Mainstreaming Initiatives Research Articles

Influence of Organisational Structure on the Efficacy of Gender Mainstreaming in Educational Institutions in Kenya

The research investigated the correlation between organisational structures and the efficacy of gender mainstreaming in educational settings in Kenya. This study aimed to shed light on the relationship between organisational structure and the efficacy of gender mainstreaming by using secondary data analysis. The study’s results demonstrate a noteworthy association between the organisational structure of an institution and the effectiveness of its gender mainstreaming efforts. Based on the available data, the study suggests a refined organisational framework that prioritises the creation of gender units, the incorporation of affirmative action, and the crucial involvement of partnerships with pertinent stakeholders to enhance the implementation of gender mainstreaming initiatives. To optimise the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming, this study emphasises the importance of strategically allocating resources, creating gender-sensitive budgets and budgeting processes, actively engaging stakeholders, and implementing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system. One significant recommendation from the study is the significance of implementing localised action plans to guide broader gender mainstreaming goals. This study makes important contributions to policy changes and institutional restructuring in Kenya by presenting gender mainstreaming as more than simply a theoretical concept but rather as a practical and implementable method. By incorporating secondary data within its analytical framework, the study presents a novel perspective on the discourse around gender and education in Kenya. Consequently, it contributes to expanding the existing academic dialogue on this topic.

A Conceptual Model for Climate Change Mainstreaming in Government

Abstract‘Mainstreaming’ climate change by embedding climate change considerations in government policies, processes, and operations can bolster the realization of climate mitigation and adaptation goals and reduce risks of counter-productive actions. Some climate laws around the world now contain explicit mainstreaming duties, in parallel with emissions reduction targets and adaptation planning requirements. This article proposes a conceptual model for climate change mainstreaming in government, with two pillars. Firstly, it defines objectives of climate mainstreaming, emphasizing that mainstreaming activities occur along a spectrum of ambition towards a goal of ‘mature mainstreaming’. Secondly, it proposes three complementary pathways to mature mainstreaming – regulatory, institutional, and capacity and capability-building pathways – to classify mainstreaming activities, and barriers to and enablers of mainstreaming. Grounded in empirical insights from a leading jurisdiction (Victoria, Australia), the model can assist governments to clearly articulate mainstreaming objectives and to identify, prioritize, and monitor mainstreaming initiatives to help in achieving their climate policy goals.

Precision medicine in Australia: now is the time to get it right.

Precision medicine in Australia: now is the time to get it right.

The politics of women’s lives: gendered re-presentations in Bangladesh’s climate change adaptation regime

ABSTRACT Bangladesh is transitioning into a middle-income country but remains at risk from the negative impacts of climate change. Consequently, development efforts are gradually being replaced by climate change adaptation. In this article, I investigate how ‘gender’ is understood and conceptualized in climate change adaptation in Bangladesh, and what this means for how gender considerations are included in adaptation efforts. I build on qualitative interviews with representatives of what Kasia Paprocki has coined the ‘climate change adaptation regime’ in Dhaka, as well as participant observation at conferences, seminars, and meetings on issues relevant to gender and climate change adaptation in Bangladesh. Understanding adaptation to be political and contested, I argue that established representations of women in development and disaster thinking are now re-presented to fit with the politically negotiated consensus of what adaptation in Bangladesh should look like, and that gender mainstreaming initiatives which go beyond the understanding of adaptation as negotiated by this consensus are excluded. This may lead to increased responsibilities for women, feminizing the responsibility to adapt to climate change.

Decolonizing Climate Research and Policy: making space to tell our own stories, in our own ways

AbstractAs the climate crisis deepens, the discourse aimed at finding solutions continues to intensify. Increasingly, government agencies and world leaders are recognizing the critical importance of including Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in the development of sustainable responses. To date, however, opportunities for meaningful Indigenous engagement in the creation and development of climate solutions remain few and far between. Where such opportunities do exist, they are most often designed with the intention of trying to `incorporate' limited elements of Indigenous thinking into an established non-Indigenous framework. This process of `Indigenizing' mainstream initiatives achieves little if anything in the way of deconstructing the colonial world view that has caused the climate crisis in the first place. Actively decolonizing Canada's and the world's responses to climate change is absolutely necessary if global society is to achieve the `transformation' of our economies and societies deemed essential for our survival by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), among others. No longer can we afford to simply `tweak the system' by slotting into mainstream processes those elements of Indigenous world view that seem to `fit' most comfortably. If we continue to value the colonial system of neoliberalism and runaway capitalism over those proven sustainable paradigms wherein respect for all life is paramount, then no lasting solutions are possible. Instead, we need to `flip the script', and start providing spaces wherein Indigenous thinking and world view provide the fundamental framework, and non-Indigenous ideas that align sufficiently with Indigenous principles may be incorporated as appropriate. This article recounts a panel discussion, hosted by Indigenous Climate Action, in which four influential Indigenous climate researchers, organizers and policy experts share their reflections on how climate research and policy can be actively decolonized. The panelists draw on their experiences to engage and encourage the audience, listeners, and readers to explore ways to decolonize their own perspectives and to support climate solutions inclusive of all People.

