Republic of Zambia
MINISTRY OF GENDER
2019 ANNUAL REPORT ______
Government Complex 2nd Floor LUSAKA
JUNE, 2020
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Table of Content
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ...... 1 FOREWORD ...... 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 5 2.0 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ...... 6 2.1 Top Management Structure………………………………………………………………………6 3.0 MANDATE OF THE MINISTRY ...... 7 3.1 Vision……………………………………………………………………………………………….7 3.2 Mission Statement ...... 7 3.3 Value Statement ...... 7 3.4 Goal Statement ...... 8 4.0 DEPARTMENTS ...... ……….8 4.1Human Resources and Administration (HRA) ...... 8 4.2 Planning and Information (PID) ...... 12 4.3 Gender in Development (GID) ...... 13 4.4 Gender Rights Protection Department ...... 14 4.5 Finance Department ...... 16 5.0 BUDGET PERFOMANCE ...... 16 6.0 MAJOR PROGRAMMES UNDERTAKEN BY THE MINISTRY ...... 18 6.1 Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) Project ...... 18 6.1.1 Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) ...... 18 6.1.2 Keeping Girls in School (KGS) ...... 19 6.1.3 Institutional Strengthening and System Building (ISSB) ...... 20 6.2 Women Economic Empowerment ...... 21 6.2.1 ADVANCE Project ...... 21 6.2.2 Entrepreneurship Training ...... 22 6.3 Mainstreaming ...... 22 6.4 Social Cultural and Behaviour Re-Setting ...... 22 6.5 European Union Sexual Gender Based Violence (EU-SGBV) Programme ...... 23 6.6 Awareness Creation ...... 23 6.7 Fast Track Courts on GBV ...... 24 6.8 International Obligations ...... 24 6.9 Information Management ...... 24 6.10 Review of the National Gender Policy ...... 25 6.11 Cabinet and Parliamentary Business ...... 25 6.12 Research ...... 25 6.13 Birth Registration ...... 27 7.0 CHALLENGES ...... 27 8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 28 9.0 CONCLUSION ...... 28
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ADVANCE Agriculture Development through Value Chain Enhancement
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CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
FD Finance Department GBV Gender Based Violence
GEWEL Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihoods Project
GID Gender in Development
PID Planning and Information Department GRP Gender Rights Protection
HRA Human Resources and Administration
KGS Keeping Girls in School
MoG Ministry of Gender
PID Planning and Information Department
PSMD Public Service Management Division
SWL Supporting Women’s Livelihood 7NDP Seventh National Development Plan
SDGs Strategic Development Goals
AU African Union
SADC Southern Africa Developing Countries 7NDP Seventh National Development Plan
FOREWORD
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I have the pleasure to present the 2019 Annual Report for the Ministry of Gender. The Report provides details of major programmes and activities in the implementation of Government programmes in line with the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) for the period 1st January to 31st December, 2019. The Report further presents challenges that were experienced during implementation and sets recommendations to be undertaken in 2020 with an aim to reduce gender disparities and attain “a Nation Free of Gender Inequality by 2030.”
The production of this Annual Report is in compliance with the National Assembly Standing Orders 84(1), which requires that all spending agencies whose budgets were approved by Parliament submit Annual Reports which should be laid on the Table of the House within six (6) months from the date of the end of financial year of each institution.
This Annual Reports gives an account of major programmes, strategies and extent of execution which clearly indicate the effectiveness of the Ministry and its departments in executing development programmes as they affect the lives of the people whom Members of Parliament represent.
In 2019, the Ministry continued to face the following challenges of inadequate capacity to implement gender programmes countrywide due to lean structure at the Ministry and poorly sectoral gender responsive planning and budgeting
It is worth noting that the achievements for the year under review and many others that were scored by the Ministry were made possible through the continued collaboration and support of various Stakeholders and Cooperating Partners. I am confident that the year ahead will present an enhanced commitment of all Stakeholders and Cooperating Partners in our attainment of “a nation free of gender inequality by 2030” and underpin the aspiration of the 7NDP of not leaving anyone behind in the political, social and economic activities of the country. This vision will ensure that both women and men, girls and boys are given equal opportunities to realise their full potential in contributing to the country’s development.
Hon. Elizabeth Phiri, MP MINISTER OF GENDER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the contribution and continued support of all line Ministries and Stakeholders in the gender agenda. Special gratitude is extended to Development Cooperating Partners for complementing Government’s efforts in promoting gender equality in the country. I further wish to recognise the effort and hard work of all Officers and members of staff within the Ministry. Despite being faced with challenges, their endeavours yielded positive results towards attaining a Smart and Value Centered Ministry of Gender.
Allow me to extend my sincere thanks to the donor community for their unwavering support during the reporting period. It is my sincere hope that the outlined recommendations for the year 2020 will be implemented as we endeavour to attain “a nation free of gender inequality by 2030.”
Sastone Silomba Permanent Secretary MINISTRY OF GENDER
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2019 Annual Report for the Ministry of Gender reflects the structural outlay, implementation of planned programmes, budget performance of programmes, activities and achievements.
