ASSESSMENT OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING POLICIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR)

Evaluation Report March 2006 By Joanna Arriola and Rachael Morala, La Liga Policy Institute 1.0 Rational and Objectives1

The Philippines as a state values the full participation of women in national life. The Philippine Constitution expressly states that the State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before law of women and men. It is also signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Since the issuance of Republic Act 7192 otherwise known as the Women in Development and Nation Building Act, the DENR had issued policies, rules and regulations, supporting the equal opportunities and sharing of equal benefits for both men and women in the utilization of natural resources. The Department has also incorporated gender-mainstreaming provisions in various programs and mechanisms, such as the Community Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP), Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system programs and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act. Moreover, in compliance with Executive Order 273, as well as NEDA, DBM, and NCRFW regulations, five percent (5%) of the total annual agency budget has been allotted to support GAD mainstreaming efforts. In view of this, GAD has been considered as one of the financially stable programs in terms of funding. Department Administrative Order 1995-07 set a milestone in that it outlined guidelines for the implementation of GAD activities in the DENR. Since then, numerous other policies have been issued, which aim to strengthen gender mainstreaming in the departments programs, projects and activities. In this context, an assessment of the policies issued from 1995 to 2005 is hereby undertaken to gauge its adherence to RA 7192 and internationally accepted gender and development principles. The general objective of the project is to evaluate the departments understanding of and commitment to gender mainstreaming principles by looking into GAD policy instruments issued within the 10-year period between 1995 and 2005. The specific objectives are: Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the gender-related provisions of various policies on environmental and natural resource management in general, and community based forest
1This

is the agreed upon terms of reference between the DENR and the La Liga Policy Institute. 1

management, protected area management, environmental impact assessment, and sexual harassment in particular, with regard to GAD in general, and RA 7192 in particular; and, Provide a framework for the evaluation of the impact the implementation of these policies have had on the various programs, projects and activities of the department. 2.0 2.1 Relevant Literature and Evaluation Parameters Revisiting GAD Concepts and Principles

The drive to integrate into formal development policies, interventions and programs the issue of gender has long been recognized. Efforts at such, however, have not always been easy. At the onset of the global communitys push for the inclusion of gender issues and concerns as an essential dimension of economic and human development, fool proof parameters and mechanisms for doing so were limited. For a time gender stakeholders had to be content with the inclusion of gender rhetoric in policy pronouncements. Through the years, however, understanding of complex multi-layered gender issues and concerns has deepened and has been more fully appreciated. Consequently, responses both in the level of policy and concrete interventions to gender needs have also evolved such that in the recent years, there has been a dynamic progress in perspectives, approaches and goals even in strategies and methods drawn from various scholarships and actual on-the-ground experiences that contribute to practical applicability of gender as a development dimension. The World Bank emphasizes this point arguing that gender equality is an issue of development effectiveness, not just a matter of political correctness or kindness to women. New evidence demonstrates that when women and men are relatively equal, economies tend to grow faster, the poor move more quickly out of poverty, and the well-being of men and women is enhanced.2 As the 1995 UNDP Human Development Report asserts, human development, if not engendered, is endangered. The Report recognized that if the development process does not account for gender discrimination, unequal opportunities for men and women, and the exclusion of women as beneficiaries, as decision makers and agents of change, then the impact of development will not be gender neutral and overall development outcomes will be compromised. Both documents argue that recognizing the importance of gender in all aspects of development is not merely a move towards the upliftment of status of women only. More importantly, it has a positive impact on overall growth and development. Doing so, however, requires purposively embarking on engendering or gender mainstreaming integrating gender concepts, analysis, needs and goals in the arena of constructs, policies, laws, rules, regulations, planning, implementation and in the other levels of the development process.

Gender mainstreaming takes into account the attitudes, roles and responsibilities of men and women, and recognizes that different sexes and social classes do not have the same access to and
2Integrating

Gender into the WorldBanks Work: A Strategy for Action by the worldbank, January 2002. 2

control over resources. As such, recognition of differences in the work, benefits and impacts of the development process for the different socio-gender groups is important. In gender mainstreaming, therefore, there is a deliberate effort to create a norm where differentiated needs, roles, capacities, benefits and burdens are considered. 3 The Canadian government4 summarizes why gender mainstreaming makes good policy sense. Mainstreaming presumes that every policy or activity carries a gender perspective and has implications. Experiences in mainstreaming show policies and programmes are most effective when the impacts on gender are considered and addressed. And lastly, gender mainstreaming contributes to the rectification of systemic gender-based discrimination. The over-arching challenge, therefore, is to mainstream gender in development. Specifically, this refers to a widely accepted approach and organizational strategy that facilitates the adoption of institutional procedures that sees as fundamental a gender perspective, and brings in womens and gender concerns to all aspects of an institutions policy, programmes and activities. 5 Inversely, mainstreaming also aims to influence goals, strategies and resource allocation to bring about real changes in policies and programs. Ideally, the responsibility for the implementation of gender policy is diffused across the organizational structure rather than concentrated in a small central unit. Its success requires building gender capacity and accountability and sufficient resources. Mainstreaming, however, does not preclude specific initiatives targeting women. Women-specific programmes continue to be necessary and play an important role in promoting gender equality, particularly when these respond to identified gender needs. At the core of such a task is a full comprehension of gender relations understood in the relevant context. Gender relations6 refer to socially constructed, culturally based power relations between women and men that manifests in varying institutions such as the family, the public sphere including the legal system and even the markets. Gender analysis focuses on the interconnectedness of womens and mens lives and on the imbalances of power embedded in male-female relations that exist in specific communities, institutions, societies, cultures and environments. It is a descriptive and diagnostic tool that can be valuable to policymakers, development planners and implementors. It requires the systematic gathering and examination of information on gender needs, gender differences and social relations, which aid in the identification, understanding and redress of inequities based on gender.7 Gender analysis provides a critical input to defining appropriate policies and interventions that aim to improve existing gender relations. Furthermore, it can be a basis for the monitoring of effectiveness of policies and interventions in terms of improving gender relations, which can then be a basis for policy adjustments.

