Strengthening Institutional Capacities on Gender Mainstreaming

Keeping in view PRIA's commitment to the process of gender mainstreaming at institutional and programmatic levels, the focus of this initiative has been on deepening the understanding on gender and related concepts; undertaking initiatives for maintaining a gender equitable work environment; and examining issues of gender in institutions of local-self-governance in many institutions such as The American India Foundation Trust (AIFT), Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), Unnati, Sahabhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK), Sahayi, Gram Vikas, Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

Gender training considers the multiple levels of change and the organic linkages between these different levels and facets to achieve long-term and sustainable impacts. The focus of the training is an initiation to a life-long process of critical thinking, analysis, questioning of traditional beliefs in a changed context and strategic steps to bring about personal change and social transformation. The participatory gender training approach used by PRIA not only provides the basis for community participation but also helps participants at the trainings to easily internalise the knowledge and skill, which creates change in behaviour and attitude.

Objectives

• To deepen the understanding on gender and related concepts; undertaking initiatives for maintaining a gender equitable work environment and examining issues of gender in institutions.
• Facilitate the process of gender mainstreaming within the organisation, processes and policies
• Deepen understanding and commitment of the staff on gender and promoting 'gender equality'
• Conduct participatory gender audit
• Prepare gender sensitisation training module and
• Conduct gender sensitisation training for staff to ensure integration of gender at the institutional and programme levels.

Key areas/components

• Conducted participatory gender audit through interactions and meetings with the staff, including administering questionnaires, conducting FGDs and conducting individual interviews with a random selection of staff using participatory tools developed in consultation with the organisation
• Developed relevant module/s and resource materials for supporting institutional and staff capacity enhancement on gender issues
• Conducted gender sensitisation training of staff
• Conducted training of programme staff and equipped them with skills to mainstream gender in their project work

Outcomes

• Gender audit report
• Action plan for gender mainstreaming
• Relevant materials and modules for integrating gender in programmes were made available to each organisation
• Enhanced understanding among participants on the need for gender sensitive workplaces and key issues of sexual harassment

Clients

The American India Foundation Trust (AIFT), Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), Unnati, Sahabhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK), Sahayi, Gram Vikas, Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)