Challenges and opportunities of gender mainstreaming strategy implementation in public sectors: The case of Women and Children Affairs Office, Bahir Dar City Administration, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

AbstractGender Mainstreaming is an organizational strategy to bring a gender perspective to all aspects of an institution's policy. This research aimed to investigate the challenges and opportunities of gender mainstreaming implementation by taking women, children, and youth affairs office of Bahir Dar City administration as a case. To do so, a qualitative research method with a case study research design was employed. To select the participants, purposive and availability sampling techniques were employed. Interview, focus group discussion, and document review were used as major data collection instruments. The data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that, absence of gender focal person, compartmentalization, lack of commitments, lack of training, lack of theoretical and technical skills about gender, and insufficient budget were the identified challenges. The presence of evaluation among heads at the council, existence of policies, and cooperative leadership were identified as an opportunity. To sum up, there are numerous challenges that hinder its monitoring and evaluation activities to mainstream gender even if there were a few opportunities that facilitate their activities. Based on the findings, the regional government should support and monitor the respective office challenges.