UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA Perspectives on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women in Africa: Progress towards achieving the MDGs BY Abdoulie Janneh United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen The year 2010 marks a significant signpost for assessing global progress and implementation of our shared vision of improving human development in all countries by 2015. We have only five years at our disposal to demonstrate commitment and fulfill all Eight Millennium Development Goals. Since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration and accompanying Goals in 2000, painstaking efforts have been made by numerous interest groups including civil society and development partners to demonstrate the inextricable linkages between the attainment of gender equality and economic growth. As a result of these efforts, today, we have evidenced-based research to demonstrate that poverty remains endemic in countries which have not made demonstrable progress in bridging the gaps between males and females in their capacities as actors and beneficiaries of development. The theme: "Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women in the Implementation of the MDGs is therefore appropriate and also critical, as none of the MDGs can be achieved from a sustainable human development standpoint without the equal participation and benefits being accorded to both sexes. My presentation is therefore an overview of where Africa stands with regard to achieving gender equality and women s empowerment within the context of the Millennium Development Goals. 1
Drawing on recent ECA regional activities and outputs including on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD +15), the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA +15), the 2010 MDG Progress Report, the 2009 African Women s Report, and the 2010 Economic Report on Africa, I will be examining the theme from the perspective of selected indicators of each of the eight Development Goals. MDG 1: Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger Contextualisation: Women s economic empowerment is critical for overall development. Accordingly National Development Plans and Strategies need to recognise and address the gender dimensions of poverty, including skewed access to productive resources such as land, credit, technology and extension. Target 1a calls for the halving of the number of people living on less than one dollar a day. Poverty reduction is a national priority in all countries. Thirty five (35) countries or 69% of countries have PRSPs in place, a substantial number of which are now engaged in MDG-based planning and costing in line with the 2005 World Summit agenda. Progress reviews indicate that 16.7% of countries believe that they are on course (very likely) towards meeting this Goal, 33.3% view this as likely, 43.3% consider this as unlikely and 6.7% as very unlikely. 2
ICPD +15, Beijing +15 and MDG reviews demonstrate that poverty in Africa is substantially higher among women, children and the youth (e.g. Gabon, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe and South Africa). Target 1b is the achievement of full and productive employment and decent work for all but the evidence shows that women and youth constitute the majority of the unemployed. Between 2008 and 2009, unemployment levels rose from 8.8% to 11.6% in the entire region. The employment-to-population ratio is generally higher for men compared to women. In Niger the ratio for men was 82.5%, while for women it was 38.0%. Target 1c is aimed as halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. The proportion of the malnourished population has remained within the 33 to 35 percent range in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 70 percent of the food insecure population in the continent living in rural areas. The food crisis is having a telling effect on child malnutrition and stunting especially among boys: An estimated one sixth of children die before age five (e.g. Comoros, Cote d Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar, Morocco, Zambia and Zimbabwe). MDG 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education Contextualisation: Girl education and women s literacy are foundation stones for increased participation and access. 3
The attainment of Universal Primary Education represents one of the success stories of Africa, attributable to the institution of free, compulsory and universal primary education in a substantial number of countries, leading to parity in some (e.g. The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Mauritius, Mauritania, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles and Uganda) while others show promising signs e.g. Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mozambique, and United Republic of Tanzania). Despite these milestones however, issues of retention and progression of both girls and boys into higher levels, quality and promotion of safe school environments for girls in particular remain key issues. In some countries (e.g. Lesotho, South Africa and Tunisia), lower rates of male enrolment are signals of concern. MDG 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women Contextualisation: Gender Equality and Women s Empowerment are the axis around which development is sustained and transmitted. The specific indicators of MDG 3 emphasise women s capabilities through education, opportunities through economic participation and agency through their political involvement. Eleven (11) countries have achieved parity in secondary education (e.g. Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde), while 5 others report a Gender Parity Index (GPI) of over 0.90 (e.g. The Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Sudan and Zimbabwe). 4
An estimated 8 countries have achieved parity in tertiary education (Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Lesotho, Libya, Mauritius, South Africa and Tunisia). The GPI for the majority of countries is less than 0.50. Parity in adult literacy has been achieved in 8 countries: Botswana, Cape Verde, Liberia, Mauritius, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Data on women s share of employment in the non-agricultural sector is scanty. Taking available data into account, participation in public sector employment stands at an average of 25%. With respect to participation in the security forces, it stands at a dismal average of 8%. In public sector employment, women mainly occupy the lower echelons of the working population as secretaries and clerks, while also dominating the informal sector which lacks in social security. Women s participation in decision making has also recorded mixed progress across countries. Countries of the SADC and EAC regions have made immense strides with respect to achieving 30 percent or more participation of women in Parliament. In other regions, such laurels are yet to be achieved. Yet even within the much broader context of decision-making, the continent is found wanting in achieving equality at local level, executive, judicial and traditional decision making. 5
