[ SOUTH ASIA GENDER INITIATIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS SOUTH ASIA GENDER INITIATIVE 1.1 WHY GENDER EQUALITY MATTERS IN SOUTH ASIA…………………………………………….....6 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF SAGE INITIATIVE……………………………………………………………............8 1.3 AREAS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE……………………………………….……………………......8 1.3.1 IMPROVING WOMEN’S LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION………………………………………9 1.3.2 SOCIAL INCLUSION AND GENDER RELATIONS………………………………………………..10 1.3.3 GENDER AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT………………………………………………….……..10 1.4 FINANCIAL SUMMARY…………………………………………..……………………………..........13 1.4.1 DISBURSEMENTS & COMMITMENTS……………………………….………………………..........13 1.4.2 ALLOCATIONS BY COUNTRY…………………………………………………………….............14 1.4.3 ALLOCATIONS BY THEMATIC PILLAR………………………………………………………........14 1.5 PRELIMINARY RESULTS……………………………………………………………………….............15 1.5.1 LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION………………………………………………………………......15 1.5.2 SOCIAL INCLUSION AND GENDER RELATIONS……………………………………………..…16 1.5.3 GENDER AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT…………………………….………………………......16 1.6 GOING FORWARD……………………………………………….….……………………................16 This is an extract from the first Annual Report of the AusAID-World Bank Partnership for South Asia Umbrella Trust Fund (UTF). To read and download the complete report visit www.PartnershipForSouthAsia.com. The report has been prepared by the PFSA Secretariat led by Tara Sharafudeen, Program Manager and main author. Nicola Vesco, Communications Specialist worked on the design and Nishtha Mehta, Knowledge Specialist assisted with the writing and editing of the report. Information for this section was also provided by the task leader Jennifer Soltaroff. PHOTO CREDITS SAGE SECTION COVER: CURT CARNEMARK/WORLD BANK PHOTO CREDITS/AKNOWLEDGMENTS BACKGROUND: CURT CARNEMARK/WORLD BANK DIAGRAM 1: IDELDESIGN//SHUTTERSTOCK, INC. BACKGROUND HIGHLIGHT: CURT CARNEMARK/WORLD BANK ILLUSTRATION PAGE 15: RAY WITLIN/WORLD BANK ILLUSTRATION PAGE 17: SCOTT WALLACE/WORLD BANK 1.1 WHY GENDER EQUALITY MATTERS IN SOUTH ASIA Gender equality is necessary to promote the human South Asia has the largest proportion of poor people development of society and not just of women. Gen- in the world. Around 460 millions out of a population der equality and empowerment is also good eco- of 1.37 billion survive on less than $1 per day. Pov- nomics as it taps into the productive force of half erty in South Asia has a strong gender dimension. the region’s population. It is also central to achieving The economic, religious, social, and caste-based the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While restrictions on women’s agency contribute to lower South Asian countries have made progress towards incomes and living standards for women and for achieving the MDGs, for example the improvements female-headed households. There is a growing con- in girls’ primary and secondary school enrolment cern that growth in the region is bypassing women. rates and declining total fertility ratios, gender indi- Women carry the triple burden of productive, repro- cators in South Asian nations (1) remain among the ductive, and social activities in the household and worst in the world. the community. This is in addition to limited mobility and access to educational opportunities, which re- The UNDP’s Human Development Report, 2013 pro- sults in greater inequality in economic participation. vides a Gender Inequality Index (GII), which reflects Female labor force participation rates in South Asian women’s disadvantages across three dimensions - countries in 2011 were at 31.3% compared to the reproductive health, empowerment and access to world average of 51.3%. This puts SAR ahead only the labor market. The GII, indicates the loss in human of the Middle East and North Africa Region, which development due to gender inequality, with rang- is at 22.8%. Even when women enter the economy, es from 0 where women and men fare equally to 1 they face significant barriers. Women, as compared where women fare poorly. SAR’s GII is 0.568 and only to men, are more likely to engage in less productive Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a poorer GII at .577 (2). activities and to work in the informal sector. Accord- Though SAR countries are growing at a faster rate ing to the World Bank’s World Development Report than those in SSA, the GII for the two regions are com- (WDR) 2012 “women are more likely to be wage parable. Of the SAR countries, Afghanistan has the workers and unpaid family workers than men, to 13th worst GII value (.712) in the world. Bangladesh, have less mobility between the formal and informal Nepal, Pakistan and India also rank high on gender sectors, and to transition more between the informal inequality. Maldives and Sri Lanka fared better while sector and being out of the labor force(4).” Bhutan was not ranked (3). 