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During the year under review, the Ministry had an approved budget of Twenty-Four million, Nine Hundred and Ten Thousand, Four Hundred and Three kwacha (K24,910,403.00). The total release from the approved budget was Ten Million and Seventy Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Six Kwacha Ninety Eight Ngwee (K10,072,796.98). Further, the Ministry received support from Cooperating Partners amounting to Seven Million, One Hundred and Thirty One Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Seven Kwacha Seventy Two Ngwee (7,131,327.72).
From the available resources received from both Government and Cooperating Partners, the Ministry executed a number of major programmes such as:
1. Gender Equity and Equality programmes under strategy 3 of Pillar 3 of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) which aims at reducing the developmental inequalities in an effort to bridge income and gender disparities; 2. Girls Education, Women Empowerment and Livelihood (GEWEL) Project where a total of 33,626 women in 31 districts were supported under the Supporting Women’s Livelihood (SWL) while, Keeping Girls in School (KGS) which aims at increasing access to secondary education for disadvantaged adolescent girls between ages of 14 and 21, a total of 16, 239 girls had their school fees paid for; 3. The ADVANCE Project which is an initiative to harmonise the design, development, programming and implementation of economic empowerment targeting women across the country using a chiefdom led approach. A total of 27 women led cooperatives n were empowered during the year; 4. Commencement of the review process of the National Gender Policy which had remained deficient of gender provisions under the various new development instruments; 5. Sensitisation on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and counselling of GBV survivors; and 6. Establishment of additional Fast Track Courts around the country aimed at enhancing the dispensation of justice through the disposal of GBV cases.
Despite the achievements, the Ministry was also faced with a number of challenges during the year under review.
1.0 INTRODUCTION The Ministry of Gender (MoG) is charged with the responsibility of promoting gender equality. The specific functions of the Ministry are outlined in the Government Gazette Notice No. 836 of 2016 (Vol. LII. No. 76) as follows: a) Gender; b) Gender Based Violence; c) Gender Equity and Equality; d) National Gender Policy; and e) Women Empowerment.
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In addition, the Ministry is responsible for the Anti-Gender Based Violence Committee and persuing possibilities of coming up with the Gender Equity and Equality Commission.
2.0 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE The Ministry is headed by a Cabinet Minister responsible for policy direction on gender matters. The Permanent Secretary provides strategic direction and administrative leadership. The Permanent Secretary is assisted by the Directors of Human Resources and Administration, Gender Rights Protection, Gender in Development, Planning and Information, Finance and Heads of Procurement and Internal Audit for day to day operations.
2.1 Top Management Structure
MINISTER
PERMANENT SECRETARY
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DIRECTOR - DIRECTOR - DIRECTOR - DIRECTOR - DIRECTOR - FD PID HRA GRP GID
3.0 MANDATE OF THE MINISTRY
The mandate of the Ministry of Gender (MoG) is to promote gender equality as outlined in the Government Gazette Notice No. 836 of 2016 (Vol. LII. No. 76). The portfolio functions include the following:
i. Gender; ii. Gender Based Violence; iii. Gender Equity and Equality; iv. National Gender Policy; and v. Women Empowerment.
3.1 Vision “A Smart and Value-Centred Ministry of Gender.”
To realise theVision, the Ministry identified three (3) areas of focus and their related strategic results as follows: i. Gender Responsive Development resulting in Equitable Development;
ii. Gender Rights protection resulting in Fulfilled Gender Rights; and
iii. Operational Excellence resulting in High Quality Services.
3.2 Mission Statement “To promote gender responsive sustainable development.”
The mission of the Ministry is to promote gender rights and development of opportunities to empower men, women, boys and girls to eliminate gender inequalities.
3.3 Value Statement The operations of the Ministry and more specifically, the conduct and behaviour of staff is anchored on national values and principles, Code of Ethics and core values namely: Integrity, Transparency, Accountability, Confidentiality, Teamwork, Courtesy and Impartiality.
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3.4 Goal Statement “To mainstream gender at all levels in order to reduce gender disparities”
Through this statement, MoG develops innovative strategies that ensures that male and female have the same opportunities to fully realise their potential.
4.0 DEPARTMENTS The Ministry of Gender is comprised of the following Departments: i. Human Resources and Administration (HRA); ii. Gender Rights Protection (GRP); iii. Gender in Development (GID); iv. Planning and Information (PID); and v. Finance (FD).
4.1 Human Resources and Administration (HRA) The Department is responsible for the following functions: a. Interpret and disseminate Conditions of Service; b. Staff Welfare programmes; c. Coordinate the institutionalisation of the Performance Management Package (PMP); d. Staff development and discipline; e. Records Management; f. Secretarial Services; g. Human Resource Management and Development; h. Managing the Establishment and Payroll of the Ministry; i. Office Management; and j. Transport Management.
The Department is divided into five (5) Units namely: Human Resource Management, Human Resource Development, Administration, Internal Audit and Procurement.
