Prioritising Gender in Sudan

Understanding the differing needs of women, girls, boys and men is the responsibility of all humanitarian workers. Without it, we will fail in our responsibility to the people we are seeking to help. Identifying and addressing these distinct needs enhances humanitarian programming. We cannot wait any longer to get this right.

Valerie Amos Emergency Relief Coordinator

The message that all humanitarian projects in Sudan must take into consideration the needs of women, girls, boys and men in order to be accepted into the 2013 Sudan UN and Partners Work Plan, was readily accepted by sector leads and partners. After 18 months of consolidated effort to roll out the IASC Gender Marker to measure and track gender, there is evidence of better gender equality programming.

All humanitarian interventions in Sudan are now required to prioritise gender and promote gender equality. The use of the Gender Marker saw a significant drop from 36 per cent gender blind projects in 2011 to only 2 per cent in 2012, while the number of 2a projects increased from 24 per cent in 2011 to 51 per cent in 2012.

In 2013, these results were further improved with zero code 0 projects, and a combined 74 per cent for code 2a/2b projects. The review of 364 projects in the 2013 Sudan Work Plan indicated a major improvement in how gender has been integrated.

The following have been identified as key gender improvements and gaps in the 2013 Sudan Work Plan process:

• Improved gender analysis, in particular examining the status and roles of women and men and the issues they face. However, there is still a need for more and deeper gender analysis.

• Improved consideration of gender concerns throughout all aspects of the projects with particular focus on increasing the participation of women and girls as well as men and boys in project activities.

• ƒƒMinimal use of cosmetic language such as ‘women and girls’. ƒƒ

• Increased use of sex and age disaggregated data (SADD). ƒƒ

• The need for further capacity reinforcement of some UN agencies as some were weak with mainstreaming gender in the project proposals while some INGOs were exceptionally strong. ƒƒ

• Local NGOs need additional support to undertake gender equality programming.