Gender Equality and Female Empowerment: USAID Policies and Strategies

USAID/PPL: http://inside.usaid.gov/ppl USAID/GenDev: http://inside.usaid.gov/E3/off-wid/index.html

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

Changes in USAID Policy Landscape

New Policies and Strategies
Gender Equality and Female Empowerment National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security Counter-Trafficking in Persons Policy Gender-Based Violence Strategy (forthcoming)

Altered Institutional Environment

New budget attributions for Mission Resource Requests and Operational Plans Seven new Agency-wide indicators with required reporting in annual Performance Plans and Reports Global network of experts within USAID

Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy

Makes an evidence-based case: reducing gender gaps and empowering women and girls is vital to successful development outcomes Articulates clear Agency-wide outcomes
Lays out clearly defined practices Spells out organizational roles and responsibilities with special emphasis on senior management and mission directors

Outcomes

Reduce gender disparities in access to, control over and benefit from resources, wealth, opportunities and services - economic, social, political, and cultural; Reduce gender-based violence and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals; and
Increase capability of women and girls to realize their rights, determine their life outcomes, and influence decision-making in households, communities, and societies.

Guiding Principles

Integrate gender equality and female empowerment into USAIDs work

Pursue an inclusive approach to foster equality

Build partnerships across a wide range of stakeholders

Harness science, technology, and innovation to reduce gender gaps and empower women and girls

Address the unique challenges in crisis and conflict-affected environments

Serve as a thoughtleader and learning community

US National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP)

To promote sustainable peace and security for all To empower half the worlds population as equal partners in preventing conflict and building peace in countries threatened and affected by war, violence, and insecurity To fully incorporate women and girls into our diplomatic, security, and development efforts as beneficiaries and as agents of peace, reconciliation, development, growth, and stability

National Action Plan Objectives

Institutionalize a gendered approach to peace and security Advance womens participation in peace processes and decision-making Prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking in persons, and other forms of exploitation and abuse Promote womens engagement in conflict prevention Ensure safe, equitable access to relief and recovery for males and females

USAID Counter-Trafficking in Persons Policy

Palermo Protocol (2000)

The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs

USAID Counter-Trafficking in Persons Policy

Prevention

Create an environment hostile to TIP with targeted educational and economic growth activities for vulnerable populations Develop state-of-the-art segmented awareness campaigns for vulnerable populations, labor recruiters, community leaders and first responders

Protection

Help survivors reintegrate as productive members of society by providing economic, psychosocial, and legal assistance Develop national and regional victim referral mechanisms

Prosecution

Increase the capacity of host governments to prosecute and convict traffickers Assist host governments to develop anti-trafficking legislation

Partnerships

Leverage efforts by convening and diversifying stakeholders- civil society, government, the private sector, labor unions, media, and faith-based organizations. Empower local partners and encourage private sector anti-TIP investments

Counter-Trafficking Code of Conduct

The Agency prohibits its employees, contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and subgrantees from engaging in behaviors that facilitate or support trafficking in persons.
Adopted in 2011 Obligation to report Training staff- investigators, auditors, procurement officials

Monitoring and Evaluation: An example of the Womens Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI)

A survey-based index using interviews of the primary male and female adults in the same household to assess Five Domains of Empowerment in Agriculture

Monitoring and Evaluation: New Indicators 7 New Output and Outcome Indicators

Gender Equality
Womens Empowerment GenderBased Violence

Number of laws, policies, or procedures drafted, proposed or adopted to promote gender equality at the regional, national or local level. Proportion of target population reporting increased agreement with the concept that males and females should have equal access to social, economic, and political opportunities.

Monitoring and Evaluation: New Indicators

7 New Output and Outcome Indicators

Gender Equality
Womens Empowerment GenderBased Violence

Proportion of female participants in USGassisted programs designed to increased access to productive economic resources (assets, credit, income, or employment).

Proportion of females who report increased selfefficacy at the conclusion of USG supported training/programming.