4.1.1 Functions of Human Resources and Administration 1. Human Resource Management Unit
The Department performs the following activities:
a. Staff Establishment
The total establishment for the Ministry is one hundred and eighty five (185) positions. However, during the year under review, the staff strength was seventy-two (72) occupied positions. Of these, seven (7) are attached to the Ministry from other Ministries as follows; four (4) of the attached staff are from the Ministry 8 | P a g e of Youth, Sport and Child Development; one (1) is from the Ministry of Agriculture and two (2) are from the Ministry of Works and Supply. Besides those attached to the Ministry, one (1) Officer is attached to Public Service Management Division (PSMD).
b. Payroll Management
The Department monitors the payroll on a monthly basis as well as providing inputs for all new cases that are supposed to be reflected on the payroll.
c. Appointments, Promotions, Transfers, Retirement, Disciplinary, Attachment and Secondment Cases
Case management handled in 2019: i. Appointments: Following the retirement of one of the Assistant Directors, the Ministry traded off the position and created two (2) positions at Gender Officer Level. The recommendation to appoint the two (2) positions was made to PSMD; ii. One (1) promotion; iii. Six (6) transfers; iv. One (1) retirement; and v. One (1) reinstatement.
d. Performance Management
The Department processed the facilitation of Performance Management processes for the staff by engaging PSMD to re-orient senior members of staff through the Performance Contract and Performance Management Packages before the processing of the Annual Performance Appraisal System (APAS) Form.
e. Staff Welfare
The Department facilitated all staff welfare matters such as payments of leave travel, leave terminal, settling in allowances, salary arrears, repatriation and commutation of leave days. There were a total of twenty (20) members of staff who went on leave in 2019 and have not been paid their leave travel. The total bill for Other Personal Emoluments stands at one million, two hundred and seventy thousand, kwacha (K1, 270,000.00). Meanwhile, only thirty thousand kwacha (K30, 000.00) was released and paid to members of staff in 2019.
2. Human Resource Development Unit
a. Human Resource Development Programmes
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This Unit is responsible for staff training, capacity building as well as in-house orientation and training programmes. However, due to limited resources, the Ministry benefitted from fully sponsored training and development programmes for the Officers. The Unit will in 2020 engage various service providers in order to conduct in-house training programmes that may not require finances.
3. Administration Unit
a. General Administration
The Unit administered and managed the Minister’s Office, Permanent Secretary’s Office, Office Administration, Utility Bills, Maintenance of the Building, Staff Meetings, Maintenance of Vehicles, and payment of Outstanding Bills.
b. Events
The Department facilitated funds for Labour Day; Public Service Day; Secretarial Day; Shows and Exhibitions; and Zambia International Trade Fair.
c. Establishment of Asset Register
The Department managed the asset register. The role has since been given to the Department of Finance.
d. Transport Management
The Ministry is currently operating with a fleet of thirty-nine (39) vehicles; thirty-two (32) runners and seven (7) non-runner.
4. Internal Audit Unit
The Unit is responsible for providing reasonable assurance to Management and Secretary to the Treasury that internal controls exist and are being complied with as required by law and other regulations.
The specific functions of the Internal Audit include the following:
i. development and implementation of internal controls in order to enhance transparency and accountability in the utilization of financial and material resources; ii. ascertain that risk management and internal control system is in place and is continuously being improved and optimised in response to an ever changing environment; iii. ascertain, evaluate and improve on the governance processes put in place by Management; iv. promote effective controls at reasonable cost; and
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v. ascertain the extent of compliance with established policies, plans and procedures.
5. Procurement Unit
The Procurement and Supplies Unit is managed by the Head of Procurement who reports directly to the Permanent Secretary. During the year under review, the Unit conducted all procurements in accordance with the Zambia Public Procurement Act No. 12 of 2008 and Public Regulations of 2011.
Structure of the Human Resource Department
Post Salary Current Approved Establishment
Grade Establishment
Director M 1 1
Assistant Director L 1 1
Chief Human Resource Officer K 1 1
Executive Secretary J 1 0
Human Resource Management Officer I 1 1
Human Resource Development Officer I 0 1
Administrative Officer I 1 1
Executive Officer F 1 1
Transport Officer F 1 1
Personal Assistants I 0 2
Personal Secretary H 1 0
Senior Registry Officer H 0 1
Stenographer F 2 0
Administrative Assistant H 0 5
Registry Officer F 2 2
Typist D 5 5
Registry Clerk D 1 4
Chauffer C 0 1
Senior Office Orderly B 2 3
Office Orderly A 8 10
Driver B 9 10
Subtotal 38 51
Procurement Unit
Head Procurement L 1 1
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Senior Purchasing and Supplies Officer J 1 0
Purchasing and Supplies Officer I 2 2
Purchasing and Supplies Assistant F 2 2
Subtotal 6 5
Internal Audit Unit
Director M 0 1
Principal Internal Auditor K 0 1
Internal Auditor I 1 1
Assistant Internal Auditor F 1 2
Subtotal 2 5
Grand Total 46 61
4.2 Planning and Information (PID)
The Planning and Information Department is responsible for research, planning, budgeting, monitoring and information management in order to facilitate the development and implementation of appropriate gender interventions. The Department also coordinates the formulation and review of relevant policies and legislation as well as coordinates the budgeting process in the Ministry.
The Department is responsible for the following specific functions: - i. Coordination of Cabinet and Parliamentary Business; ii. Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the National Gender Policy; iii. Coordinate planning, implementation and review of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan; iv. Monitoring and Evaluation System; v. Information Management System; vi. Research on Gender; vii. Preparation of Ministerial Annual Budget; viii. Monitoring Budget Performance; ix. Publication of Reports and Documents on Gender Issues; x. Management of Documentation Centre; and xi. Formulation of Project Proposals. The Department is currently headed by a Director, it has 3 Units namely; Research and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Information, Education and Communication with a total Departmental staff complement of eight (7) Officers as indicated below.