MDG 4: Reduce Child Mortality Contextualisation: Health status of children potentially affects women s time use and therefore their productivity. On the other hand, persisting childhood illnesses are also useful indications of women s lack of education and their inability to afford appropriate medical treatment. Most current data show that the average Under-5 Mortality rate for the region is a whole is 166 per 1,000 live births. The worst performing countries are in Southern and Eastern Africa, Seventeen (17) of the 20 countries with the highest Infant Mortality Rates (i.e. deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births) are in Africa, 7 of which are located in West Africa (e.g. Benin, Burkina Faso and Togo). MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health Contextualisation: Reproductive Health is a human right underpinning women s right to life and well being. Despite investments in policy and Sector Wide Approaches, Maternal Mortality represents Africa s Achilles heel, with Maternal Mortality Rates ranging from 1,000 per 100,000 live births in Cameroon and 840 in Benin. 6
The likelihood of a substantial number of countries achieving targets under the two indicators of this goal (reduction of maternal mortality and universal access to reproductive health are not encouraging). Unsafe abortions and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting are major contributors to Maternal Mortality. FGM/C is practiced in an estimated 27 countries with prevalence rates ranging from 95.8% in Egypt and 0.6% in Uganda. Such is the concern about progress towards MDG 4 (Reduce Child Mortality) and MDG 5 (Improve Maternal Health) that they have been made the theme of the next African Union Summit taking place in Kampala, Uganda towards the end of this month. (AU Summit Theme: Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa) MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases Contextualisation: Women and girls are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to culturally determined roles and their traditional subordination to men. Women are also affected as care givers, leading to adverse effects on their productive time. Female time spent in the care economy is not recognised in national income statistics. HIV/AIDS prevalence by sex is a key determinant of women s economic capacities and ability to negotiate safe sex. Available data indicates that HIV prevalence among female adults (aged 15-49) is highest in Southern Africa and lowest in North Africa. Several North and West 7
African countries, have all maintained comparatively low adult female HIV prevalence rates of about three percent or less. While data is limited, Malaria is acknowledged by most countries as the number one cause of morbidity and mortality for all ages. While progress is seen with respect to the use of insecticide treated nets in a number of countries, e.g. the Gambia 15 to 49% and Guinea Bissau, 7 to 39% between 2000 and 2006, the overall proportion of children under-five who were treated with appropriate drugs remains a cause for concern. (Decreased from 41-34% between 2000-2005). MDG 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability Contextualisation: The gender division of labour at household and community levels relate to the environment. Women and girls are key actors in household sanitation, water and firewood collection and food crop farming. The focus of this year s African Development Forum organized by ECA along with other partners including the African Union and African Development Bank will be on Climate Change. The impact of climate change on rural livelihoods is not gender neutral as it deepens and widens existing gender inequalities in the contexts of increased water stress and water-related conflicts; desertification, deforestation, food insecurity; energy insecurity; increased risk of disease including malaria, rift valley fever, cholera and meningitis; and degradation of coastal areas. 8
Direct impacts include the need for women and young girls to walk longer distances in search of water and care for the sick. MDG 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development Contextualisation: Ongoing global processes be they North-South or South-South should pay closer attention to issues of gender equality and women s empowerment. The recently published Assessing Regional Integration in Africa Report which is a flagship publication of ECA was on intra-africa trade. It specifically examined the role of women in intra-africa trade and found that their participation in trade was hampered by limitations arising both from their productive and reproductive roles (they need permission to travel and leave home). The next issue of the African Women s Report is devoted to the subject of Financing for Gender Equality in Africa. This is because we take the view in ECA that while external resource mobilisation is essential, it is also important to ensure that an appropriate measure of domestic resources is allocated to gender equality and women s empowerment. A number of countries e.g. Ethiopia, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana are undergoing gender budgeting initiatives at national and sector levels. 9
Recommended actions and way forward 1. Rigorous accountability to gender concerns through commitment to collection of data disaggregated by sex, gender mainstreaming in policy design, budgeting, implementation and monitoring remains important. 2. The provision of incentives for countries which are doing well in the area of gender equality within the context of the MDGs. 3. Research is required on the impact of climate change on all sectors, with emphasis on food security, health, education and migration within the context of gender relations. 4. The adoption of Gender Responsive Budgeting would be good as a practice but also as a legal and moral imperative. 5. It would be important to assess the impact of the persisting brain drain on African health systems. 10