1 - At the World Bank, SAR comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 2 - UNDP, Human Development Report, 2013. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is a composite measure that reflects inequality in achievements between men and women in the dimensions of empowerment, the labor market, and repro- ductive health. 3 - The 2012 GII rankings out of 182 countries (182 being the poorest) were: Afghanistan 147, India 132, Pakistan 123, Ban- gladesh 111, Nepal 102, Sri Lanka 92 and Maldives 64. Bhutan was not ranked. 4 - South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest average incidence of informal employment in the world with such employment representing over three-quarters - as high as 90 percent in some countries - of total employment. 6 Informal sector employment is highly correlated with the incidence of poverty and brings with it specific The incidence of gender based violence (GBV) re- challenges and bottlenecks that negatively impact mains high in several SAR countries. These cases women’s equal participation in the economy. These are sometimes extreme in nature with acid attacks, challenges include underemployment, lower aver- gang rapes and honor killings. Patriarchal social age wages, lack of basic safety, and minimal wage norms and the preference for sons continue to distort protection. Even when women earn an income, they sex ratios in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh often lack control over decisions regarding the use and Pakistan. Caste, religion and gender-based dis- of that income. In South Asia, women become even crimination have helped perpetuate this violence more vulnerable to economic disempowerment as and social exclusion in many parts of South Asia (6). they age and/or are widowed. GBV adversely affects women’s fundamental rights to life and freedom, and limits their choices. To en- The 2012 WDR argues that income and control over sure women’s safety, male voices must be included household assets play a number of reinforcing roles in in the broader gender discourse. Addressing gender improving quality of life outcomes for women across roles of both sexes is thus crucial to improving gender a number of parameters, including voice, bargaining relations in SAR. power, mobility, and ability to influence household decisions in a manner that is overwhelmingly posi- SAR has the largest proportion of young people in tive for women and children. Evidence from a range the world. One third of region’s population is be- of countries suggests that spending habits change tween the ages of 14 and 25. India alone has 200 mil- when women control a higher share of household lion young people. Gender inequality among youth income, and this directly benefits children. There- in South Asia is also apparent. Only 62% of young fore, increasing women’s labor force participation in women in SAR can read and write as compared South Asia is important not only to improve the qual- to the 77% of young men, the highest literacy gap ity of life for women, but is also a critical pathway among youth in the world. Young women in South for reducing poverty and enhancing developmental Asia also face social pressures for early marriage and outcomes for poor households. child bearing. These young mothers are twice as like- ly to die of pregnancy related causes as compared As SAR countries grow, investments in infrastructure to older women. Their children too, are more likely are also expanding. Gender remains critically im- to be malnourished. Young adults in South Asia also portant for infrastructure planning and provision. account for half the unemployment in the region be- Women pay a high price for the lack of access to cause formal job growth has not kept pace with the infrastructure, in terms of time spent accessing wa- economic growth. There continues to be a mismatch ter for domestic or agricultural uses, processing food between the skills required by employers and those and other agricultural or non-farm products, collect- taught in schools. Unemployment is worse for young ing firewood or other fuel for cooking and reaching women as compared to young men. This lack of job health facilities (5). Limited access to services also opportunities for youth will negatively impact the re- reduces academic and professional opportunities. gion’s economic growth. As this large youth popula- In particular, the paucity of safe, accessible and ef- tion transitions into adulthood, South Asian countries ficient modes of transport restrict women’s mobility, hope to reap a youth dividend by improving the pro- and impacts their access to health, education, and ductivity of this labor force. livelihood opportunities. 