4.2.1 Structure of Planning and Information Department
Post Salary Current Approved Establishment
Grade Establishment
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Director M 1 1
Chief Planner L 1 1
Chief Information Education and L 0 1 Communication Officer
Principal Research Officer K 1 0
Senior Planner J 1 1
Senior M & E Officer J 0 1
Senior Documentalist J 0 1
Senior IT Officer J 0 1
Senior IEC Officer J 0 2
Planner I 0 2
M&E Officer I 1 2
IT Officer I 1 2
Documentalist I 1 0
Grand Total 7 15
4.3 Gender in Development (GID) The Department has two Sections namely Gender Mainstreaming and Women economic Empowerment. a) Gender Mainstreaming: The Section is responsible for facilitating gender mainstreaming through gender analysis and gender auditing of public and private institutions
Specific Functions of the Section are:
(i) To facilitate the formulation and review of policies, legislation and National Action Plans from a gender perspective; (ii) Coordinating the implementation of the National Gender Policy; (iii) Mainstreaming gender in all sectors; (iv) Facilitating capacity building in gender analysis for effective gender mainstreaming in the public and private sector; (v) Undertaking advocacy programmes to mainstream gender into social- cultural issues; and (vi) Promoting and Monitoring adherence to increasing women’s participation in decision making. b) Women Economic Empowerment
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The Section is responsible for uplifting the socio-economic wellbeing of women and girls through skills development, entrepreneurship training and provision of grants and or equipment to women groups or cooperatives in order to reduce their vulnerability.
The Specific functions of the Section are to:
(i) Undertaking capacity building for skills development;
(ii) Coordinating, mobilizing and disbursing resources for the implementation of gender equity, equality and women’s empowerment programmes; and
(iii) Raising public awareness on and increased women’s access to the economic empowerment fund for sustainable economic development.
Structure of Gender in Development
Post Salary Current Approved Establishment
Grade Establishment
Director M 1 1
Assistant Director Empowerment L 0 1
Assistant Director Gender Mainstreaming L 0 1
Gender Analyst L 3 0
Senior Gender Officer J 0 2
Gender Officer I 0 4
Subtotal 4 9
Province
Senior Gender Officer J 0 10
Sub Total 0 10
Grand Total 4 19
4.4 Gender Rights Protection Department The Department is responsible for coordination of the development, implementation and review of gender advocacy programmes in order to facilitate the promotion and protection of gender rights. The Department is also responsible for ensuring compliance to national, regional and international instruments on women’s rights such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Rights of Women.
The Department is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the provisions of the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No.1 of 2011 and the Gender Equity and Equality Act No.22 of 2015.
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The Department is responsible for performing the following specific functions: a. Facilitating the development and implementation of affirmative action policies for the enhancement of the status of women and girls; b. Coordinating the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence; c. Providing secretarial services to the Anti-GBV National Committee; d. Developing and disseminating standards for the establishment and management of shelters for survivors of GBV; e. Developing and disseminating guideline for the management of the Anti- GBV Fund; f. Promoting social/cultural research that underpins gender inequality to enhance appreciation of gender and development; g. Developing and reviewing appropriate legislation to promote women’s rights in line with International and Regional Standard; h. Monitoring the compliance to regional and international instruments on women’s rights into national laws and policies; i. Promoting the realization and protection of the rights of women; j. Strengthening institutional capacities for dealing in women’s rights; and k. Ensuring effective implementation of the Gender Equity and Equality Act by Public and Private Institutions.
Structure of Gender Rights Protection Post Salary Current Approved Establishment
Grade Establishment
Director M 1 1
Assistant Directors Gender Rights L 0 1
Assistant Directors Anti - GBV L 0 1
Gender Analyst L 4 0
Senior Gender Officer J 0 5
Gender Officers I 2 6
Subtotal 7 14
Provincial
Senior Gender Officer J 0 10
Subtotal 0 10
Grand Total 7 24
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4.5 Finance Department The Finance Department is responsible for managing the financial resources of the Ministry in order to facilitate implementation of programmes and ensure their prudent utilisation and accountability. It should be noted that towards the end of the year under review, stores management was moved from procurement unit to the Finance department. The Department is responsible for the following: (i) Preparation and submission of financial management reports in conformity with financial regulations and facilitate decision-making; (ii) Maintenance of expenditure and commitment ledgers in order to ensure that public funds are appropriately utilized; (iii) Collecting and accounting for Government Revenues in order to safeguard public resources and support the budget; (iv) Accounting for assets in order to safeguard public property; (v) Preparing and submitting annual audited accounts in order to facilitate decision making; (vi) Management of risks in order to mitigate losses; (vii) Payroll management; (viii) Cash Management; and (ix) Undertaking budget control in order to prevent budget overruns and avoid misapplication of funds.