3Mainstreaming

in Gender Management, A Practical Journey to Sustainability: A Resource Guide by the United Nations Development Programme, February 2003. 4Mainstreaming of a Gender Perspective. http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreign_policy/human-rights/Iwe5mainstream-en.asp. 5Reeves, H. And Baden, Sally. Gender and Development: Concepts and Definitions. BRIDGE. Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. February 2000. Page 12. 6Ibid. Page 18. 7Ibid. Page 6. 3

There are three (3) broadly accepted categories/levels of gender and development goals: womens welfare, gender equality and gender equity. At the bottom of this hierarchy, improving womens welfare8 means addressing practical gender needs which relate to womens immediate requirements for their survival in their socially accepted roles. Policies and interventions aimed at raising womens welfare ensure women and their families have adequate living conditions such as improvements in health care, food provision, access to safe water and sanitation including access to income-generating opportunities.

Gender equality as a goal requires the removal of discrimination in opportunities for women,
allowing them to achieve equal status with men. It targets equal participation of women in the public sphere and in different levels of the development process. Addressing gender equality directs state interventions to remove barriers to such participation. Finally, the goal of gender equity translates into the equivalence in life outcomes for women and men; it results from recognizing their different needs and interests, and requires a redistribution of power and resources. It urges transformative and targeted changes in policies, interventions and programs that will result in a positive impact on gender relations. 9

2.2

GAD and Natural Resource Management

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action10 identified three strategic objectives in the critical area of women and the environment: (a) involve women actively in environmental decision-making at all levels; (b) integrate gender concerns and perspectives in policies and programmes for sustainable development; and, (c) strengthen or establish mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels to assess the impact of development and environmental policies on women. Progress in terms of achieving these strategic objectives was reviewed after 5 years of the Beijing Declaration. It was seen that there is a positive but tentative trend towards greater participation and involvement of women in environmental decision-making positions; some countries have taken steps to incorporate a gender perspective in national and local environmental activities, policies, plans and legislation, as well as in institutional arrangements. There has been an increase in womens capabilities in the environmental field, including their knowledge, skills, and organization. There is a growing quantity and improved quality of gender-sensitive environmental research and data. And lastly, the review identified the growing acceptance of a more holistic approach that incorporates poverty eradication and womens economic empowerment in environmental conservation and management. On the other hand, the review also identified obstacles and challenges that need to be hurdled to ensure progress of gender and development in the environment. Several factors were seen as mutually reinforcing and contributory to gender inequality, thus hindering the realization of the objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Millennium Development
8Ibid.

Page 14. Equality and Equity. Ibid. page xxxx. 10 Available at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/forums/review/environment/.
9Gender

Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (2002). Key arenas to lookout for and areas for additional work include: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) The low participation of women in environmental protection and management, and in the formulation, planning and execution of environmental policies; Insufficient numbers and inadequate influence of women in responsible positions and a male monopoly in the management of environmental resources; Under-representation of women in research and teaching in the natural sciences; Lack of gender-sensitive environmental policies, programmes and research; Absence of deliberate strategies to ensure womens participation in decision-making, including lack of funding and monitoring; Low level of management and technical skills among women; and, Womens limited access to resources, information, education and training.

The UNDP11 asserts that the integration of gender concerns in effective resource management is inescapable: There is now a consensus that the participation of both men and women as equal partners is essential for sustaining the gains of development interventions. Poor targeting, inequitable distribution of benefits and burdens, and poor operation and maintenance structures have hindered development projects aimed at addressing issues of sustainable development in water resources management. Community participation and management approaches have failed to address these issues largely because communities are often seen as a collection of people with a common purpose. In reality, however, the community is not a collection of equal people living in a particular geographic region. It is usually made up of individuals and groups who command different levels of power, wealth, influence and ability to express their needs, concerns and rights. Communities contain competing interest groups. Where resources are scarce, there is competition for supplies and those at the lowest end of the power spectrum - this often implies the disadvantaged and the poor - will go without. Power issues place women in a disadvantaged position. And people-centered approaches do not always ensure that gender perspectives are taken into account. Undertaking gender analysis helps development agencies better match their resources to the needs of different gender groups. Thus a strategy of gender mainstreaming can be useful to ensure that these issues are part of analysis, project planning and evaluation. The UNDP cited cases in the Philippines where gender mainstreaming became instrumental in the success of particular development interventions. A Communal Irrigation Development Project, for example, was shown to have succeeded due in no small part to the full participation of both men and women in the target community. The project paid attention to gender issues by recruiting community organizers, two-thirds of whom were women, by ensuring member membership of both spouses in water user associations, and by actively encouraging women to assume leadership roles. Not only were the physical development targets and appraisal estimates exceeded, womens membership also facilitated the payment of irrigation fees. 12

Mainstreaming Gender in Water Management: A Practical Journey to Sustainability: A Resource Guide. February 2003. 12Quisuimbing, A. R. Improving Womens Agricultural Productivity as Farmers and Workers, World Bank Discussion Paper Series No. 37, 1994. Quoted in FAO, SEAGA Sector Guide: Irrigation, 1998. Available at www.fao.org/sd/seaga. 5

11UNDP

Another such case is a bilaterally funded watershed management project in Mindanao. The project aimed to involve community residents and local institutions in addressing the silting of a lake within the watershed from logging and an increase in horticultural production. In particular, community involvement was targeted to determine and assess the various techniques being adopted for soil conservation and to reduce silting. At its initial phase both men and women in the community were not effective in monitoring the water conditions. It was determined that the women in the community were more interested in health issues than the projects concern of soil loss. The project engaged the women with their priority interest and as it turned out as women learned about how water quality affected the health of their families and the program expanded to include monitoring for e coli, women became interested and participated. This led to their further engagement in a wider range of environmental activities. Ultimately, the communitys involvement led to positive outcomes, such as an increase in the adoption of soil conservation technologies by both men and women farmers.13 Guidelines14 provided by the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women (NCRFW) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to flesh out the Women in Development and Nation-Building Act (RA 7192) also give an indicative framework on how to mainstream gender within the natural resource management sector. The guidelines first points out that rural development projects in the arena of environment and natural resource management form an important part of the countrys poverty reduction and rural development strategy. Given the range of interventions that the Department can employ to contribute to this strategy, the document asserts that environment and natural resource management policies and programs can be designed to contribute to the achievement of gender equality. 2.3 Summary of Evaluation Parameters

