Gender equality is a fundamental precondition for achieving poverty reduction. In recognition of this, FIT has incorporated the development and implementation of gender equality strategies, sector specific strategies and gender equality training into every aspect of its work.
FIT’s gender mainstreaming approach strengthens both individual and organizational capacities to ensure that men and women have equitable access to and control over the benefits and resources available. Our approach to mainstreaming gender issues emphasizes the systematic integration of gender equality objectives and practices into all spheres of our project work, so that men and women are able and, more importantly, encouraged to participate equally in the development process. Through gender-sensitive needs assessments, FIT custom-designs and delivers programs to meet the specific needs of both women and men. Establishment of mechanisms such as Gender Working Groups by our partners strengthen commitment and build capacities that institutionalize gender mainstreaming. Gender equality training workshops in social gender analysis assist policy makers from the public, private and civil society sectors to make effective decisions on policies and programs that affect women.
Gender Equality and African Regional Institutions – Ghana, Tunisia, Uganda, Ethiopia
FIT is working in partnership with the Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI) to provide capacity building for gender mainstreaming with four African regional institutions: the Forum for Agricultural Research (FARA) in Accra, Ghana; the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) in Entebbe, Uganda; L’Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (OSS) in Tunis, Tunisia; and the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The project facilitated needs assessment and gender auditing activities within each institution. Based on these, institution-specific action plans and programs of capacity building are being developed. This project represents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of men and women on a regional basis.
Participatory Development Program (PDP)
Promotion of gender mainstreaming and gender equality among our partners is integral to FIT’s capacity development approach with Egyptian civil society organizations. NGOs are introduced to key gender equality principles from the outset, through training and technical support that assists partners to identify and address strategic gender issues in the design of their funded projects. This enables them to build a conceptual framework that situates gender equality within the rights-based programming approach. Ongoing gender training supports the concept of mainstreaming within organizations themselves, as well as in their projects. Through the Gender Equality Development Facility, PDP provides in-depth training and technical assistance to organizations and projects designed to specifically address gender equality and increase women’s access to rights and services.
Women’s Initiatives Fund (WIF) and Small Enterprise Development for Upper Egypt (SMEDUP)
FIT promotes economic empowerment of women by increasing their access to opportunities for income generation and to build their own businesses. In Egypt, our enterprise development programs have assisted over 300 first-time women entrepreneurs and created over 1,800 new jobs for women. In both projects, our approach emphasized systematic integration of gender equality objectives and practices into all aspects of enterprise development. As a result, women achieved greater independence and autonomy, a voice in decision-making, and increased confidence as they became empowered as economic actors.
Gansu Women’s Development Centre – China
The goal of this project was to stimulate and mobilize women’s groups and to strengthen women’s capacities to generate income through the manufacture and marketing of goods. Activities included the completion of a needs assessment for establishment of the Gansu Women's Development Centre; production of a feasibility study and organizational plan of action for GWEA; provision of technical assistance and training in organizational development; and fostering linkages with the Management Development Centre in Anhui province.
Operationalising Gender Policies – The Philippines
In response to the needs of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, FIT designed and implemented a project to take advantage of Canada's international reputation in promoting gender equity in the workplace. Training was designed to use Canadian legislation and programs as models for addressing issues such as sexual harassment, equal access to employment opportunities and equal pay for work of equal value. The project resulted in the drafting of a national plan, "A Framework for the Promotion of Equity in the Workplace” for The Philippines.
Information, Education, and Communications – The Gambia
In collaboration with the Women's Bureau, Government of The Gambia, FIT provided capacity development support to the Information, Education and Communications (IEC) Unit within the larger World Bank-funded Women in Development Project. The project assisted the IEC Unit identify and use appropriate communications channels to promote awareness of gender issues in The Gambia, and the role of Gambian women in socio-economic development. FIT delivered message development and synthesis workshops, and provided technical assistance in pre-testing/ publishing of material aimed at rural women and video production. Additionally, FIT used popular theatre, or Drama for Development, as a tool to encourage the participation of women in identifying and finding solutions to their problems.
Training for Women Project Managers – Tanzania, China, Malaysia
Partners in Tanzania, China and Malaysia worked with FIT to conduct a series of workshops for African and Asian women managers of NGOs and community-based organizations. These workshops provided professional development to strengthen the skills of women project managers, with the goal of increasing their opportunities to take on leadership roles in development activities. The underlying focus of these workshops was on gender issues as they relate both to community development projects and to women as project managers. The information gained from these experiences was incorporated into a manual for global use.