The DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET)

The DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET)

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<h2>Table of Contents</h2>
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<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#w_about-gendernet"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">About GENDERNET</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#w_practice-notes"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Practice Notes</span></a>
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<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#w_addressing-gender-equality-and-womenaos-empowerment-through-development-co-operation"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment through development co-operation</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#w_women-in-society"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Women in society</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#w_conflict-fragility-violence-and-humanitarian-assistance"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Conflict, fragility, violence and humanitarian assistance</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#w_governance-and-human-rights"><span class="tocnumber">2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Governance and human rights</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#w_economic-empowerment-and-finance"><span class="tocnumber">2.5</span> <span class="toctext">Economic empowerment and finance</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#w_environment-climate-change-and-agriculture"><span class="tocnumber">2.6</span> <span class="toctext">Environment, climate change and agriculture</span></a></li>
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<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#w_external-links"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">External Links</span></a></li>
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<h2 id="w_about-gendernet">About GENDERNET</h2>
"Organisation ‘s DAC (<a href="http://www.oecd.org/department/0,2688,en_2649_33721_1_1_1_1_1,00.html">Development Assistance Committee</a>) work in the area of gender equality is carried out primarily through the Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET).

GENDERNET is the only international forum which brings together gender equality experts from bilateral and multilateral development agencies to define common approaches, share good practice, innovative ideas and state-of-the-art research on gender related topics. Civil societies are also invited to contribute to activities and participate in events that the network organises.

Progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment is vital for improving economic, social and political conditions in developing countries. The knowledge, insight and experience of both women and men are required if development is to be effective, sustainable and truly people-centred. Gender equality requires specific measures at the macro, meso and micro levels in order to propel gender-responsive actions into development work.

GENDERNET provides strategic support to DAC members to take gender equality into account in development policies and practices. It actively contributes a gender equality perspective to work conducted by other DAC subsidiary bodies, e.g. on conflict, peace building and reconstruction; governance; poverty reduction; statistics; evaluation; environment; and aid effectiveness; as well as to other relevant "Organisation (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) bodies.

The GENDERNET also organises thematic workshops involving OECD partner countries, the United Nations system, research institutes and civil society organisations. It participates in advocacy events bringing together experts from both OECD and partner countries.
<h2 id="w_practice-notes">Practice Notes</h2>

The practice notes, prepared by members of the DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET), provide guidance on how to address gender equality and women’s empowerment in development co-operation.

The full implementation of internationally agreed commitments to gender equality, such as "Millennium 3 and the "CEDAW (CEDAW), are essential to achieving sustainable development outcomes.

“Investing in the potential of the world’s women and girls is one of the surest ways to achieve global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for women — and men — the world over.” Hillary Rodham Clinton, International Women’s Day 2010

New practice notes will be added to the collection as they are published by GENDERNET members. Note that although several of the practice notes are agency-specific, they are included here where their approach is likely to be of interest and relevance to others.
<h3 id="w_addressing-gender-equality-and-womenaos-empowerment-through-development-co-operation">Addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment through development co-operation</h3>
Strengthening women’s rights changes things for the better – for both women and men. Gender equality and empowered women are not only development goals but are also powerful catalysts for multiplying development efforts. Donors have revitalised their approaches so that gender equality and women’s empowerment are now often front and centre in development programmes. The practice notes in this section address institutional and strategic issues, and examine how donors can work to advance gender equality through country programmes, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity development. (<a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34541_44727561_1_1_1_1,00.html">see more</a>)
<h3 id="w_women-in-society">Women in society</h3>
The practice notes in this section address various social and societal issues which tend to affect women and men differently because of the different roles, responsibilities, opportunities, resources and needs of men and women. The differences apply to all levels of society, often resulting in social and economic inequalities. This can take the shape, for example, of unequal access to education and health care, and women being more vulnerable to HIV/AIDs than men. (<a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/33/0,3343,en_2649_34541_44727649_1_1_1_1,00.html">see more</a>)
<h3 id="w_conflict-fragility-violence-and-humanitarian-assistance">Conflict, fragility, violence and humanitarian assistance</h3>
Several international agreements acknowledge the importance of protecting women in conflict and fragile situations, and the role that they can and should play in conflict resolution to ensure sustained peace. These include UN Security Council "United (2000), "United (2008), "United and "United (2009). The Accra Agenda for Action also commits donors and partners "…to help ensure the protection and participation of women" in post conflict countries and situations of fragility (para. 21b). The practice notes in this secion address these issues and also the broader question of violence against women. (<a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0,3343,en_2649_34541_44727589_1_1_1_1,00.html">see more</a>)
<h3 id="w_governance-and-human-rights">Governance and human rights</h3>
“Women’s rights are human rights and human rights are women’s rights” Hillary Rodham Clinton said at the "Fourth (Beijing, 1995). Strengthening human rights is a precondition for successful, equitable and sustainable development. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women sets out how this can be achieved for women and girls. However, women’s rights are often violated. Examples of this are the widespread "Trafficking in persons and the lack of enforcement of legal frameworks. To address inequalities and ensure good governance, women need to be given the opportunity to fully participate in the decision-making process that shapes society. (<a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/43/0,3343,en_2649_34541_44727659_1_1_1_1,00.html">see more</a>)
<h3 id="w_economic-empowerment-and-finance">Economic empowerment and finance</h3>
Women’s economic empowerment increases the wealth and well-being of the entire population. Women are, however, less likely than men to have access to credit, resources, and education. Women are also more likely than men to be in vulnerable jobs in the informal sector, to be underemployed or without a job, in addition to carrying out unpaid work in households. The recent financial crisis had serious, widespread impacts on the economy. Although women were at the centre of the crisis, they are at the same time economic actors and producers, essential for mitigating the negative effects of the crisis. The practice notes in this section cover issues such as how development programmes can ensure that women as well as men benefit from employment creation, investments in infrastructural programmes and access to credit. (<a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/54/0,3343,en_2649_34541_44727606_1_1_1_1,00.html">see more</a>)
<h3 id="w_environment-climate-change-and-agriculture">Environment, climate change and agriculture</h3>
The practice notes in this section focus on environmental issues. They provide an understanding of how women’s access to and use of natural resources such as water is different from that of men’s. The practice notes also address how women and men are affected differently by environmental degradation and climate change. As agricultural smallholders and farm workers, women play a crucial role as farmers and producers of food in most developing countries. (<a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/16/0,3343,en_2649_34541_44727696_1_1_1_1,00.html">see more</a>)
<h2 id="w_external-links">References</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.oecd.org/dac/gender-development/">More about Gendernet</a></li>
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