The current evaluation limits itself to the evaluation of select policies of the Department. The evaluation covers a GAD assessment of the policys framework, direction, identified mechanisms, identified monitoring and evaluations tools/indicators, and identified management structures. The evaluation does not cover assessing the policys implementing rules and regulations, its actual implementation, results of performance reviews and its actual results and outcomes. Key parameters for the evaluation of policies vis--vis GAD mainstreaming within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were formulated based on the concepts and principles discussed above. A schematic presentation of these evaluation parameters is presented in Table I. The key questions are as follows: a. Do the policies address gender needs? b. Do the policies take into account gender relations?
13Diamond, N. et al, A Working Session on Communities, Institutions and Policies: Moving from Environmental Research to Results.WIDTECH (funded by the Office of Women in Development, Bureau for Global Programmes, Field Support and Research, U.S. Agency for International Development), Washington, D.C, 1997. Sited in Working Party on Gender Equality, OECD-DAC, Reaching the Goals in the S-21: Gender Equality and the Environment, 1998. Available at: www.oecd.org/dac/Gender/pdf/wid993e.pdf. 14 NCRFW and NEDA. Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines for Project Development, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation. October 2004.

c. Do they institutionalize the use of gender analysis both in terms of developing policy and interventions? And in terms of institutional processes? d. Do the policies initiate capacity building (awareness, information, knowledge and technical skills) for women both within the institution and for its beneficiaries? e. Do the policies institute mechanisms where women are able to substantively participate in the various development processes? f. Do the policies express and address gender and development goals?
Table I. GAD Goals and Levels of Responses15 Welfare Womens Welfare Access Responds to the material and physical needs of women Aims to improve womens physical and material conditions Responds to the limited entitlements available to women Makes available resources, services and facilities to women by providing appropriate and effective measures/mechanisms Responds to culturally construed stereotypes against women often resulting to discrimination Aims to promote gender equality of women and men by challenging sexist beliefs and constructs Responds to the marginalization of women in key processes that have concrete impact on womens lives Aims for equal involvement of women in decision-making processes recognizing the distinct contributions of women as agents for change and development Responds to the unequal power relations between men and women affecting the management of assets and relations to the means of production Aims to equalize power relations through redistributive economic reforms

Conscientization Gender Equality Participation/ Empowerment

Gender Equity

Control

15

Adopted from the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines for Project Development, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation released by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the National Commission on the Role of The Filipino Women (NCRFW) in October 2004. With Revisions 7

3.0

Methodology

The overall design of the study is qualitative and was determined by the objectives of the project. A thematic analytic approach was taken, as it lends itself well to a text-based corpus in that inferences can be made from the text to the social context in this case, the policy atmosphere within the DENR in relation to GAD which may be otherwise less accessible16. Thematic analysis thus enables the assessor to transform the text systematically into themes corresponding to the Departments overall understanding of gender and development. 3.1 Computer-assisted text analysis

The study involved a thematic content analysis of the following policies, which compose the corpus of the study: Document Governing documents RA 7192 EO 273 GAD-specific policies GAD framework DAO 1995-07 DAO 1998-15 DAO 1998-55 DAO 1999-27 DAO 2001-18 Subject An Act Promoting the Integration of Women as Full and Equal Partners of Men in Development and Nation Building and for Other Purposes. Approving and Adopting the Philippine Plan for GenderResponsive Development, 1995 to 2025.

Guidelines for the Implementation of Gender and Development Activities in the Department of Environment Natural Resources Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of Gender and Development (GAD) Activities in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Amending Certain Sections of Administrative Order No. 98-15 on Gender and Development. Amending Certain Provisions of DAO 98-55 on the Implementation of Gender and Development in the DENR. Amendments to DENR Administrative Order No. 99-27 dated July 19, 1999 Re: Implementation of Gender and Development (GAD) in the DENR.

On the Gender Service Awards DAO 1996-23 Launching of the Gender and Development (GAD) Service Awards and Providing Guidelines for its Implementation DAO 2001-21 Revised Guidelines on Gender and Development (GAD) Service Awards. Annex A, DAO 2001-21 Guidelines on Gender and Development (GAD) Service Awards of the DENR
16

Bauer, M.W. (2000). Classical Content Analysis: A Review. In Bauer, M.W. and Gaskell, G. (eds) (2000). Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound. London: Sage Publications Ltd., pages 131-151. 8

 On Sexual Harassment DAO 1996-33 DAO 2002-25 On others DMO 1996-15 DAO 2002-13

Implementing Rules and Regulations on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (R.A. 7877) Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations on the AntiSexual Harassment Act of 1995

PAMB Membership Removal of Gender Bias in the Acceptance and Processing of Homestead Patent Applications and Other Public Land Applications DAO 2004-31 Admission of Women into the Corps of Commissioned Officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Department of NAMRIA Core/general program policies DMC 1996-08 Amendment of the Flexi-Time Work Schedule at the DENR Central Office DAO 1996-24 Rules and Regulations Governing the Socialized Industrial Forest Management Program DAO 1996-29 Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of Executive Order 263, Otherwise Known as the Community-Based Forest Management Strategy (CBFMS) DAO 1996-37 Revising DENR Administrative Order No. 21, Series of 1992, to Further Strengthen the Implementation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System. DAO 1997-04 Rules and Regulations Governing the Industrial Forest Management Program DMC 1997-12 Guidelines for the Formulation of Community Resource Management Framework and Annual Work Plan for Community Based Forest Management Areas DAO 2003-30 Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System DAO 2004-13 Designation of North Cotabato Geothermal Airshed and its Governing Board TAMS Analyzer, a qualitative research software package for the social and cultural sciences, was employed to facilitate analysis. TAMS stands for Text Analysis Mark-up System. It allows researchers to assign codes to passages of a text, and later facilitates the extraction and analysis of coded information. The coding frame evolved from an initial review of the corpus, as well as an elaboration of the key evaluation parameters discussed in the earlier section. Table II lists the codes used in the evaluation and provides a complete description of these codes, as well as its corresponding GAD goal/s.

