s health clinicBRAC’s health clinic

Improving HealthImproving Health

In Bangladesh, fewer In Bangladesh, fewer BRACBRAC clients suffered clients suffered from severe malnutrition than non-clients.from severe malnutrition than non-clients.

In Bolivia, children of In Bolivia, children of CRECERCRECER clients had clients had higher rates of DPT3 immunization than higher rates of DPT3 immunization than children of non-clients.children of non-clients.

In Uganda, 32% of In Uganda, 32% of FoccasFoccas clients had tried clients had tried an AIDS prevention practice, twice the an AIDS prevention practice, twice the percentage for non-clients.percentage for non-clients.

Housing, Water, and SanitationHousing, Water, and Sanitation Many microfinance programs provide loans Many microfinance programs provide loans

tailored for tube-wells and toilets, tailored for tube-wells and toilets, reducing reducing incidence of fever, influenza and typhoid.incidence of fever, influenza and typhoid.

In India, In India, SEWASEWA provides loans to pay for tap provides loans to pay for tap water, toilets, drainage, and paved roads.water, toilets, drainage, and paved roads.

Grameen BankGrameen Bank provides 80,000 housing provides 80,000 housing loans/year and reports improved security loans/year and reports improved security during natural disasters due to sturdy housing.during natural disasters due to sturdy housing.


Women empowerment through Women empowerment through microenterprisemicroenterprise

Active participation in electoral process. Active participation in electoral process. In 1992, 115 women in microcredit In 1992, 115 women in microcredit groups ran and 15 were elected groups ran and 15 were elected Chairperson at sub-district level (Karim, Chairperson at sub-district level (Karim, 2004). In the 1997 union council 2004). In the 1997 union council elections, 44,138 NGO-sponsored elections, 44,138 NGO-sponsored women contested for 12,894 seats and women contested for 12,894 seats and 12,822 were elected.12,822 were elected.

SummarySummary

Engendering sustainable Engendering sustainable development is key to development is key to reaching the millenium goals, reaching the millenium goals, for good governance and for good governance and needs to be considered when needs to be considered when applying microenterpise.applying microenterpise.

why gender is key to achieving the millenium development goals (& sustainable development)

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