Departmental Structure
Post Salary Current Approved Establishment
Grade Establishment
Director M 1 1
Principal Accountant K 0 1
Senior Accountant J 1 1
Accountant I 1 2
Assistant Accountant H 2 4
Accounts Assistant F 4 0
Grand Total 9 9
5.0 BUDGET PERFOMANCE In the period under review, the total approved budget was Twenty Four million, Nine Hundred and Ten Thousand, Four Hundred and Three kwacha (K24,910,403.00) whilst the total releases were Ten Million
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S/N DEPARTMENT APPROVED BUDGET RELEASES % RELEASE 4,003,087.00 79.88 1 HRA 5,011,077.00 1,640,635.98 73.34 2 PID 2,237,108.00 2,173,254.00 14.50 3 GID 14,988,138.00 1,692,959.00 85.86 4 GRP 1,971,701.00 562,861.00 80.14 5 FD 702,379.00 10,072,796.98 40.44 6 TOTAL 24,910,403.00
DISTRIBUTION OF THE 2019 MINISTERIAL FUNDING
Funding to the Departments
3% 8% 20%
HRA 9% PID GID
60% GRP FD
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SUPPORT FROM THE COOPERATING PARTNERS
The Ministry received additional support of Seven Million, One Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Seven Kwacha Seventy Two Ngwee (K 7,131,327.72) from Cooperating Partners. This support aimed at supplementing Government’s effort in enhancing Gender equity and equality programmes.
S/N DONORS PROGRAMME AMOUNT (K) CARRY OVER (K) RELEASES (K)
1. World Bank GEWEL Project 5,000,000.00 619,848.03 626,946.99
2. IBSA 1,733,210.00 1,733,210.00
3. UN Women 398,117.72 398,117.72
4. TOTAL 7,131,327.72 619,848.03 2,757,674.71
6.0 MAJOR PROGRAMMES UNDERTAKEN BY THE MINISTRY During the year under review, the Ministry conducted Gender Equity and Equality Programmes under Strategy 3 of Pillar 3 of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) which aims at reducing developmental inequalities in an effort to bridge income and gender disparities. Despite erratic funding, the Ministry endeavoured to execute its mandate and implemented major programmes with assistance from Cooperating Partners as indicated below:
6.1 Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) Project In the period under review, the Ministry continued to provide a coordinating role in the implementation of the Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) Project which is implemented by the Ministries of Community Development and Social services and General Education. The Project seeks to support the Government of Zambia to increase access to livelihood support to women and access to secondary education to disadvantaged girls in selected districts. The Project has three (3) Components namely: Supporting Women’s Livelihood (SWL), Keeping Girls in School (KGS) and Institutional Strengthening and System Building (ISSB).
6.1.1 Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) The Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) Component builds on existing Government structures to support poor women’s livelihood productivity and economic empowerment. The Component finances a comprehensive package of activities for beneficiaries, including context-specific training in business and life skills, provision of productivity grants, mentoring and peer support, and facilitation of savings groups for a total of 75,000 women in 51 districts.
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During the period under review, the Project was on target with thirty three thousand six hundred and twenty six (33,626) beneficiaries in 31 districts. The SWL Component is administered by Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
Map illustrating the geographic coverage of the SWL Component.
6.1.2 Keeping Girls in School (KGS) The Keeping Girls in School (KGS) Component is aimed at increasing access to secondary education for disadvantaged adolescent girls between the ages of 14 and 21 in extremely poor
19 | P a g e households in 27 selected districts where the Social Cash Transfer Scheme operates. In the period under review, the Project target of 14,000 girls for whom school fees would have been paid for was exceeded with fees having been paid for 16,239. The KGS Component is administered by Ministry of General Education.
Map illustrating the geographic coverage of the KGS Component
6.1.3 Institutional Strengthening and System Building (ISSB) The Institutional Strengthening and System Building (ISSB) Component aims to improve linkages between programmes that offer complementary support to beneficiaries in order to ensure self-sustainability. In addition, the Component supports the Government in its efforts to build a single registry for selection of 20 | P a g e beneficiaries of targeted programmes. The single registry seeks to improve targeting accuracy while improving synergies across programmes. The Component further supports the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, management information systems and impact evaluations to inform policy.
In 2019, the Ministry developed the E-gender System which is running on the local server. The purpose was to automate internal operational and administrative processes of conducting Government business in the Ministry. The internal processes included, among others, the computerisation of registry files, management of projects and programmes, information sharing, allocation of assignment, approval and disapproval processes, vehicle management, asset management, human resource management and administration processes, suppliers and stock management, clients and stakeholders database and personnel data management. The process seeks to reduce on the delivery time of services and enhance efficiency and effectiveness in operations.
6.2 Women Economic Empowerment
6.2.1 ADVANCE Project The Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) Project is an initiative which targets all the 288 chiefdoms in Zambia. The project is intended to harmonise the design, development, programming and implementation of economic empowerment programmes for especially rural women and youths across the country. Through this project, the Government through the Ministry of Gender in collaboration with relevant line ministries provides mechanised agriculture production and value addition equipment to women-led cooperatives which is meant to catalyze agricultural production and productivity in order to enhance chiefdom-based job, income and wealth creation. In addition, the women, youth and men must belong to co-operatives whose composition should consist 70% women and youth and 30% men.
