Evaluation Matters a Quarterly Knowledge Publication of the Operations Evaluation Department of the African Development Bank Group
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eVALUatiOn Matters A Quarterly Knowledge Publication of the Operations Evaluation Department of the African Development Bank Group March 2014 Gender Inequality and You Gender equality is Evaluation as a tool South Africa and 63 the goal; gender 16 in gender 99 Rwanda are among the mainstreaming is mainstreaming pioneers in the area the means of gender-responsive budgeting “Today there is growing recognition that gender equality is not only a critical human rights issue for women and girls, it is a prerequisite for the achieve- ment of broader development goals, effective humanitarian response and sustainable peace and security.” Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Page 52 Content 4 From the Director’s Ipad Taking Stock The State of Gender Equality in Africa: 6 Trends, Challenges and Opportunities AfDB Results and Quality Assurance Department Addressing gender differences to “level the playing field” and enable women as well as men to contribute to and benefit from, social and economic development is at the core of inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa Mainstreaming Gender Equality: A Road to Results or a Road to Nowhere? 9 AfDB Operations Evaluation Department When Gender Mainstreaming 15 Gender Equality and Development Evaluation Units: Lessons from and Independent Evaluations of Development Support of Selected Multilateral and Bilateral Evaluation at the Agencies AfDB First Met Lessons Learned, ECG Paper # 5 It is time to say Beyond Repetitive Evaluations of Gender Mainstreaming goodbye to gender 29 Ria Brouwers mainstreaming, and to move to For two decades, international development agencies have conducted the focused actions same kind of evaluation studies, resulting in identical conclusions, and leading to identical recommendations. How much repetition is needed? toward equality for women, supported by evaluations that Legal Matters matter. Women, Business and the Law 2014 37 Removing Restrictions to Enhance Gender Equality World Bank, IFC In the past 50 years women’s legal status has improved all over the world. But many laws still make it difficult for women to fully participate in economic life On the Technology Front 54 Nne–Nna Issues in ICT Access Nnenna Nwakanma Recent studies into access to technology in Africa show that of 17 African countries assessed, only in Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa do more than 50 percent of women own mobile phones or active SIM cards. eVALUatiOn Matters © 2014—African Development Bank (AfDB) African Development Bank is published quarterly in English and French Group 15 Avenue du Ghana, Editor-in-Chief: Angle des rues Pierre de Coubertin et Hedi Nouira BP 323, 1002 Tunis Felicia Avwontom Belvédère , Tunisia Produced under the guidance of the Director of OPEV, Rakesh Nangia. Design: Phoenixdesignaid and Felicia Avwontom (AfDB) Team that contributed to this issue: Mohamed Manai, Pierre-Joseph Layout and Printing: Phoenixdesignaid Kingbo, Jayne Musumba, Linet Gatakaa Miriti, Caroline McEuen and Eric McGaw (consultants—provided editorial assistance) Gender at Work 62 Gender-smart jobs strategies need to Gender Equality in the World of Work Matters identify and address multiple deprivations Jobs can bring gains for women, their families, businesses, and communities. Jobs boost self-esteem and pull families out of poverty. and constraints that Yet gender disparities persist in the world of work. underlie gender inequality in the world Perspectives from International Development Institutions of work. UN Women: Gender Mainstreaming: Part of a holistic approach to achieve women’s rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality 68 Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, African Development Bank: Gender Equality: It is Within our Reach Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi 76 World Bank: Overview of Gender Mainstreaming in the World Bank Hippolyte Fofack 82 World Bank: Gender Mainstreaming in Energy and Land Governance in some African Countries 88 Vera Songwe World Bank Gender in IEG: Assessing World Bank Group Results in 94 Gender Equality Caroline Heider Gender Mainstreaming – Live Stories Mainstreaming Gender into Evaluations: An Evaluation Community of Practice Event 97 Joelle Kanyana Murara and Aicha Zeinabou Fofana Other Perspectives The Rwanda Men’s Where were the boys? Where are the men? Wele Anyangwe 104 Resource Centre is a glowing example of ... if we want to ensure gender mainstreaming in all areas of society, incorporating men in we urgently need to get men on board … only joint efforts will the debate on gender provide lasting solutions mainstreaming... In Rwanda, the participation Celebrating the Contribution of African Women to Development 110 of women in politics is in Africa commendable. Hippolyte Fofack The mission of the Operations Evaluation Department is to enhance Questions? the development effectiveness of