Project description

Title: Gender mainstreaming
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Afghanistan
Lead executing agency: Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs
Overall term: 2004 to 2012

Context

Even now, many years after the end of Taliban rule, the situation of women in Afghanistan is a matter of concern. They suffer discrimination and have few opportunities to lead self-determined lives or to play a role in society. Eighty per cent of Afghan women cannot read or write, and only one in three girls goes to school. Four out of five women are victims of domestic violence. The participation of women in society is a key issue for Afghanistan’s development.

Objective

The needs of Afghan women are considered in the planning and implementation of government projects. Women’s rights organisations are competent and effective.

Approach

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ is supporting the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs and other ministries in planning and implementing activities that consider the needs of both sexes.

In cooperation with the Civil Service Commission, GIZ has recommended that women’s access to the public sector be facilitated and that they be given better opportunities for promotion. GIZ has initiated a council in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs that acts as a bridge between the Government and civil society. It advises the minister and ensures that information is shared. Since 2010, GIZ has increasingly been promoting capacity development in women’s organisations. Improved communication and negotiation skills enable them to interact with government agencies considerably more constructively, so that government action is better targeted to the needs of the female population.

In the province of Badakhshan, GIZ has successfully promoted the participation of women in political and social processes. There and in Balkh province, active work has been done to combat domestic violence.

Results achieved so far

Thirteen Afghan ministries already have gender departments; these are linked through a coordination office. They review strategy papers from the point of view of gender equality, for example, and suggest any changes that are needed.

More than 5,000 government staff in the capital city Kabul and in Badakhshan and Balkh provinces have undergone further training on gender mainstreaming issues. Other groups, such as local authorities and religious leaders, also take part in special training. ‘Now we know what rights women have and what rights men have. Please change your behaviour towards your wives at home,’ preaches an imam from Yaftal in Badakhshan after taking part in a campaign to combat violence against women.

Download

• Equality – prosperity – peace
  Development needs gender equality (GIZ 2011)
  giz2011-gender-afghanistan-en.pdf, 0.57 MB (English)