Through the ADVANCE project, the Ministry of Gender during the year under review empowered a total of 27 women -led cooperatives/clubs with assorted agriculture production, value addition and gardening equipment. These cooperatives are based in four (4) provinces namely North-Western, Central, Luapula and the Copperbelt. In this regard, the Ministry handed over nineteen (19) bee hives, forty nine (49) feeders, twenty two (22) horse pipes, three (3) irrigation pumps, two (2) sprayers, six (6) wheel barrows, one (1) PVC pipe, one (1) ox plough, two (2) ox cart trailers, seven (7) sewing machines, thirty two (32) drinkers and four (4) peanut butter making machines to the selected cooperatives in the aforementioned provinces. The purpose of distributing this equipment was to increase agricultural production and productivity, facilitate value addition to agriculture produce and reduce the burden of farm work using hand hoes by these cooperatives.
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6.2.2 Entrepreneurship Training A total of 2,555 (907 men and 1,652 women) were trained in basic entrepreneurship, record keeping, financial literacy and village banking/savings. The essence of this training was to equip the women led cooperatives with skills and knowledge to initiate and run enterprises and begin to treat agriculture related activities which they are involved in as businesses with the overall aim of enhancing sustainability of these women cooperative programmes facilitated by the Ministry.
Further, a total of forty (40) tractor Operators from twenty (20) chiefdoms comprising twenty-two (22) men and eighteen (18) women were trained in tractor driving, operations, basic repairs, servicing and maintenance. The purpose of this training was to impart skills and knowledge among these operators which would in turn enable the cooperatives to use this equipment efficiently and effectively while ensuring that the equipment does not get mismanaged due to ignorance.
6.3 Mainstreaming Gender mainstreaming in various sectors has been slow coupled with low participation of women in decision making in both public and private sectors as well as lack of gender responsive planning and budgeting by various sectors. In an effort to ensure that gender is effectively planned and budgeted for, the following measures were instituted: (i) Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines and Checklist were formulated. Subsequently, gender was mainstreamed in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and the Budget Call Circular to ensure that sectors do not leave out gender in their planning; (ii) Gender Responsible Planning and Budgeting Guidelines were formulated; (iii) Revival of the Gender Focal Points system, with officers responsible for policy and budget to take the lead; (iv) Conducted Gender analysis and Participatory Gender Audits (PGA)of Sector policies; (v) Capacity building in Gender Responsive planning and budgeting was conducted for the GFPs and it is an ongoing process; and (vi) Development and institutionalization of the Gender Marker for programmes and projects
6.4 Social Cultural and Behaviour Re-Setting The Government through the Ministry of Gender recorded positive strides in reducing negative cultural and social norms practices. In addressing these practices, the Ministry undertook specific interventions in the following: (i) Child marriage and teenage pregnancies; and (ii) Negative traditional norms and practices In an effort to end child marriage, the Ministry developed and launched the District Action Plans for two (2) pilot districts in Senanga and Katete. The District Action Plans seek to address child marriage using an integrated approach which involves provision of services such as sexual reproductive health services, 22 | P a g e education, creating linkages to existing empowerment programmes such as Food Security Pack, social cash transfer and the cashew infrastructure development project. This is in an effort to attain the 11% target of child marriage by 2021. According to the 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey, the prevalence of child marriage stood at 29%.
In addition, the Government is implementing a programme that is funded by India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA Fund) whose aim is to reducing child marriage through improved access to education. In the year under review, the Project entitled “Eliminating Child Marriage in Malawi and Zambia and offering scholarships to child marriage survivors – pilot project” was launched and is being implemented in 2 districts namely Mpulungu and Chama. The Project is for the period – 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020. The cost of the project is $992,250. Zambia’s component is $405,549.
Further, as part of the national response to social cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequalities, the Ministry undertook sensitization activities in Eastern, Copperbelt, Central, Southern and Western provinces.
6.5 European Union Sexual Gender Based Violence (EU-SGBV) Programme According to the Victim Support Unit statistics, Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases continued to rise and 2019 the cases stood 25, 121 compared to 22, 073 in 2018. Against this background, the Government of the Republic of Zambia signed a K300 million (€25 million) financing agreement with the European Union (EU) for a six-year programme to curb SGBV in the country.
The EU-SGBV Programme seeks to strengthen Government’s institutional and policy frameworks through the provision of technical assistance and monitoring to the Ministry of Gender and other relevant Ministries that are involved in fighting SGBV in Zambia. Further, the Project focusses its implementation at community and district level – focusing on advocacy and awareness raising amongst adolescents and youths, local leaders and the media. Through establishing and strengthening of coordinated response centers at district level the project will provide a comprehensive package of support services to SGBV survivors.
The programme will be implemented in all the 22 districts of Northern and Luapula Provinces after having recorded the highest SGBV rates in the country.
6.6 Awareness Creation The Ministry continued to raise awareness on gender equity and equality in 2019. Training sessions were carried out by the Ministry and its Cooperating Partners on Gender Based Violence in Zambia. These interventions were intensified during the Commemoration of the Sixteen days of Activism against Gender Based Violence during which broadened the scope of engagement to include church mother bodies, public and private sectors and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
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Further, the Ministry conducted trainings on the provisions of the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011 and the Gender Equity and Equality Act No. 22 of 2015 for local authorities covering Kitwe, Ndola, Chingola, Chililabombwe and Kalulushi District Councils. In addition, fifty five thousand, eight hundred and forty nine (55,849) GBV survivors were counselled through partners like Young Women Christian Association (YWCA).