5 - World Bank. 2012. Companion to World Development Report. Washington, DC: World Bank. Steps to Stride: The Sustain- able Development Network’s Complement to the WDR. 6 - Oxfam Briefing Paper.2004.Towards ending violence against women in South Asia.http://www.wecanendvaw.org/ sites/default/files/Campaign%20Briefing%20Paper_1.pdf. 7 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE SAGE WINDOW Finding solutions for the complex issues of gender ventions. This will assist the region in meeting its MDG in South Asia presents both a challenge and an targets, in particular MDG 3 which is to “promote opportunity for action. Since June 2011, the SAGE gender equality and empower women.” partnership between AusAID and the World Bank has attempted to address some of these issues in all The corpus of the fund is quite small at AUD 2 mil- countries of the region. The objective of the SAGE lion. However the partnership affords many advan- Initiative is to scale up gender approaches in the tages, the foremost being the flexibility in the use South Asia region of the Bank through mainstream- of funds, which has allowed the development of a ing gender in operations and analytical and advisory cross-country, cross-sectoral regional program that activities. It also aims to support the preparation and strategically addresses key gender gaps. The SAGE supervision of stand-alone gender projects, strategic window has supported at least one task per country analytical work that fills knowledge gaps and the and several regional tasks (7). monitoring and evaluation of gender based inter- 1.3 AREAS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE The approach followed by SAGE is to: These themes are built around the most pervasive gender issues in SAR. Each SAGE activity addresses 1 - continue mainstreaming gender across the World key aspects of one or more of the main themes. Dia- Bank’s work in SAR both in operations and AAA gram 1 gives the focus of each theme and the tasks 2 - finance strategic stand-alone projects that target supported in each thematic area. Several SAGE ac- the most salient gender issues in the region tivities have also been planned as a follow-up to the 2012 World Development Report on “Gender Equal- 3 - support analytical work that pushes forward the ity and Development.”Finally, the attempt has been thinking and approaches to addressing gender is- to introduce a truly gendered approach that identi- sues in the region fies masculinity concepts and the impact of interven- 4 - improve monitoring and evaluation of gender tions on both women and men and on gender rela- work, including rigorous impact assessments. tions. See Highlight Masculinity and Development for more details. The main themes being addressed are: • Women’s Labor Force Participation • Social Inclusion and Gender Relations • Gender and Human Development 7 - Nepal is the exception, an ongoing country program on gender and social inclusion is supported by DFID. Separate AusAID funds are supporting the gender task in Afghanistan, a study of gender and access to justice in Afghanistan. 8 1.3.1 - IMPROVING WOMEN’S LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION IMPACT EVALUATION OF NORTHERN AREA REDUCTION OF POVERTY INITIATIVE (NARI) - The NARI project is the World Bank’s first gender focused project in South Asia. It facilitates access to employment opportunities in the garment sector for poor and vulnerable women from lagging areas of Bangladesh, through access to information, technical and life skills training, transitional housing, and other support. The impact evalu- ation (IE) will assess the project’s impact on the income and socio-economic conditions of the beneficiaries. Based on this evaluation, the project will be scaled up to include other areas and sectors in Bangladesh. GENDER ANALYSIS OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSME) IN INDIA - This ac- tivity informs the Bank’s ongoing policy dialogue with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India regarding a potential Bank funded operation led by South Asia’s Finance and Private Sector Develop- ment Unit. The study is expected to contribute to either a component of this project or to a separate interven- tion on women and MSMEs in India. INDIA GENDER AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT - This work is a follow up to the WDR 2012’s report on India. It will examine the factors behind the low labor force participation of women. It will also identify policies, programs and approaches that could enhance women’s labor force participation. The work has strong client support from several ministries that look at the impact of women’s labor force participa- tion on the economy and is expected to inform government policy and discussions on the next Five Year