Table II. TAMS Coding Frame Code Definition The policy or portion thereof promotes awareness of gender and development issues and concerns, or requires an understanding of such. The policy or portion thereof promotes women's awareness of available resources, mechanisms and opportunities that they may take advantage of towards increased participation and empowerment. The policy or portion thereof provides or promotes women's access to information, mechanisms, services and resources for their development. GAD goal being addressed Gender equality: Conscientization Womens Welfare: Access

awaregad

awarewomen

empoweraccess

empowerlead

empowerskills

empowervoice

equal

Depending on nature of item: Womens Welfare: Access Gender Equality: Empowerment Depending on nature of item: The policy or portion thereof empowers Gender Equality: women to take a leading role in actions that Participation and affect their lives. Empowerment Gender Equity: Control Depending on nature of item: Womens welfare: The policy or portion thereof promotes the Welfare and Access improvement of women's skills and Gender Equality: capabilities. Empowerment Gender Equity: Control The policy or portion thereof provides Gender Equality: women with venues to exercise voice with Conscientization and regard to issues affecting them. Empowerment Gender Equality: The policy or portion thereof promotes Conscientization equal relations between men and women. The policy or portion thereof promotes women's participation and provides mechanisms for them to be consulted on matters that affect them. Gender Equality: Participation

partconsultation

10

partdecision

partrep

The policy or portion thereof promotes and provides mechanisms for the participation of women, or for a gender perspective, in decision-making processes. The policy or portion thereof provides mechanisms for women and their concerns to be represented in formal advisory, administrative and decision-making bodies, such as, but not limited to, task forces and committees.

Gender Equality: Empowerment Gender Equality: Control Gender Equality: Conscientization and Participation

3.2

Case document reviews

In addition to, and to enrich, the TAMS analysis, three document reviews were undertaken as case studies in the evaluation of GAD mainstreaming in Department policies. Cases were chosen based on their probative value and representation of broad categorizations of the policies under review: (1) DAO 1999-27 as amended by DAO 2001-18 was chosen since it is the overarching GAD policy framework of the Department; (2) DAO 2001-21 and Annex A of the same, was chosen because it is a GAD-specific program adopted by the Department; and (3) DAO 1996-24 and DAO 1997-04 represent a policy document covering a core program of the Department. Through the case studies, the evaluators sought to provide qualitative analysis on the following: (1) the major GAD themes expressed within the particular policies; (2) the expression of concrete and identifiable GAD issues/concerns; (3) the level of response to the expressed GAD issues/concerns; and lastly, (4) indicators of mainstreaming.

11

4.0

Analysis of the TAMS Results

Summary of Coding Results

Aside from the DENR policies being evaluated, RA 7192 and EO 273 were also coded as reference documents. Thus, twenty-three (23) documents were coded according to the Coding Frame using the qualitative content analysis software package TAMS Analyser, yielding two hundred sixty-three (263) raw coded items as follows: Document Governing documents RA 7192 EO 273 GAD-specific policies GAD framework DAO 1995-07 DAO 1998-15 DAO 1998-55 DAO 1999-27 DAO 2001-18 On the Gender Service Awards DAO 1996-23 DAO 2001-21 Annex A, DAO 2001-21 On Sexual Harassment DAO 1996-33 DAO 2002-25 On others DMO 1996-15 DAO 2002-13 DAO 2004-31 Core/general program policies DMC 1996-08 DAO 1996-24 DAO 1996-29 DAO 1996-37 DAO 1997-04 DMC 1997-12 DAO 2003-30 DAO 2004-13 No. of items 20 12

28 24 25 26 6 2 2 46 15 36 1 2 5 1 2 3 3 1 1 2 0 263

12

Items yielded by code are as follows: Code awaregad awarewomen empoweraccess empowerlead empowerskills empowervoice equal partconsultation partdecision partrep No. of items 64 2 77 9 6 17 33 4 22 29 263 No. of documents containing items 17 1 11 3 2 8 11 4 13 11

13

aware gad

aware women

empower access 8 6

MATRIX OF TAMS RESULTS empower empower empower lead skills voice 4 2 1 1 1

equal

part consult

part decision 1 1

part rep 2

Governing documents RA 7192 2 EO 273 2 GAD-specific policies GAD framework DAO 1995-07 8 DAO 1998-15 9 DAO 1998-55 7 DAO 1999-27 7 DAO 2001-18 1 On the Gender Service Awards DAO 1996-23 1 DAO 2001-21 1 Annex A 10 On sexual harassment DAO 1996-33 3 2 DAO 2002-25 6 On others DMO 1996-15 DAO 2002-13 1 DAO 2004-31 2 Core/general program policies DMC 1996-08 1 DAO 1996-24 DAO 1996-29 DAO 1996-37 2 DAO 1997-04 DMC 1997-12 DAO 2003-30 1 DAO 2004-13

8 6 9 9 2

1 1 1 1

2 2 3 3 1

1 1 1

1 2 1 1

7 3 3 4 2

8 3 16

5 4 7

15

1 1 4

2 3 1 1

1 2

1 3

1 1 1 1 1

14

Coding Analysis
Despite palpable achievements in terms of promoting GAD awareness, gender equality, access to information, and mechanisms for participation within DENR, it is also evident that GAD has not been mainstreamed within the Department. There is a high item count for GAD specific policies (See TAMs Table), referring to the administrative orders and other laws and regulations that target women and gender concerns, which does not carry over to the core/general programme policies of the department. In sum, instead of being integrated, GAD initiatives are being segregated from the rest of the work and activities of the bureaucracy. The danger lies in GAD being treated as a token initiative rather than as a coherent, systematic, and sustainable intervention within a rightsbased development approach. Evidence of the non-uniform application of key concepts and concerns in GAD mainstreaming are consistent across each of the major non-GAD policy instruments and regulations that apply to DENR and its attached agencies. The coding analysis is presented in the following quadrant to plot the relative concentration and dispersion of the items across two major aggrupations: (1) policies that promote gender awareness and access to information, and (2) policies that promote equality. Let quadrants A & B denote policies that promote awareness (A) or equality (B), and quadrants C & D denote the location of policies either in GAD specific (C) or core/general (D) policies. The best scenario within this framework is to integrate policies that promote equality in core/general policies.

