Rapid Assessment Tool for Gender Mainstreaming in Recovery Program Documents developed in Ukraine

In Ukraine, a tool has been developed for the rapid assessment of the level of gender mainstreaming in program documents related to recovery. This tool allows users to understand at the project stage how well the needs of various groups of citizens are considered and what other aspects should be worked on and taken into account to improve it.

This was discussed during a press conference at the Media Center Ukraine.

Recovery processes and European integration processes are always about people. Having had the opportunity to learn from the experience of other countries, especially Lithuania and Moldova, and having our own extensive experience, we realized that at the moment when a whole range of documents are being developed, both by the state and by regions and individual communities, it is crucial to remember people at every stage of this process. Our practical experience shows that despite the existence of many documents that require analysis and conclusions, in practice there are challenges related to human resources, which are not always met, or there is a lack of the necessary skills and expertise. In our opinion, it was very important to find an approach that would help at the stage when we are still working with the document, still in the project phase, to see if this project really considers people and what it is aiming at. Even if its focus is on infrastructure, does it take people into account, or  is it just there to be there,” said Nataliia Riabushenko, project manager and coordinator of the Gender Advisers Network.

According to Nataliia Riabushenko, the tool for rapid assessment of gender mainstreaming in program documents related to recovery is a kind of checklist that allows users to see whether all necessary aspects are considered in the document.

“Our tool is an attempt to quickly analyze whether we have considered people, whether we have considered different groups of women and men. If not, we have time to make adjustments because we are dealing with projects. Practice shows that it is quite difficult to change a document once it has been adopted, but it is easier to work with a project if we understand that at this stage we can include a target group that was previously overlooked to reflect their needs in the future. So our tool is not a guide to how to do things better, but rather a checklist to see if everything is included or if more work needs to be done,” she explained.

This tool is a checklist that also helps in working with the authorities. It is not about criticism, but about thinking together about how to improve a recovery document. Because we are talking about an important element – the needs and interests of different groups of women and men.

Yuliia Malko, Ph.D. in Public Administration and an expert in gender-oriented governance, noted that the tool is positioned as a way to improve the level of gender mainstreaming in program documents. It is based on the current legal framework, in particular the Regulation of the Ministry of Social Policy on the Integration of Gender Approaches in the Development of Legal Acts. This tool should be used by those who are actually aware of gender issues. Therefore, it is offered as a pilot option to gender experts and gender consultants working in different structures.

The expert also explained that the tool uses a scoring system, ranging from 0 to 4, and based on the scores, the next steps are outlined.

“We developed this tool in the same way as our Moldovan colleagues, according to the stages of policy development and implementation. We have provided certain steps and 12 questions that help us make a quick assessment based on the following algorithm: first identify problems, then develop and implement, monitor and evaluate, and ensure sustainability,” she added.

This tool, according to Yulia Malko, is a starting point for cooperation with authorities at the national, regional, district and local government levels, as well as with territorial communities.

She emphasized that the rapid assessment provided by the tool offers opportunities for communication with government bodies and further cooperation in various forms, so that both the documents being analyzed and those yet to be created can be improved in terms of their effectiveness, consideration of the interests of various groups of women and men, and effective use of funds and efforts invested in the country’s recovery.

In turn, Nataliia Sviderska, National Consultant on Gender-Responsive Budgeting, noted that the tool has already been used in practice, specifically during public discussions on the draft Strategy for Demographic Development of Ukraine until 2040, which has now been adopted as an official document.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news