6.7 Fast Track Courts on GBV In its quest to zero tolerance to GBV, the Government through the Ministry of Gender and the Judiciary working with UNDP with support from the Governments of Sweden, United Kingdom and Ireland, embarked on establishing fast track courts on GBV in order to enhance access to justice for survivors of GBV. So far, a total of 6 fast track courts have been established and operationalised in Lusaka, Kabwe, Chipata, Choma, Mongu and Ndola. During the period under review, the Ministry signed the Phase 2 of the GRZ UNJoint programme on GBV which will amongst other things focus on the establishment of the four remaining fast track courts to be established in Solwezi, Chinsali, Kasama and Mansa.
6.8 International Obligations During the year under review, the Ministry facilitated the development of the following country reports which is part of its obligations under the various international conventions:
(a) Seventh and Eighth CEDAW Report; (b) Beijing +25 progress report; and (c) Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol).
In addition to the above, the Ministry also facilitated the participation of the country at 63rd session of the Convention of the Status on Women (CSW), the African Union meetings on gender and the SADC meetings on gender.
6.9 Information Management The Ministry’s Information Technology requirements ranging from identification of technology needs, specifications as well as maintenance and repair of computers and local area network to ensure information sharing and access to resources such as the Internet was provided and supported by Smart Zambia.
To this end, the Ministry’s website on www.gender.gov.zm was upgraded and is part of the active government portal. The internet connectivity has been upgraded to the Government Wide Area Network (GWAN) under Smart Zambia. All members of staff are connected to the Government Corporate Email system, Skype for Business, Internet and other shared services on the Government network.
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6.10 Review of the National Gender Policy The Ministry is in the process of revising the National Gender Policy (NGP) of 2014. In 2019 the Ministry developed the zero draft revised Gender Policy. The Policy had considered priorities and aspirations of the Government as set out in Development Plans such as the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (RSNDP), Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development.
The 2014 NGP therefore, remains deficient of gender provisions under the various new development instruments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, the Revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, the 7NDP and the Gender Equity and Equality Act, No. 22 of 2015.
The priorities of the Revised Gender Policy will therefore be broader, utilising more integrated and multi - sectoral approaches, and will align with strategies and address gender in development as outlined in the 7NDP.
The main objectives of the review are to: 1. take stock of the implementation of policy measures in light of changes in the environment; 2. verify the relevance of the institutional and implementation frameworks as well as the sustainability of measures therein; 3. identify emerging gender issues and develop appropriate measures; 4. align measures to the Sustainable Development Goals, AU Agenda 2063, Revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Gender Equity and Equality Act, No. 22 of 2015, Seventh National Development Plan and other relevant instruments on gender equity and equality; and 5. make recommendations on implementation of special measures to promote gender equality in the context of the 7th National Development Plan integrated and multi-sectoral framework.
6.11 Cabinet and Parliamentary Business During the year under review, the Ministry prepared five Cabinet Memoranda, three of which have been tabled for the information of Cabinet on the Beijing Platform of Action National Report, Outcomes of the Hosting of the Council of Traditional Leaders’ of Africa (COTLA) Annual Steering Committee Meeting in Lusaka and the 12th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (12WAMM) held from 19-20 September 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. The pending two Agenda Cab Memos are at PACD level for further review and these require a meeting between PS-PACD and PS – Gender. The two Cab Memos are on Gender Trainings and Measure to Promote Gender Equality in Zambia.
6.12 Research The Ministry has been conducting a study to determine the prevalence of Gender Based Violence in households supported under the GEWEL projects. The study was being supervised directly by the World Bank Country office in Zambia.
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Women and young girls, particularly those in rural areas, are at risk of experiencing sexual violence due to existing cultural norms and unequal power relations at household level. While participating in the project which is expected to enhance their wellbeing, it is possible that this may put them at an even greater risk with their male counterparts leading to sexual abuse or increased sexual violence. In anticipation of this risk, a study exploring how GEWEL may respond to the risks of GBV was conducted to ascertain the level of risk and propose mitigation measures to be implemented and to inform appropriate activities included under the proposed Additional Financing.
In response to the findings of the study, the Ministry in the year under review, coordinated the development of a detailed Action Plan to mitigate and respond to GBV risks to be implemented by GEWEL, as part of a broader response through the World Bank’s human development projects, with close coordination between GEWEL and the World Bank-funded Zambia Education Enhancement Project (ZEEP, P158570) and the
Zambia Health Services Improvement Project (P145335). The Action Plan further provides information on areas of strengthening client capacity to better manage and respond to GBV risks and the proposed Additional Financing and restructuring aimed at supporting the implementation of this plan. A summary of this action plan is as follows: (a) Roll-out the Grievance and Redress Mechanism (GRM) to all project areas and improve the ability of the GRM to accept GBV-related complaints. (b) Update and maintain the national GBV referral pathway in Project districts (c) Strengthening the monitoring of the Keeping Girls in School (KGS) component of the GEWEL (d) Design, pilot roll out of case management system in schools that have KGS beneficiaries (e) Improve guidelines on standards of boarding facilities, establish achievement of standards certification process and oversight of them by Ministry of General Education. (f) Sensitization of Ministry of General Education line structure staff and school students on SRGBV, in schools supported by KGS (g) Design and pilot program to reduce violence against children in the school system through behavioral change at the community level. The preparation of the study and the Action Plan benefited from consultation with gender and GBV-experts across the Ministries of Gender, General Education and Community Development and Social Services, the United Nations, development partners, and the University of Zambia.
