genderlinks.org.zagenderlinks.org.za/.../20446_usakos-lg-coe-applicationclm…  · Web viewThe Council consists of seven Councillors, four male and three females from three different

2015 SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT AND AWARDS

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCELOCAL GOVERNMENT

INSTITUTIONAL APPLICATIONThis award recognises progress in mainstreaming gender the local government, and Media Centres of Excellence. Use this form to do your institutional profile as part of your application process. The application must be accompanied by evidence to support all application form.

ALL FIELDS ARE COMPULSORY.

Name of good practice “Usakos Town Council striving towards Gender Equality in service delivery”

SCORE CARD AND EVIDENCE TABLE

Usakos Town CouncilNamibiaSelma Nelago Gases22-24 April 2015

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE UPLOADED – PLEASE RECORD FILE NAMES

Policy framework

Usakos participants draw up Action PlanVenue: Usakos Multipurpose Youth CentreDate: 18-20 October 2011

Governance The Council consists of seven Councillors, four male and three females from three different political parties. With Genderlinks Namibia assisting the Local Authorities with gender mainstreaming, the Council wish to increase the representation of women councillors in the next elections to ensure that the SADC target of 50% women in local government is fully achieved.

Mainstreaming gender into existing programmes

Usakos Town Council is in the process of assessing the implications or impact for women and men on any planned action (including legislation, policies and programs) in all areas of service delivery and at all levels.

Procurement No procurement policy is in place but financial policy has a chapter on procurement.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE UPLOADED – PLEASE RECORD FILE NAMES

Climate change and sustainable development

The Council is aware of climate change and its differential effects on women and men. Women and men are consulted equally on measures to be taken such as the effect of draught, field fires etc.

Land and housingMore women and young people take part in Programs such as Build Together Program and Shack Dwellers Federation.This enables them to own an erf and construct a house of their own.

Water and sanitation The Council through TIPEEG Program acquired funds to upgrade water reticulation and improving sewerage system.A number of women were temporarily employed. The Council is currently busy with installation of pre-paid water meters.

Environmental health Council has embarked on the overall cleaning and beautifying of the town under the ”Green Project”. More dust bins and skip bins were acquired and placed at strategic points. Two Recreational Parks were upgraded and the third one is under construction.

HIV and AIDS and care work

Wellness Program under the AMICAAL supervision is in place

Social development LED Officer was recently appointed by the Council and the LED White Paper is used as a guiding tool to stimulate and implement the Local Economic Development strategies.

Gender specific projects

Women, men and young people are strongly encouraged to produce and sell their local products

Gender based Gender Based Violence is a national issue

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE UPLOADED – PLEASE RECORD FILE NAMES

violence and should be fought against by every mature citizen of this country. Alcohol and drug abuse is identified as one of the most causes of GBV and therefore the Council, the Faith Based Organisations and the Namibian Police work together to raise awareness and sensitize community members on the danger of excessive use of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol outlets are strictly regulated and Police patrols and operations intensified

OthersEmployment PracticesSelection and recruitment

Job adverts encouraging women or men to apply where they are under-represented

Capacity building The Council usually holds Team Building Sessions to build capacity for its employees and when necessary employees attend training workshops related to their field of work.

Working conditions and environment

The Council has a “Condition of Services” which deals working conditions of employees. (copy to be provided)

Gender Management SystemGender structures No evidence of the gender structures that

have been put in placeBudgets There is no council budget showing

specific allocations for gender work, as well as how gender is being mainstreamed into all budgets.

Monitoring and evaluation Score Card

Resource mobilisation for work on gender equality Amount local currency (specify)

Amount in Rand

The Council has partnered with Valencia Mine and started a

N$100 000 R100 000

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community garden

In kind contributions to the COE process – eg venues (please specify)TOTAL N$100 000 R100 000

Funds raised from donors or the private sector for gender work – (please specify)

TOTAL 0 0

THIS WORD DOCUMENT WILL BE UPLOADED TO THE WEBSITE 1. INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE

COUNTRY NamibiaCOUNCIL Usakos Town CouncilGENDER CHAMPION

Cllr Laurie Elias

GENDER FOCAL PERSON

Selma Nelago Gases

Baseline score (year)Progress Score (year)

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Latest score (year)Attitude score –baseline

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Attitude score – follow up

Women Men Total % WomenCouncil 3 4 7 42%Management 2 1 3 66%Council staff overall 11 24 35 31%Population served 7500Key characteristics Subsistence Farming

