Progress Update Gender Marker July 2010

Progress Update on the IASC Gender Marker

Strategic development of the IASC Gender Marker is responding to Security Council and donor demands for greater accountability and better tracking of gender-related allocations in humanitarian action.

The IASC Gender Marker is being designed to be a valid measuring and accountability tool, but also much more. The marker is being integrated into the capacity building processes of the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP), the CERF and pooled fund mechanisms. This implementation approach will lead to added impact: it transforms the gender marker into an enabling tool, equipping clusters to better integrate gender dimensions into their sector strategies/cluster plans and their humanitarian projects.

The expected results: better tracking of gender allocations in humanitarian action and more equitable benefits for women, girls, boys and men.

Chronology – The Development of the IASC Gender Marker

Here is a chronology of the critical steps in the evolution of the IASC Gender Marker.

The CAP Sub-Working Group (SWG) identified needs and openings for more gender equality results in the UN-led humanitarian funding. The IASC’s CAP and Gender SWGs partnered in the original development of the gender marker, guidance note and fact sheet. The marker featured a 0-to-3 gender code for humanitarian projects. The design was based on the OECD/DAC/UNDP gender markers.

The Multi-Donor Trust Fund for UN Action committed to funding the development of the IASC Gender Marker.

Initial four-country pilots of the marker were conducted in Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and Yemen. IASC GenCap advisers facilitated the pilots. They oriented clusters/sectors in the gender marker; facilitated cluster/sector/gender teams to use the gender code to analyse how well humanitarian projects where designed from a gender perspective; and applied their field experience to reflect on effective field implementation.

The lessons learned report from the initial pilots anchored a two-day stakeholder consultation in February 2010. Participants included experts on CAPs and other humanitarian appeals/funding mechanisms; cluster lead agencies and NGO partners; GenCap advisers who facilitated the 2009 pilot; UN and OECD/DAC representatives with experience in gender tracking; and the IASC and UN Action members with gender and gender-based violence experience. The consultation resulted in identifying the content of a Gender Marker Toolkit; the appointment of a GenCap to draft the toolkit materials; and mapped out the actions needed at both the HQ and field levels.

A Gender Marker Toolkit was created. Contents included a revised Guidance Note specifically designed for cluster leads and coordinators; gender code hand-out; cluster-specific tip sheets e.g. agriculture, camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), education, early recovery, health, nutrition, protection, shelter and water-sanitation- hygiene(WASH).

All draft materials were posted on the web. Stakeholder comment was actively solicited.

GenCap advisers facilitated field-testing of the Gender Marker Toolkit in five countries (April-May 2010). HCTs and clusters in Somalia, oPt, Kenya, Pakistan and Yemen were oriented in the gender marker and provided feedback on the toolkit materials, coding challenges and tips for field-friendly implementation.

All Gender Marker Toolkit materials were revised to integrate field insights. The major enhancements: 1) The gender code was streamlined to remove problems that had been identified. A project that mainstreams gender will be awarded code 2a, the highest code. When the principal purpose of a project is to advance gender IASC Gender Marker Update – July 2010 1/2 equality (a targeted action), its code will be 2b. Although the code still differentiates between gender mainstreamed and gender targeted projects, both have significant potential to advance gender equality and now rightfully share the numerical value of 2. For example, gender-based violence can be mainstreamed 2a or a targeted action 2b. The vital synergy with UNDP’s Gender Marker which is used in development programming still exists: the IASC marker codes 2a/2b relate well to UNDP’s codes 2/3. 2) A ‘how-to-code’ tip sheet and a food assistance tip sheet were created and added to the toolkit. 3) A gender marker template was created to insert into vetting feedback forms.

The finalized Toolkit was posted on the web at http://gender.oneresponse.info and www.humanitarianappeal.net. These materials include: Guidance Note, factsheet (FAQs), gender code, ‘how-to-code’ tip sheet, cluster-specific tip sheets (10), best practices examples and field reports from both the 2009 and 2010 pilots. Gender analysis reports on the current CAP/fund appeal in oPt, Yemen, Kenya and Somalia are also included: these were used as facilitation aids for in-country missions. As gender support may not always be present, the toolkit materials were designed to provide practical, stand-alone and clear information: cluster teams will be well served to implement the marker with or without on-site gender expertise.

Ten locations are leading the 2010 implementation of the gender marker with the support of IASC GenCap Advisers. Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, oPt, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and Zimbabwe are on track for full implementation of the gender marker in the upcoming 2011 cycle. Other country teams are being encouraged to begin using the gender marker in the 2011 cycle and/or to join the 10 rollout countries. CAP and GenCap contacts for the 10 lead implementing countries are included here: Country CAP Officer CAP Contact GenCap Adviser GenCap Contact Chad Sophie Reck [email protected] Jean Baptiste Mikulu [email protected] DRC Ysabel Fougery [email protected] Delphine Brun [email protected] Haiti Rob Smith [email protected] Caroline Blay [email protected] Kenya Miriam Lange [email protected] Siobhan Foran [email protected] oPt Julie Thompson thompson8@unorg Linda Pennells [email protected] Pakistan Luke McCallin [email protected] Bilquis Tahira [email protected] Somalia Julie Thompson [email protected] Siobhan Foran [email protected] Sudan Esther Kuisch [email protected] Jessica Gorham [email protected] Yemen Luke McCallin [email protected] TBD Zimbabwe Luke McCallin [email protected] Alexina Rusere [email protected]

Based on this roll out, it is envisioned that next year, the gender marker will be rolled out in all countries using CAP or CAP like appeals, pooled funds and CERF submissions. HCs are asked to appoint a Gender Marker Focal Point to support and monitor the clusters in the rollout.

Implementation Support

Country Level. The marker will be used by clusters/sectors at a country level. Humanitarian Country Teams are being encouraged to create a fertile environment for advancing gender equality in the Common Humanitarian Action Plans. They are being asked to integrate gender equality into their needs assessments, strategic priorities, sector‐specific response plans and monitoring frameworks. Humanitarian Coordinators also appoint and support gender marker focal points.

Global Level. At the global level, several actions are underway to support effective implementation. They include: integrating the gender marker into the training of HCs, cluster leads, CAP and CERF training of trainers; revising CAP and CERF guidance notes and templates to include the marker; incorporating the gender marker code into its On‐line Project System.

Donors. Track use of the marker by FTS and integrate into monitoring the implementation of their gender equality policies. IASC Gender Marker Update – July 2010 2/2