Dec 14, 2015
Gender mainstreaming the Rural Development Programme
Presentation to the Audience Impact Panel (IAP)
Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Dr. Sally Shortall and Roisin KellyQueen’s University Belfast [email protected] [email protected]
Agenda
• Research update
• Local Action Groups – breakdown of composition
• Some themes emerging from the research to date
• Proposed topics for briefing notes
Research Update
• Before we started, we planned:
– 27 qualitative interviews
– 6 focus groups
• Once we started, we revised our plan:
• 8 Focus Groups
• 38 Qualitative Interviews
Still growing …
Interviews
• 22 interviews completed
• 4 interviews have dates agreed
• 11 dates offered / arranging interviews
• 1 declined
• Also completed 8 informal interviews and attended a monitoring committee meeting as an observer. We made a presentation and held a discussion session at the recent RNNI event “Inspiring Women in Rural Development” in Cookstown on 7 June 2012.
• Completed 2 Focus Groups
– 1 with women in rural areas (not on farms)
– 1 with women in rural development thematic working group
• Working to arrange
– 2 focus groups with women on farms
– 2 focus group with men on farms
– 2 focus group with men in rural areas (not on farms)
Focus Groups
• 7 Local Action Groups for Northern Ireland
–189 members in total (plus 2 vacancies)
–Membership is drawn from Social Partners (54%) and Local Government representatives (46%)
–Total membership is made up of 65 women (34%) and 122 men (64%)
Composition of the LAGs
Breakdown of LAG membership
Social Partners54%
Local Government
46%
Gender Breakdown of LAG membership
Women34%
Men65%
Vacant 1%
LAG membership by gender and sector
4124
60
62
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Social Partners Local Government
Men 122
Women 65
Some comments on LAG composition
• The percentage of women local Government representatives is higher than the general number of women in politics generally
• (24% compared to 18.5%)
• The Social Partners correct the gender imbalance
• This seems to be conscious rather than ‘accidental’
• One of the issues for gender balance on the LAGs is the general under-representation of women in politics
Comments on gender and the RDP – tentative comments
• Seems to be a good level of gender awareness
• Conscious attempt to rectify gender imbalance in LAG composition
• DARD technical officers aware of the importance of engaging women on farms
• DARD undertakes a number of gender activities, although not necessarily linked to RDP (child care, funding NIRWN, Ministerial attendance at gender events)
• Need to be careful to avoid reinforcing gender stereotypes
Tentative comments on supporting women in the RDP
• While a supporting role is stated in NIRWN’s Operational Plan 2011, how this might be achieved is not detailed
• Scope for NIRWN to take on the mantle of advancing gender awareness of the RDP amongst groups
• Scope to broaden engagement to farming groups through working proactively with DARD technical advisers and the Ulster Farmer’s Union committees
• Generally greater scope to work with key players in the RDP
Tentative comments on the LAGs generally
• There is a lot of positive energy
• There is a sense that more could be achieved if there was better communication and a better relationship of trust with DARD
• LAG members would like to be involved in the six project groups working on the next RDP
• A sense that lessons will be lost if this does not happen
• Felt it worked better when LAGs had more control over themes
• Frustrations at the late start date
• Questions about whether LAGs have the necessary capacity
Tentative comments on LEADER methodology
• Some disgruntled views that the LEADER methodology no longer exists
• Nonetheless, its positive principles are evident in the way LAG members talk about inclusiveness, participation, collaboration
• Consciousness of trying to ensure good representation of various groups
• LEADER methodology particularly useful and important in a post-conflict society?
Suggestions for briefing papers
• Engaging women in the RDP – how NIRWN can help
• Lessons for the next RDP