1. Origins of the research- focus on Example 1. Women s Empowerment, multi-country research project

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1 Doing and using women s empowerment research in a development organisation: Harnessing research to advance our work on Women s Empowerment, GBV and HIV

2 Overview 1. Origins of the research- focus on Example 1. Women s Empowerment, multi-country research project 2. The research findings: what we learned about women s empowerment 3. Strategic implications: what the findings mean for how we work with and for women in developing countries Further research & learning: Example 2. Women s Vulnerability to HIV, Malawi Example 3. Gender relations & polygamy, DRC & Sierra Leone 4. Where do we go from here? A reflection on outstanding questions

3 Four phases deepening our approach Strategic Plan (3yr) Phase I (pre-2006) Cross cutting issue in programmes Mobilising for Justice (10yr) Phase II ( ) Mainstreaming Dedicated programming Phase III ( ) Mainstreaming Dedicated programming Women s Empowerment Research For a Just and Sustainable Future (5yr) Phase IV Women s Empowerment as an outcome Women s empowerment as an approach Mainstreaming

4 Example 1: Pushing the boundaries: Understanding Women s Participation and Empowerment 4

5 Origins of the research Limited evidence Women s voice absent Focus on formal political participation Social Mapping River of life Voice diaries Photovoice

6 Women s voices

7 Research Objectives: Map and understand spaces where women participate in decision-making spaces in their communities. Explore the barriers and enabling factors for women s participation. Learn from good practice and from the challenges we and the women we work with encounter. Analyse the effects of participation in these spaces on individual women s lives and the communities they live in. Where and when: India, DRC and Nicaragua Who: Internal researcher Emma Newbury with Tina Wallace

8 Participatory Research Methodology Work through partners, engage staff Observation Social Mapping River of life Voice diaries Photovoice

9 I was listening to one of the women talk about her husband denying her permission to participate and how she would get so upset she would be crying on her bed and her young daughter would comfort her. I realised that this is how I was with my wife, I didn t like her to visit her family and I was just like this woman s husband. I knew I had to change things in my own life Partner staff reflection, Nicaragua

10 Women s empowerment journey

11 Findings Enablers

12 Findings Barriers

13 I get up at 3 o clock in the morning. I start the day by cleaning the oven (pasting it with cow dung mixed with water) and light the fire to heat the water for bathing. Then I clean the outer courtyard, then the rooms. Then I go to fetch water and take a bath. Then again I go to fetch water for cooking and start cooking. After I finish cooking I clean the cowshed. Then we eat. After eating I go to the field to work. During agricultural season it is weeding, transplanting, harvesting etc. Or else I go to the hills to collect fuel wood. If I go to the hills to collect fuel wood I return by 3 o clock. Or if I go to work in the field I return by 5 o clock. After returning I again go to fetch water. Then I start cooking again. Once cooking is done I serve food to my children and husband. Then I eat. Then I make the bed for everyone and we go to bed. Again I get up the next morning at 3 o clock. Participant in India

14 I love it when we discuss, debate and talk about our rights as women. This is how we have learnt our rights as women. It is better now for women; if we see that our partner is treating us badly, we have the right to leave them, because our life has value. We don t have to continue living a life of abuse, we don t have to continue being victims to our neighbours, or anyone anymore, because we are women and we have value.i tell my sons that all the rights they have, equally their wives have the same rights, to take decisions, as they are not the rulers of their wives. Participant in Nicaragua

15 The biggest thing that I had to improve in myself was being able to speak in public. I was fearful of speaking in front of mainly men who had a higher intellectual level than me: why? I felt a complex about my inferior education as a woman. This improved as I took on responsibilities in different grassroots organisations and especially because of the training by CDJP Matadi [an NGO] on civil and political rights of women, and women s leadership. Participant in DRC

16 Power and control Understanding the context

17 Challenging inequitable power & spaces

18 Programme Implications Understand the context conduct a thorough gender power analysis. Work at individual, household/interpersonal and community level, as well as tackling institutions and governance structures. Listen to women, work with and alongside them understand the boundaries of power that shape their lives. Include all women, by providing practical supports to enable their participation. Engage with families and communities to create a supportive environment.

19 Phase IV WE & Gender Mainstreaming Gender Mainstreaming

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21 Ongoing participatory learning/research to inform programming e.g. Polygamy Obedience a valued concept for women: I got married to my husband, if I launder for him or do anything for him, I will get blessing, in this world and the next. God will bless me my husband marries me to obey his order and if he brings me to his house anything he says, I should obey you should obey your husband, work for him and work with him, and because we are just visitors in the world, when we die God will bless you for what you ve done. (Female participant - second wife - Sierra Leone) What does that mean for how we programme?

22 Challenges for informed programme Beyond research women s ongoing participation and agenda setting. Capacity issues none of us are immune from the social norms in which we have been socialised.

23 Women s voices in advocacy Key messages for donors: 1. Women s empowerment at community level can produce quick wins but sustainable transformative change requires long-term and enduring efforts 2. The impact of women s participation and empowerment programming can be measured over time and results can be achieved on a continuous basis 3. Achieving these results requires comprehensive, multilayered and multi-pronged programming 4. Long term change at community level requires accountability & transparency at community & national level

24 Women s voices in advocacy But - to what extent can research findings (women s voices) trump donor priorities? And beyond programming how do we bring women s voices into advocacy at national and international policy levels?

25 Where to next? From participatory research to transformative participation are we there yet? How do we know? Longitudinal research? How else? Can we ever truly overcome the power imbalance the exists between poor women and development NGOs?

26 Example 2: Exploring Vulnerability To HIV For Women And Girls In Malawi

27 Programme Goal and Objectives Goal To contribute to a reduction in gender inequality and gender vulnerability to HIV and AIDS. Programme Objectives: To modify cultural practises which facilitate the transmission of HIV To increase uptake of HIV prevention services To influence women and men to practise safer sexual behaviour and have more gender equitable relationships To positively influence changes in policy and service provision to reduce the vulnerability of women to HIV

28 Implementing Partners & Target Groups Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7 Site 8 3,250 people (2450 Men; 800 women)

29 Programme Strategies 1. STAR Circles 2. Engaging Men 3. Work with Traditional and Religious Leaders 4. Village Savings and Lending Schemes

30 Research aim: To determine the impact of the Gender and HIV programme in the target areas and to understand how different programme approaches influence vulnerability to HIV for women and girls.

31 Design, Methods & Response A quantitative baseline and end line 796 (503 F 293 M) A qualitative component in three rounds throughout the course of the programmes (Mar 2013/14/15) F86 semi structured interviews 30 FGDs (187 men & women) 8 in depth case studies Ethical approval National Malawi Commission of Science and Technology

32 Findings Knowledge & Attitudes Improvement overall in comprehensive knowledge on HIV. Increase in those reporting having heard messages from religious leaders and community leaders Programme messages reinterpreted though gender unequal and patriarchal norms Quantitative findings show less gender equitable attitudes overall, but with no deterioration evident in community intervention sites. Qualitative findings reported, more gender equitable role sharing and involvement of women in decision making

33 Findings Practices & Behaviour Changes to cultural practices identified as a risk for contracting HIV Modifications to existing cultural practices to reduce risk were also apparent While social control was seen as an appropriate strategy to combat risk, it does not address attitudes that underpin the behaviour Qualitative findings suggest that interventions positively contributed to a reduction of violence by men toward their spouse Acceptance of male to female intimate partner violence increased

34 Trócaire is the overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland.