Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Gender Mainstreaming Implementation in 2020 in Batu City, East Java

Abstract

The study aims to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender mainstreaming (PUG) imple­mentation in Batu City and how the local government res­ponds to it. Focus Group discussion (FDG) with local government is run to obtain data. By using seven elements commonly used to evaluate PUG implementation, this study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has remarkably impacted PUG implementation. No specific policies have yet been made within the PUG framework. PUG institutions are also not involved in the COVID-19 task force. There have been efforts to respond to pandemics’ impact in some sectors but not all in PUG. Human resources have not been explicitly prepared in dealing with women’s problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget is reallocated so that even routine activities cannot be fully carried out. Community partici­pation is also helpful in tackling the pandemic, although it has not specifically responded to the impact on PUG. The study shows the importance of integrating a disas­ter perspective in the monitoring and evaluation of PUG. It demonstrates the importance of integrating a disaster per­spective in PUG and crucial gender-disaggregated data related to disaster impacts.