Further in the year under review, the Ministry began the process of updating the GBV referral pathway in the selected 27 KGS districts of the GEWEL project. The aim of this exercise was to gather information on the support services and structures available in each district for GBV survivors, map the people who make up the referral pathway including the scope of training(s) attended and identify gaps in survivor-cantered services for GBV survivors in order to devise appropriate support measures in the respective districts. By the end of December 2019, data had been collected from 16 districts and the remaining 11 districts were be
26 | P a g e covered in the first quarter of 2020. The GBV referral pathway is an outline of support and referral services for a survivor of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
6.13 Birth Registration The Ministry of Gender in partnership with the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship under the Ministry of Home Affairs, embarked on the process of Birth Certification for beneficiaries and other clients under the Keeping Girls in School (KGS) of the GEWEL Project. The objective of the programme is to establish the legal identity for adolescent girls from extremely poor households under the KGS component of the GEWEL Project to access this critical document that will pave way to other forms of identity, including national identification cards and passports. Some of the benefits of birth registration are outlined below: (i) it is a requirement for establishing one’s citizenship and confirmation of nationality; (ii) a child may be denied his or her rights and unable to access essential services such as education if they do not possess the birth certificate; (iii) it is a ‘breeder document’ that helps establish a legal identity and facilitates access to other forms of identity, including national identification cards; (iv) it may be required to obtain social assistance, bursaries and scholarships; (v) it is an important proof-of-age document that prevents the child from age related abuses such as: child marriage (marriage before the age of 18); child labour; child defilement; and child trafficking. The process of mobile birth registration involves four (4) stages: 1. awareness creation; 2. completion/filling in of notification forms with parents or guardians; 3. entering of information into the database and processing of certificates; and 4. certificate distribution. So far notification, registration and certification activities have been carried out in Samfya, Shiwangandu, Petauke, Luangwa, Lufwanyama and Chavuma Districts. As at 30th November, 2019, 5828 beneficiaries were registered and 3567 birth certificates printed under the KGS supported initiative. It should be noted that the process is ongoing for the printing of birth certificates. Most of the certificates for Petauke and Samfya are being printed in Chipata and Mansa, respectively.
7.0 CHALLENGES Despite the many successes that were recorded in 2019, the Ministry faced some challenges and these are as follows:
a. The Ministry experienced a low budget during the year. This was coupled with the poor releases of funds which affected implementation of many programmes especially those that were time bound; b. Transport still remained a challenge and this affected the facilitation of outreach programmes as most of the vehicles were old and costly to maintain;
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c. Resistance to change traditional norms and values that perpetuate the subordination of women to men; d. The deep rooted traditional norms, practices and customs have continued to inhibit girls’ access to education due to teenage pregnancies and child marriage thereby violating their rights; e. High number of cases being withdrawn and unwillingness by survivors to testify in the Court of Law; f. Limited capacity, resources and number of personnel in the Ministry of Gender and its stakeholders to conduct countrywide sensitisation on Anti- Gender Based Violence programmes. g. Limited funds to implement and scale up programmes for the Ministry has continued to be a major challenge; h. Limited staff and the lack of presence in provinces and districts has negatively affected coordination of Ministerial programmes country-wide; i. Persistent Gender inequalities. Largely due to cultures that are based on patriarchal values across tribes and are highly conservative and hierarchical and therefore confer headship to men; and j. Persistent gender inequalities resulting from unequal access to land, finance, agricultural inputs, formal employment and under-representation in decision making positions.
8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. In moving forward, the Ministry intends to enhance the use of the media to disseminate Anti Gender Based Violence messages and strengthen linkages in the formulation of initiatives to transform norms and behaviour that underpin Gender based Violence; 2. The ministry intends to intensify sensitizations in chiefdoms on the tenets of gender equity and equality; 3. The Ministry intends to work with key line Ministries such as Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Youth, Sport and Child Development and other stakeholders involved in the ADVANCE Project to build capacity of cooperatives in entrepreneurship and cooperative governance issues. This is in line with the aspirations of the 7NDP which proposes for interventions to be tackled in an integrated manner; 4. Improved budget and funding for the Ministry in order efficiently implement programmes and improve the fleet of vehicles; and 5. Treasury authority should be granted in a phased manner in order to facilitate for the recruitment of officers in accordance with the approved establishment of the Ministry.
9.0 CONCLUSION In 2020, the Ministry of Gender will endeavour to promote gender equity and equality between the rural and urban areas of the country. This is in line with the aspirations of the Seventh National Development Plan
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(7NDP) of accelerating development without leaving anyone behind. It is further anticipated that through the Ministry, Zambia envisages “a nation free of gender inequality by 2030” by uplifting the lives of women and men, girls and boys in all sectors of the economy.
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