The scatter-gram indicates that most of the initiatives and their location are in quad CB, followed by DA. This implies that recasting core policies will need to be undertaken, and that substantial work has already been done in generating awareness and communicating GAD information.

15

5. 5.1

Case Studies CASE: DE R Administrative Order o. 99-27: Amending Certain Provisions of DAO 98-55 on the Implementation of Gender and Development in the DE R As amended by DE R Administrative Order o. 2001-18: Amendments to DE R Administrative Order o. 99-27, dated July 19, 1999 Re: Implementation of Gender and Development (GAD) in the DENR

Policy Summary
DAO 99-27, as amended by DAO 2001-18, is the latest of a series of Administrative Orders (Nos. 95-07, 98-15 and 98-55), each superseding the previous one and providing the framework for gender mainstreaming activities within the DENR in accordance with RA 7192 and EO 273. It creates/reconstitutes GAD bodies at the national, regional, provincial and community levels of the Department, and provides for the allocation of funds for GAD activities and programs.

Policy Document Analysis

The policy as a whole focuses on Gender and Development (GAD) as a priority concern of the DENR. Section 1. Statement of Policy and Objectives makes explicit the gender mainstreaming ideals that the Order intends to foster. Among these are gender equality, access, representation and participation. The objectives are: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) To integrate gender concerns in the development process through, but not limited to, equal participation of men and women in all policies, programs, projects and activities of the DENR; To review and revise all rules, regulations and procedures to remove gender biases therein; To maintain a database of sex and age disaggregated data and other statistics relative to gender and development; To integrate GAD issues and concerns in all programs and projects of the DENR; To allocate funds from the regular budget and a proportionately equal percentage of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds from foreign government and multilateral agencies and organizations to support policies, programs, projects and activities on GAD; and To ensure better gender representation in the DENR GAD Focal Point System.

(6)

The TAMS flagged 26 items in DAO 99-27, and 6 items in DAO 2001-18. As amended, a total of 28 items were flagged, as follows:
Code Awaregad o. of items 7 Details/Comments 1 item refers to the policy as a whole; 3 objectives were coded once each; 2 items refer to reporting mechanisms;

16

Empoweraccess

10

Partrep

Equal

Partdecision

Partconsultation Empowervoice

1 1

1 item refers to the conduct of studies on GAD and the environment. 2 items, including 1 objective, refer to the allocation of of funds for GAD activities; 1 item refers to the provision of assistance on GAD matters to regular offices/units; 1 item refers to a mechanism for access to and coordination with NCRFW for GAD concerns; 6 items correspond to the creation of GAD bodies. 1 item refers to one of the policys objectives; 3 items correspond to gender representation in created bodies; 1 item refers to having a woman representative to the NGADFPS. 1 item is contained in the policys statement of principle; 1 item corresponds to one of the policys objectives; 1 item refers to one of the functions of the NGADFSP. The NGADEC shall oversee the DENRs compliance with RA 7192 and shall act on matters requiring decisions on GAD. NGADFSP shall serve as advisory body to the Secretary on GAD matters. NGADFSP shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of GAD programs and projects, both in the central and field offices.

The concern regarding womens welfare is clearly expressed by the policy. In particular, it addresses the need to strengthen womens access to resources, facilities and services that respond to GAD needs. Of special significance are the provisions on the allocation of funds for GAD activities and the creation of GAD bodies at all levels of the Department. These provisions aim to ensure that womens concerns are not neglected, an important first step towards gender equality. Gender equality is also a concern that was expressed. In fact, the policy as whole seeks to address this issue, which is clearly stated in its statement of principle. Under this general concern, the need for conscientization was further conveyed in the mandate given to GAD bodies to conduct studies on gender and the environment. Furthermore, the need for participation and empowerment is embodied in the provisions regarding the monitoring, evaluation and advisory functions of the NGADEC and the NGADFPS.

GAD Mainstreaming Review

The issuance of the policy per se is positive in that it calls attention to the need for gender mainstreaming in natural resource management. However, achievement of the policys own objectives of gender mainstreaming is partial at best. In particular:

17

Although objectives (1) and (4) specify the need to mainstream gender concerns in processes and programmes, the substance of the policy fails to achieve this. GADfocused bodies at the national, regional, provincial and community levels were indeed created, and the participation of DENR units (bureaus, attached agencies, offices/services) in the said bodies is indeed ensured. However, the reverse does not apply: mechanisms for GAD-specific representation in regular DENR units and in regular programme/project activities are not provided for. Objective (2) was not met. Aside from the stated objective, the Order does not direct any person, unit or special body to conduct the review. Objective (3) of the policy specifies the need to maintain a database of sex and age disaggregated data and other statistics relative to gender and development but does not direct any person, unit or office to do so. Nor does it ensure the use of such data as input to planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes, thus falling short of the gender mainstreaming principle of institutionalisation (Reeves and Baden, 2000). Section 4. Funding Requirements explicitly provides for access to resources for GAD, in accordance with objective (5). This represents a significant contribution to the furtherance of GAD ideals. However, as with the rest of the policy, allocation of resources is intended for GAD-specific activities only, not mainstreaming. The intention behind objective (6) is vague in that gender representation is the ostensible aim of the establishment of the DENR GAD Focal Point System in the first place. The evaluators can only suppose that the said objective points to the following: a. The designation of the Head Executive Assistant (HEA) or the highest-ranking female official as Chairperson of the NGADFPS. It is assumed here that actual designation applies to the higher-ranking of the two. On one hand, the highest ranking female official provision is positive and significant in that it deliberately gives women the leading role in GAD activities, a sort of affirmative action for empowerment. On the other hand, the option of designating the HEA is also constructive and noteworthy in that it ensures that the Chairperson of the NGADFPS is a person of authority and mandate, regardless of gender. Indeed, the impact of the NGADFPS would be diminished if chairmanship is given to a low-level official, no matter that she is the highest ranking woman in the Department. b. The inclusion of lower level Focal Point heads as members of Focal Points at the next level, e.g., Bureau/Agency FP heads are appointed members of the NGADFPS. These provisions correspond to a higher level of response: ensuring gender representation, rather than merely womens participation, since it can be assumed that FP heads at all levels carry with them a gender perspective. However, impact of the FPs is reduced by the fact that assigned members take on the function as an add-on responsibility only. Full-time members with GAD mainstreaming as their primary responsibility would most likely deliver more significant results.
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In general, the policy, while positive, addresses GAD-specific activities and matters only, NOT gender mainstreaming in regular programs, as the objectives suggest. While it creates units that focus on gender and development and allocates much-needed resources for GAD activities, a more progressive strategy of mainstreaming, where gender representation that is diffused in all processes of the Department, would have been more responsive.