Plan. SRI LANKA GENDER ASSESSMENT - Though Sri Lanka performs better on gender equality than most countries in South Asia, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is keen on addressing the remaining gender disparities in the country. The study will provide recommendations on narrowing the gender gap in eco- nomic participation. It examines the opportunities available to both men and women to participate in the economy, including access to and use of labor, land, financial and product markets. Close attention is being paid to issues faced by youth in both gender groups. Regional variations in labor force participation due to the conflict in the North East region of the country will also be taken into account. SOCIAL OBSERVATORY FOR THE NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOODS MISSION - The task aims to create a new environment for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) within the world’s largest rural women cen- tered livelihoods program - India’s National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). The mission is supported by Bank lending of $500 million. Support from SAGE went towards the setting up a Social Observatory (SO) within the mission, which is utilizing more scientific techniques for M&E, with increased attention to the processes of change. The SO will facilitate learning and subsequent changes to the design of the program with a view to reducing gender inequalities in livelihoods projects. It follows the principle of open data access. PINK BUSES IN PAKISTAN - This activity aims to improve women’s mobility and security in the city of La- hore, Pakistan through a study of the women only Pink Buses Scheme. Analytical work including an activity based survey is being undertaken to understand women’s mobility under the pilot scheme. It will assist Lahore Transportation Corporation in understanding key issues linked to the feasibility and sustainability of scaling up the program. STUDY OF THE WOMEN ONLY BUS SERVICE IN DHAKA - To address the increasing set of issues that female commuters face, many cities around the world have introduced women only services. These have included women only rail cars in Tokyo, New York, Sao Paulo, Mumbai, and women only bus service in Mexico City, Guatemala City, and Lahore. This women only bus service has been introduced before in Dhaka but the service was stopped as it was not financially viable. The study addresses the issues faced by women in accessing transport and the sustainability of the women only bus service. 9 1.3.2 - SOCIAL INCLUSION AND GENDER RELATIONS SOUTH ASIA YOUTH AND GENDER ACTIVITY MAPPING - The activity provides a strategic focus to the World Bank’s work on youth issues in South Asia, specifically on the vulnerabilities and needs of adoles- cent girls and young women. It builds and disseminates knowledge on youth and gender issues in the region, and aims to provide recommendations for youth and gender programming in SAR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER IN THE MALDIVES - There is little information at present on the overall status of male and female youth in the Maldives and the gender issues they face. This study will increase the understanding of positive youth behaviors that lead to productive adulthoods in the Maldives through youth mapping exercises and interviews undertaken by youth of other youth and organizers of youth programs. BUILDING CAPACITY FOR GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN BANGLADESH - The task facilitates gen- der mainstreaming within the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. It builds the capacity of the ministry to address gender differences within housing programs. It will contribute to the design of a Bank funded project to improve the housing conditions of women in urban slums. MEN, MASCULINITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN SAR - The Bank is exploring options for supporting a re- gional initiative aimed at understanding men’s attitudes and practices, as well as women’s opinions of men’s roles and practices, on a variety of topics related to gender equality. The study is also exploring how migra- tion, unemployment and changes in the labor market impact the perceptions of masculinity in the region. More details are available in the Highlight box. MOVING TO A MALE INCLUSIVE GENDER APPROACH IN SAR (JIT) - This activity will create video/ photo blogs and presentations on a male inclusive approach to gender equality that will contribute to a radi- cal shift in on how gender is addressed by the Bank. It will strengthen the approach to gender equality and empowerment in Bank’s operational work. 1.3.3 - GENDER AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT BHUTAN GENDER POLICY NOTE - Bhutan fares better on many gender related parameters than most South Asian