SynopsisA 3 day training workshop was initiated by Genderlinks Namibia and was attended by Councillors, stakeholders, Police force, army, traditional leaders, youth groups, religious leaders and community members. They all brought different ideas and experiences to the table. The aim was also to come and enrich themselves with knowledge and skills and to share with other delegates good practices and challenges and how to overcome them. The attendance was great with people from all walks of backgrounds. Issues covered in the programme included personal empowerment, gender and planning concepts, including gender mainstreaming, sex disaggregated data and the gender management system. There were detailed sessions on some of the core of local government functions, including gender responsive budgeting, gender equality in service provision, land rights and urban planning, local economic development and violence against women. Key objectives

To empower participants around personal empowerment • Build capacity on issues of gender, democracy and good

governance • Look at what makes good leaders through looking at

transformative leadership • Look at key concepts like gender policy and planning

concepts • Assist participants in understanding the importance and

synergies around gender, the economy and budgets • Develop a Local Gender Action Plan • Develop a Local 365 Day Gender Violence Action Plan • Popularise the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

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• Establish communication strategies for the GBV action plans.

• Inform councils about the good practices for addressing GBV at the local level

• Assist councils in seeing the importance of making IT and the media work for them

Background Participants had no clue on the importance of Gender issues especially the fact that male, female young people and children boy/girl child are differently affected with regard to gender issues.

Key activities Gender and governance Transformative leadership: Gender policy and planning concepts Gender Economy and Gender Budget Gender and Gender Based Violence Action Plan for roll

out in Local Councils

Resource allocations Council allocations to gender-specific projects

Local currency

Rands

The Council has partnered with Valencia Mine and started a community garden

N$100 000 R100 000

In –kind support to the COE processTOTAL N$100 000 R100 000

Challenges The high unemployment rate and poverty• Mushrooming of informal settlers due to the mining

activities in the region

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• Increasing number of illegal liquor outlets

Opportunities The Council successfully held a Heritage Day and plan

to make it an annual event. Young people took part as Pop Idols and Women got a chance to exhibit their products

The Council will hold an exhibition day early in July this year and will invite local, regional and national exhibitors to exhibit their products

Results Women’s empowerment

• Allocation of stalls and encouragement of women to set up and run their formal and informal businesses.

Evidence “At least now I will be able to pay my water and electricity bill and put bread on the table”Klaudia Indongo, Grocery Shop owner Men for change Evidence “I thought gender issues were for women only, I will treat my wife now like an equal partner”Name withheld Changes at household level

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“Thank God now we have electricity”Sipho Moyo, Shack Dwellers Federation Changes in attitudesCommunity members especially women are standing together and speak with one voice when cases of GBV are reported to the police and perpetrators are brought to court, normally holding peaceful demonstrations in showing solidarity with the victims and their families. Changes at the work placeCouncillors and Senior Managers now understand the importance of dealing with Gender issues separately and are in full support of regular visits from Gender Links as well as activities carried out by the Gender Focal person and the Gender Champion. Service delivery

Through TIPEEG Program, the council acquired funds to upgrade the water reticulation and sewerage system and the council is currently busy with the installation of pre-paid water metres.

• Some streets were improved by putting on interlocks.• In partnership with Erongo RED, high mast lights were

installed in two informal settlements and several informal houses were electrified.

Public participation Community members turn up in big numbers when called

to attend and participate in community meetings. They have now realised that by participating and contributing to the discussions, the council is likely to take informed and well articulated decisions.

For the first time different groups were consulted for their input in formulating the Council budget

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Outreach through the media Most of the public notices, invitations and public

announcements are announced through the radio as the majority of the community members are using the radio often.

Changes at a policy level that have come about as a result of the COE work

The council see the need to draft, adopt and amend policies and regulations and guidelines that are not in place yet

Any other changes that have come about as a result of the COE work

The Town Council has completed all the COE process stages and now in the better position to implement the Gender Policies and Gender Action Plan.

The interventions have changed the mindset of the political leaders and technocrats in viewing gender issues the way they should be and not on the business as usual attitudes.

Lesson learned and innovation The importance of formulating policies and regulations

which can serve as guiding tools for gender mainstreaming in all existing programs and projects of the Local Authorities

Good governance and transformative leadership Gender and Local Economy/Gender budgeting Sex disaggregated data recording Dealing with Gender Based Violence

Learning and sharing with other councils

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Since the council started participating in the Gender Summits, best practices have been noted and shall be emulated.

Sustainability and replicationIntroduce Gender budget and capacitate and empower the Gender Champion and Gender Focal Person to carry out the Gender Programs for sustainability.

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