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5.2

CASE: DENR Administrative Order No. 2001-21: Revised Guidelines on Gender and Development (GAD) Service Awards, including Annex A

Policy summary
DAO 2001-21 covers a GAD specific program that recognizes significant GAD efforts within the Department and its attached agencies. It adopts the revised guidelines (Annex A) of the Departments Gender and Development (GAD) Service Awards, which was launched in 1996 through DAO 96-23. It also authorises the National GAD Focal Point System to regularly review said guidelines and revise these as necessary, and encourages all Department personnel to participate in the awards process. Annex A details the objectives of the awards, the composition and functions of the Screening Committee and Board of Judges, as well as the process and criteria for the selection of winners. Two awards categories were identified: the Most Gender Sensitive Project and the Most Gender Sensitive Woman Project Implementor.

Policy Document Analysis

The TAMS flagged 49 items in DAO 2001-21 and its Annex A, as follows:
Code Awaregad o. of items 11 Details 2 items refer to the policy as a whole: 1 each for the main policy and its annex; 1 item refers to the recognition of the role of women in development; 1 item refers to the acknowledgement of the need to recognise GAD efforts; 1 item refers to the inclusion of the Most Gender Sensitive project award; 1 item corresponds to the inclusion of gender sensitivity as a general criterion for the Most Gender Sensitive Woman Project Implementor award; 5 items are contained in the table of criteria, indicators and questions to be used in awards selection. 2 items are contained in the Background on RA 7192 and PSSD; 2 items are contained in the policys goals and objectives; 11 items are contained in the table of criteria, indicators and questions to be used in awards selection. 1 item is contained in the Background on the States policy on gender and development; 1 item refers to a general criterion for the Most Gender Sensitive Woman Project Implementor award;

Equal

15

Empoweraccess

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Partdecision

Empowerskills

Empowerlead

Partrep

1 item refers to the guideline on the use of cash prizes; 5 items are contained in the table of criteria, indicators and questions to be used in awards selection. 1 item refers to the authorization given to the NGADFPS to regularly review the awards and revise these as necessary; 1 item is contained in the policys goals and objectives; 1 item corresponds to the GAD Executive Committees serving as the board of judges for the awards; 1 item corresponds to the NGADFPS serving as national level screening committee; 1 item is contained in the table of criteria, indicators and questions to be used in awards selection. 1 item corresponds to a general criterion for the Most Gender Sensitive Woman Project Implementor award; 4 items are contained in the table of criteria, indicators and questions to be used in awards selection. 1 item corresponds to a general criterion for the Most Gender Sensitive Woman Project Implementor award; 2 items are contained in the table of criteria, indicators and questions to be used in awards selection. 1 item refers to the representation of GAD Focal Points in the awards Screening Committees; 1 item is contained in the table of criteria, indicators and questions to be used in awards selection.

Concern for womens welfare is conveyed in the reiteration of the principle that women must be provided with facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation. This concern is notably concretized by ensuring that, aside from recognizing GAD efforts through the awards, cash prizes for the Most Gender Sensitive Project are to be ploughed back to the project for GAD-related initiatives. Conscientization as a sub-goal of the concern for gender equality was expressed by the issuance of the policy as a whole. The document clearly recognizes the need to affirm the contribution of women to the development process, as well as to acknowledge efforts to promote gender sensitivity in the work place. The Most Gender Sensitive Woman Project Implementor award directly responds to this need. The criteria for judging entries also explicitly include items related to this concern. The sub-goal of participation/empowerment was also expressed and addressed in that the policy gave the Departments GAD bodies (i.e., NGADFPS and GADECs) the authority to carry out decision-making functions throughout the awards process, including the authority

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to revise the awards guidelines as necessary. Also, specific criteria for judging include whether project entries involve women in key processes.

GAD Mainstreaming Review

In general the GAD service awards are a positive form of intervention in mainstreaming GAD within the DENR bureaucracy: the assessment noted the motivational impact on DENR personnel and partners to constantly mainstream and develop gender and development tools and programmes, and the function of the awards as an incentive to develop initiatives that brings gender into the center of official efforts towards environmentally sustainable development. The goals and objectives of the awards cover the two areas of GAD intervention: mainstreaming and womens empowerment. An assessment of the various items that determined award preferences indicate that likely winners are projects that facilitate gender awareness, pro-active initiatives that ensure gender equality, and gender empowerment through improved access by women. These initiatives are comparable with what are generally recognized as first tier GAD interventions that most development organizations, both public and private, usually engage in at the beginning of a GAD programme. However, at least three strategic improvements need to be made to enable the awards to move to a higher or advanced level: 1. The awards will have to reassess its priorities and preferences. This case study underlines the need to refocus from awareness towards actual mainstreaming initiatives internally (within the DENR) and externally (in relation with its stakeholders and public and private partners). The awards have been in place for almost ten years years (since 1996), and was revised nearly five years ago (2001). This proves that more than sufficient time has been spent on promoting awareness. Actions to actually mainstream gender should now be prioritised, such as rewarding efforts that articulate, reinforce, or expand on GAD best practice. 2. The awards programme does not reveal any premium given towards learning and sustaining GAD mainstreaming initiatives. As an incentive programme for efforts and initiatives that stand out from the rest, a clear emphasis on documenting learning and communicating that learning to the rest of the DENR bureaucracy, other line agencies, and stakeholders within and outside the public sector must be in place, and should be included as a criteria. 3. Finally, a critical improvement would be to start ending the practice of ring-fencing the awards to women and enable initiatives managed by and targeted towards men to compete for the Most Gender Sensitive Project Implementor category. Available and recent scholarship on the GAD front indicate that positive outcomes and impact have been registered by programmes and projects that target men, or are managed by men, for quite obvious reasons: gender and development is distinct from women and development, and GAD initiatives do not stop with programmes that only target women. This liberalization process can be implemented gradually.