the AfDB in its Telephone: (216) 71 102 841 regional member countries through independent and Fax: (216) 71 194 460 instrumental evaluations and partnerships for sharing Web: http://operationsevaluation.afdb.org knowledge Write to us: [email protected] Director: Rakesh Nangia, [email protected] Copyright: © 2013—African Development Bank (AfDB) Managers: Samer Hachem, [email protected] Mohamed Manai, [email protected] FROM THE Director’S ipad Run the Talk..... Rakesh Nangia, Director, Operations Evaluation Department, AfDB At 17 years of age, I was a freshman at college filled with hope, idealism and a desire to change the world. The classes were in full swing and meetings with new dorm-mates and debating everything from engineering math to philosophy was the order of the day (and night). Life was exciting and it was indeed a wonderful world full of promise. The news came with a deafening roar. One of our mates lost his sister. It was not the death as such, but the cause of the death. The claim was an accident in the kitchen, but the discussion focused on “dowry-death” or bride burning. It was not my first encounter with unfairness or injustice, but certainly one that shook us all. The idealism in us came to the fore and the desire to change the world took shape in earnest. As we saw it, this was murder in the first degree and disguise would not deter us from justice. We organized ourselves and for several weeks protested outside the house or the “site of the murder”. The protests grew larger and police presence became necessary even though we remained peaceful. But we were loud. The media took notice and we all came away feeling a sense of victory. Gender inequality begins before birth at But it was a pyrrhic victory. We went back to our classes, a few weeks female feticide and later the media moved on and focused on other stories and the judicial moves to early girl’s wheels creaked on for eternity. No one took notice of the fact that the education (access and capital punishment we sought during our protests did not even trans- preferences), female late to community service. “Dowry deaths” were hardly uncommon genital mutilation, and this became yet another statistic. sexual abuse, trafficking, domestic violence and I think back on the incident and feel a sense of failure. Despondency wage discrimination. Is sets in deeper as I hear (and read) of countless tales of injustice. this for real? Gender inequality begins before birth at female feticide and moves 4 eVALUatiOn Matters to early girl’s education (access and preferences), discussion notes female genital mutilation, sexual abuse, traffick- many good actions ing, domestic violence and wage discrimination. the development Is this for real? practitioners can We do not have the undertake. But time to “Walk the As development professionals there is intractable this is tantamount Talk” for now we evidence on the importance of gender equity. The to pushing on a must “Run the Talk”. facts are clear: Gender equality is smart econom- string. After gen- Over this marathon, ics and gender equity is the right thing to do. Our erations of abuse many will look at the special envoy on gender, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, we have run out of numbers to declare underscores these points quite clearly in her com- time. We need to victory. But it will pelling article. Many other contributors in this shift our mindset be another pyrrhic issue point to data that demonstrates progress. and all of us need victory and one we The number of women parliamentarians, sharp to be champions can least afford. increase in education enrollment for girls, declines for this cause. We in maternal mortality, changes to legal frameworks need leaders – and “affirmative action”. The list is endless. Yet real political, religious, economic, civic – to help accel- progress is scant. erate this mindshift. Else, it will be another 1,000 years of abuse. We do not have the time to “Walk I do not doubt the statistics and the positive moves. the Talk” for now we must “Run the Talk”. Over this I question the pace. It is not only a question of marathon many will look at the numbers to declare development but more importantly human rights victory. But it will be another pyrrhic victory and and morality. As noted in several articles in this one we can least afford. Gender Inequality and issue the development community is using a range You. Where do you stand? Please Run the Talk for of instruments to bring about positive change. The a better world. It’s time. details of the “Evaluation Community of Practice” Profile of theAuthor i Rakesh Nangia is the Director of the Operations Evaluation Department of the African Development Bank. Prior to joining the AfDB, he spent 25 years at the World Bank, where he held several positions including Director of Strategy and Operations for the Human Development Network and Acting Vice-President for the World Bank Institute. He attended the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi and Harvard University and holds degrees in business administration and engineering.