countries however disparities remain in economic and political participation by women. The policy note will provide recommendations to support the economic and political empowerment of women in Bhutan, with a focus on improving school enrollment. Gender issues in Bhutan are unique and, therefore, provide an opportunity for innovative analysis. Bhutan is one of the few South Asian countries where men and women are relatively equal and the study could offer an overall positive story on gender equality from the region. SAGE SEMINAR SERIES - A SAGE seminar series has been organized to disseminate the results and out- comes from tasks funded, within the Bank. The seminar series has included presentations on the Social Obser- vatory for the NLRM, and the study on Youth and Development in the Maldives among others. 10 [ ] HIGHLIGHT MASCULINITY AND DEVELOPMENT ‘Gender’ deals with more than women’s issues. Expanding our understanding of male gender roles can provide a more nuanced perspective on gender relations and how they impact society and economic development. Though much is talked about regard- ing this issue it has not been examined in any depth. The SAGE funded study on Mas- culinity and Development in South Asia will narrow this analytical gap. It will build upon an earlier study done in partnership with students of George Washington University in the US. It will explore how migration, unemployment and changes in the labor market impact the perceptions of masculinity in the region. It also looks at the impact of mas- culinity and femininity on exposure to risk factors and adoption of risky behaviors, for example, dropping out of school, drug consumption, and unprotected sex. It examines how gender based violence is connected to constructions of masculinity. By focusing on examples of how ‘masculinity’ is defined and the challenge of what it means to be male in a variety of contexts in contemporary South Asia. The activity highlights the diverse ways in which boys and men are both challenging and perpetuating gender norms, and impacting South Asia’s performance on gender equality indicators. The report, will address the impact of masculinity on development outcomes, including the well- being of males, females and children within a household and at the community level. 11 : : PILLAR 1 E PILLAR 2 : PILLAR 3 MAN U SION ORC LABOR F ION SOCIAL IN C L AND UH ER RELA TIONS GENDER PMENT AT N D DEVELO PARTICIP A ND G E • Analyze gender gaps in labor force • Focus on poor and vulnerable women • Close gender gaps in education participation in South Asia to influence from lagging regions policies • Improve women’s access to health • Focus on inclusion of youth issues in services • Improve sector capacities to allow for South Asia increased economic participation • Assistance to improve SAR countries’ • Broaden approach on gender to gender policies • Improve access to skills and jobs include male inclusive gender approaches • Improve access to services U P P O R T SAGE S • Bhutan Policy Note looks at the gen- der gaps in higher education to inform • Support for youth development Bhutan’s next development plan through i) Youth and Gender Mapping and ii). Youth and Gender Development • Other activities that impact women’s • Gender Analysis of the Micro, Small through ICT economic and social development also and Medium Enterprises in India to analyze support the objectives of this pillar gender implications • Impacts of masculinity on development outcomes through i) Men, Masculinity • Impact evaluation of the Northern Asia and Development in South Asia and ii). Reduction of Poverty Initiative (NARI) Moving to a Male-inclusive Gender Ap- in Bangladesh to determine impact on proach via blogs and presentations socio-economic welfare of women • Build Capacity in Bangladesh to plan • Women-only buses to improve access for gender differentiated housing needs i) Pink Buses in Pakistan; and ii) Women- only bus service in Dhaka • Analyze gender, youth and develop- ment in Maldives and Sri Lanka to impact • Social observatory for the National policy directions Rural Livelihoods Mission to look at how gender inequalities can be reduced • Analyze women’s economic participa- tion i) India: Gender and Economic Development Report; and ii) Sri Lanka Gender Assessment Diagram 1 - SAGE Thematic Pillars Supported 12 1.4 FINANCIAL SUMMARY 1.4.1 - DISBURSEMENTS & COMMITMENTS All but $300,000 of the AUD 2 million available under the SAGE window has been allocated to 14 activities. Disbursement and commitments which indicates funds under contracts are indicated in Figure 1. The window is disbursing well with 56.10% of total allocations either committed or disbursed. Since rounds are funded at different times it is useful to look at these figures by each round. In Round 1, 65.57% of the funds allocated have been committed