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5.3

Case: DENR Administrative Order No. 1996-24: Rules and Regulations Governing the Socialized Industrial Forest Management Program and DENR Administrative Order No. 1997-04: Rules and Regulations Governing the Industrial Forest Management Program

Policy summary
DAOs 1996-24 and 1997-04 represent a critical redistributive program of the DENR. These programs establish concrete mechanisms for the development and management of forest land resources. The programs aim to positively contribute to the broad national goals of sustainable development, promotion of equity, and the economic upliftment of Filipinos. The two policy documents detail the policy objectives, coverage, procedures, parameters for and delineations, management mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation of DENRs distribution of management agreements of industrial forests to individuals, households, cooperatives and other private entities. The Department Orders on industrial forest management allows private entities to directly manage forest resources and harvest forest produce for commercial use subject to identified regulations. Apart from distributing management agreements similar to leasehold arrangements, the Department Orders also allow original beneficiaries to transfer, convey or sell in part and in whole, upon approval of the appropriate unit in the DENR and subject to certain conditions, to other private entities. They also outline clear terms of reference between government and management agreement holders, incentives and assistance packages for the beneficiaries all aimed at the full development and utilization of industrial forests.

Policy Document Analysis

The evaluators sought to review a standing program of the Department and assess its GAD content and at the same time assess how such a program mainstreams GAD. The following is a reiteration of the key questions for the case study: (1) what are the major GAD themes expressed within these two policy documents; (2) do these two policy documents express concrete and identifiable GAD issues/concerns; and lastly, (3) what level of response do these two policy documents express for GAD issues/concerns. The two policy documents governing Industrial Forest Management both identified equitable access as one of their goal. Section 1, page 1 of DAO 96-24 and section 1, item c & e, page 1 & 2 of DAO 97-04 contain a broad declaration of equity as a policy objective. The policy objective stated, however, does not concretely specify gender equity as its objective. Still this formulation can be liberally construed. It can be argued that aiming for equity can includes aiming for gender equity. The TAMS result point to a gender equality clause expressed in Section 9, second paragraph, page 30 of DAO 96-24. The clause states that socialized industrial forest management agreements when applicants are married shall be issued in names of both spouses.

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Participation in decision making was also flagged by the TAMS on two instances. Section 12.7, page 34 of DAO 96-24 provides for the integration of gender concerns in the implementation of management agreements to include equitable participation of women in project activities and enjoyment of the fruits thereof. While section 19.20, page 18 of DAO 97-04 provides for the integration of gender concerns in the implementation of management agreements to include equitable participation of women in community development management plans within areas under the industrial forest management agreements. Outside these three themes - equity, gender equality and participation in decision making, no other GAD theme was expressed in the two policy documents. These themes can be related to matching gender needs, issues and/or concerns; and consequently, to particular gender and development goals. As discussed in the earlier portions of the evaluation, gender equity seeks to address the existing gender imbalance in power relations brought about by inequities in asset ownership. And since the policy documents deal with lease distribution of industrial forests, these policies undoubtedly can have a concrete positive impact on womens asset ownership, resource management and in benefiting from the produce of the forests. Providing the policy environment that facilitates womens possible ownership of a key resource if genuinely pursued is a strategic achievement towards correcting power relations across men and women. In specifying that lease agreements covering industrial forests issued to married individuals shall be in the name of both spouses, the Department expressed its recognition of women and men equality within the family particularly in terms of asset ownership. This specific policy sees that households are not merely represented by men but by women as well. This simple policy statement has far reaching effects for womens welfare and the womens equal status with men. Such industrial forest management agreements maybe used by women as proof of asset ownership which then can be used for various purposes as basis for contract agreements and even possibly collateral without having to defer to the man in the household. Providing for the participation of women in mechanisms that will affect their lives in this particular case in implementing industrial forest management agreements and in community development planning is also a critical GAD policy statement expressed in the two documents. Providing for womens participation first acknowledges womens role in development. Second, this statement provides women with a policy instrument which they can utilize in asserting their participation in the above mentioned processes. Third, and perhaps more importantly, this statement gives women an opportunity to be active participants in discussions, planning and processes that have concrete impact in their day to day life allowing them to incorporate their own understanding of the situation, their own assessment of their needs and wants, and contributing their ideas and capacities for concrete interventions that will improve their conditions.

GAD Mainstreaming Review

It is important to emphasize the potential of the two policies on industrial forest management in terms of its possible contribution in correcting the inequity faced by women when it comes to asset ownership. In the broader Philippine social context ownership and control of such a critical asset like land and production resources define access to and hold

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of economic and consequently political power. Providing a concrete policy instrument that at the minimum provides opportunity for women to be direct beneficiaries of resource management agreements can be a hallmark for gender and development in the Philippines. At best these are what the two policies represent in terms of gender and development - a potential, a possible opportunity. Mainstreaming gender and development, however, requires us to see if the policies are substantiated beyond rhetoric, declarations and nominal statements. The policies were able to reserve a space for women even if rather minimally. These opening for gender equity, equality and women participation can be claimed by women stakeholders of the Department. It can be utilized by women stakeholders and other interest groups to assert, lay claim and demand for the benefits identified in the policy documents. It is a starting point which can be further expanded. Still, there are critical areas where the policies on industrial forest management can be improved if the policies seek to seriously and adequately mainstream gender and development. In the declaration of policy objectives, an opportunity was lost when it did not express the significant impact of resource distribution to women. Only by liberal construction can we interpret that gender equity as among the policys goals. Clearly, a more concrete articulation of gender equity as a goal is more ideal. Achieving equality and substantial womens participation require additional enabling instruments. For one, no provisions were identified for the collection of baseline information on the concrete conditions within community beneficiaries particularly on the status of women. The collection of baseline information allows the Department to adjust its intervention such that its outcomes are also enjoyed by women. Involvement of women should also be identified not only in terms of planning but also in monitoring and evaluation. In the identified management mechanisms, womens participation was not in anyway expressed. Mainstreaming gender challenges institutions to see women not only as beneficiaries or as recipients of end results and outcomes. Women, too, can be active agents of change. They have a role to play in defining interventions, in implementing activities, in assessing results and especially in managing initiatives that have direct and concrete impact in their own lives, in the lives of their families and in the life of their community. In fact as experiences have shown that if womens involvement is not mainstreamed or integrated the full development potentials of intended results and outcomes can even be compromised. Enabling instruments contained within policy documents can spell whether the potential, the possibility and the opportunity for addressing gender and development goals can be more easily achieved. It spells the difference in whether intentions and pronouncements can be demonstrated and be made operational.

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6.0

A Note on GAD Institutionalization

Within the solid body of research that now exists, the analysis of the policy reduction strategy papers conducted has been shown that many policies and programmes around the world continue to show very limited and compartmentalised concerns with regard to gender equity. Among the various factors put forward to explain this, two in particular tend to feature most frequently: Gender is not viewed as a core competence of policy-making bodies, either in the international development community or at national and local levels. There is thus a lack of gender expertise in these bodies. Where such expertise exists, it tends to be found in either: (a) the sectors traditionally associated with gender and womens issues; or (b) the programmes that directly address womens concerns or gender equality efforts. Limited consultation takes place with primary stakeholders. While having poor people participate directly in such consultations may take longer to achieve, the consultations have also failed to include, or have included in a very token way, organisations that work with the poor as well as those that work for gender equity goals. The ones consulted also tended to be those who already had a relationship with governments and donors.17 Therefore, achieving the goal of mainstreaming GAD within the DENR requires that gender be placed at the centre of official efforts in environment and natural resource management. The challenge is to integrate, adapt and concretize the GAD principles, goals and directions the Departments mandate, structures and norms. It is not enough for the policies to echo principles, goals and directions identified in national level GAD laws. A deeper understanding and deeper appreciation of GAD and how GAD applies to the specific mandate of the Department is required. Indeed, adopting an overarching mainstreaming strategy can make a significant contribution towards improving ENR efforts, as discussed in the literature review section of this report. There is also a need to ensure that structures reflect the Departments commitment to Gender and Development. At present, the bodies that were created to decide on certain GAD issues are not permanent structures genuinely integrated in the official plantilla, with their own budgets and staff. As it is the case with the rest of the government, the GAD bodies within DENR do not hold any clout or influence with, for example, the Office of the Undersecretary for Finance, unless they are backed by the Secretary. As a result GAD initiatives may be hindered by general budgetary limitations and the lack of appropriate policy reforms. Also, the appointment of officials and staff, as leaders of or participants in GAD bodies, is currently being done on an add-on basis. This imposes an additional burden on the appointees, as GAD duties are expected to be performed by them, on top of their regular responsibilities. It requires them to make additional investments in terms of time and effort. A genuine commitment to GAD requires that due recognition be given to the importance of gender work, in the form of provisions for added compensation for the added responsibilities, or by unloading the appointees of at least some of his/her other duties. In addition, there is a need to qualify the context of their work, and to indicate concrete terms of reference and scope of authority. Assigning a GAD champion (whether an individual of
17Kabeer,

Naila. Gender Mainstreaming In Poverty Eradication and The Millennium Development Goals: A Handbook for Policy-makers and Other Stakeholders. From http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-42969-201-1DO_TOPIC.html. 26

high rank or office unit) who shall undertake gender mainstreaming as a primary function will better promote GAD goals. GAD mainstreaming entails a process of coherence not only between policies and programmes, but also between norms and behavior. If the policy framework does not support GAD mainstreaming, programmes and projects will come up short, and expectations will not be met. Consistency requires that a conscious effort is made by the leadership to ensure that resources are allocated for GAD mainstreaming, gender sensitive behavior is practiced and reinforced, and advocacy is demonstrated. And GAD is not simply a concern of women. It should be treated not as a separate, distinct and external concern, but, rather, as an integral cross-cutting objective that also involves men.

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7.0

Conclusions and Recommendations: A Summary The DENR has made palpable achievements in terms of promoting GAD awareness, gender equality, access to information, and mechanisms for participation within DENR. Inclusion of gender issues and concerns, and the need for gender specific development interventions has been achieved in broad policy pronouncements. At this point, sufficient time and effort has been made in promoting awareness of GAD issues. The task at hand is to move the department into a higher level of GAD response the mainstreaming of GAD into the Departments core programs. Actions to actually mainstream gender should now be prioritised, such as rewarding efforts that articulate, reinforce, or expand on GAD best practice. At present, while policy declarations regarding principles include GAD concerns, as mentioned above, these have not been adequately followed through in the policies content. To wit: In the policy documents on the Departments core programs, GAD issues and concerns where discussed nominally. In the policy documents that have GAD as its core content, the handling of GAD seems to be administrative. These policies, which appear to have been developed merely as a means to comply with broader GAD laws, are not substantially geared towards GAD mainstreaming. .

The above points seem to indicate a need to deepen understanding regarding GAD mainstreaming within the Departments policy-making bodies. In addition, there is a need to keep abreast of evolving issues in the gender discourse. A premium must be placed on learning and sustaining GAD mainstreaming initiatives. A clear emphasis on documenting learning and communicating that learning to the rest of the DENR bureaucracy, other line agencies, and stakeholders within and outside the public sector must be put in place. This review has shown the DENR is in a unique position to become a model for gender mainstreaming to the rest of the government. To wit: Although item coding was low for core programs in general, the case study on a core program of the Department points to the substantial contribution that gender mainstreaming can make towards the goal of gender equity. DENR should be in a position to develop and propagate models that target and collect gender disaggregated data in a manner that can be easily accessed by all divisions and bureaus or agencies attached to the department. Disaggregated data should be seen as valuable input in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all programmes and projects. Current DENR policies address some gender needs, including issues that pertain to gender relations. These policies as aforementioned can be incorporated in
Deleted:

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mainstream rules and regulations, such as in staff development, employment terms and conditions, and contracting arrangements in a more comprehensive manner. A more comprehensive GAD review will require a further study of the implementing rules and regulations of the specific policies; key procedures such as the integration of GAD in the social acceptability reviews conducted within the environment impact assessment; and, an evaluation of the Departments budget. DENR can pilot a programme for the constant application of a Gender Audit once every two years to assess progress made, document and communicate learning.

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