and disbursed. The figure for the more recent Round 2 is 41.73%. Total Total   Round 2 Amount  Committed  &  Disbursed   Round2   Grant  Amount   Round 1 Round1   | | | | | | | | | 0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000 1,600,000 0   200,000   400,000   600,000   800,000   1,000,000   1,200,000   1,400,000   1,600,000     Disbursed & Committed Grant Ammount Figure 1 - SAGE Funds Allocated, Disbursed and Committed as of February 20, 2013 13 1.4.2 - ALLOCATIONS BY COUNTRY The allocation of funds across the countries in South Asia is indicated in Figure 2. The largest portion of funds have been allocated to activities in India and for regional activities, that received 31.95% each of alloca- tions. This is followed by Bangladesh and Bhutan at 14.06 and 7.67% respectively. Pakistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka received 4.79% of the funds each. Bangladesh 14.06% 31.95% India 4.79% Bhutan 4.79% Regional 4.79% Pakistan 7.67% Sri Lanka 31.95% Maldives Figure 2 - SAGE Allocations by Country 1.4.3 - ALLOCATIONS BY THEMATIC PILLAR The SAGE window is supporting 14 tasks in total. Of these eight tasks with 58% of total allocations support the theme of women’s labor force participation. Five activities with 34% of the funds allocated support the work encompassing social inclusion and gender relations. One task with 7% of allocations supports the gender and human development theme. Figure 3 indicates allocations made by theme. 7.42% Gender & Human Development Social Inclusion & 34.50% Gender Relations 58.09% Improving Women’s Labor Force Participation Figure 3 - SAGE Allocations by Thematic Pillar 14 1.5 PRELIMINARY RESULTS 1.5.1 - LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION SOCIAL OBSERVATORY FOR THE NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOODS MISSION - A Social Observa- tory (SO) has been created within the NRLM in India. It has led to increased attention on the processes of change, rather than just outcomes. Livelihoods projects are now being assessed and monitored by mea- suring their impact on a multi-dimensional set of indicators; income, nutrition, health, empowerment, and agency. An international workshop is planned for June 2013 to disseminate the findings more widely. SRI LANKA GENDER ASSESSMENT - The draft of the final report has been completed. Recommenda- tions based on the study include the importance of school and community based outreach campaigns to change perceptions of education and types of jobs for men and women. The assessment also emphasizes the importance of improving women’s access to job information and child care, especially for the jobs within the intermediate and services sectors, and of addressing biases against leaving children with child care pro- fessionals instead of family members. Workshops to share the findings of the report will be organized shortly. INDIA GENDER REPORT - Papers commissioned for the study to ascertain the factors leading to women’s continued low participation in the labor force vis-à-vis men in India, and to identify policies, programs and approaches that could contribute to enhancing women’s labor force participation have been completed and reviewed. As a result of this work, an Inter- Ministerial Task Force has been set up by the National Mission for the Empowerment of Women, Government of India. The report will be finalized and disseminated shortly. 15 1.5.2 - SOCIAL INCLUSION AND GENDER RELATIONS SOUTH ASIA YOUTH AND GENDER MAPPING - This activity has been completed. A number of com- munication materials have been developed. A phase II activity is looking at youth and ICT as an effective way of reaching youth in South Asia. The region has one of the fastest growing cell phone markets in the world. 1.5.3 - GENDER AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT BHUTAN GENDER POLICY NOTE - The report has been completed. However dissemination is awaiting the outcome of elections in Bhutan. A workshop to disseminate the findings will be held after August 2013 when a new government is in place. The work will feed into Bhutan next Five Year Plan. 1.6 GOING FORWARD In the next round the SAGE window will continue to on WSI provides more information) and a proposed mainstream gender across the different sectors in study of gender and transport. Collaborative work the South Asia region of the Bank. The SAGE funded across sectors to integrate gender at every stage activities are being complemented by other gender of the project cycle from design, to implementation related activities funded under the WSI and IFG win- and monitoring and evaluation will also be on going. dows of the PFSA UTF. These include a study of gender More outcomes and results from the tasks funded are and urban WSS in India (Highlight box in the section expected in the next reporting cycle. 16 17