2021 Comprehensive Surveillance Review— Background Paper on Systemic Risk and Macroprudential Policy Advice in Article IV Consultations

This paper assesses progress made in deepening and integrating systemic risk analysis and macroprudential policy advice in Article IV consultations following up on the findings of the IEO evaluation. The assessment informs the Comprehensive Surveillance Review and the FSAP Review in their recommendations to strengthen these areas in Article IV consultations. The findings point to notable improvements made since the launch of the macrofinancial mainstreaming initiative, particularly in staff reports for advanced economies and in covering bank and credit-related risks.

“There's an App. for That!” - A Novel Smartphone Application Streamlines Quality Surveillance for Indwelling Central Venous and Urinary Catheters

Background Quality assurance and performance improvement have become mainstream initiatives for healthcare practitioners across the globe. Smartphones and other portable devices have been instrumental in providing a platform to improve quality monitoring workflows and increase the efficiency of performance processes. An existing indwelling catheter auditing practice represents an opportune setting to implement automation, improve timeliness, and promote enhanced visualization and reporting. Methods A novel smartphone application was developed to replace an existing, paper-to-computer based, auditing workflow using existing in-house technology. This application collected pertinent visual and documentation quality metrics at the patient level using an anonymous identifier. Infection Preventionists were automatically provided a daily list of active indwelling devices and audits were then performed and submitted. Data was collected in a central repository and automatically configured using an electronic visualization tool. Results Since implementation, 1522 central line (CL) and 1484 urinary catheter (UC) audits have been performed at two sites participating as part of a large multi-site healthcare system. The specificity of the observations was stratified down to 18 unique departments. Deviations from expected quality measures were used to develop an individual score for each metric (11 CL and 9 UC). An overall performance score was also accessible for individual patients for investigations related to device-associated infections. Within each visualization, the capability was provided to drill-down to the department level for appropriately tailored stratification scores. Time frames were also enabled to specifically address the reporting period. Present findings suggest an 88% and 94% quality compliance rate for CL and UC, respectively. Conclusions It has been demonstrated that the use of technology to streamline quality monitoring is feasible and a vital component of performance improvement. This robust collection represents an ideal sample to promote interventions and educational initiatives which are specifically designed to target evidence-based quality deviations and improve patient outcomes. Quality assurance and performance improvement have become mainstream initiatives for healthcare practitioners across the globe. Smartphones and other portable devices have been instrumental in providing a platform to improve quality monitoring workflows and increase the efficiency of performance processes. An existing indwelling catheter auditing practice represents an opportune setting to implement automation, improve timeliness, and promote enhanced visualization and reporting. A novel smartphone application was developed to replace an existing, paper-to-computer based, auditing workflow using existing in-house technology. This application collected pertinent visual and documentation quality metrics at the patient level using an anonymous identifier. Infection Preventionists were automatically provided a daily list of active indwelling devices and audits were then performed and submitted. Data was collected in a central repository and automatically configured using an electronic visualization tool. Since implementation, 1522 central line (CL) and 1484 urinary catheter (UC) audits have been performed at two sites participating as part of a large multi-site healthcare system. The specificity of the observations was stratified down to 18 unique departments. Deviations from expected quality measures were used to develop an individual score for each metric (11 CL and 9 UC). An overall performance score was also accessible for individual patients for investigations related to device-associated infections. Within each visualization, the capability was provided to drill-down to the department level for appropriately tailored stratification scores. Time frames were also enabled to specifically address the reporting period. Present findings suggest an 88% and 94% quality compliance rate for CL and UC, respectively. It has been demonstrated that the use of technology to streamline quality monitoring is feasible and a vital component of performance improvement. This robust collection represents an ideal sample to promote interventions and educational initiatives which are specifically designed to target evidence-based quality deviations and improve patient outcomes.

Gendered politics in rural roads: gender mainstreaming in Tanzania's transport sector

This paper explores the impacts of gender mainstreaming initiatives in Tanzania's transport sector on the everyday reality of rural women's lives, including those facing multiple forms of discrimination. Using qualitative methods, including co-investigation with community members, data were triangulated from diverse sources: vulnerable women and other residents in two Tanzanian districts, road contractors, professionals engaged in supporting the country's transport programmes and staff in donor agencies. The results indicate that progress in mainstreaming has been slow. Despite government directives, few women have benefitted from employment in road construction except through two national programmes: the Village Travel and Transport Programme and the Tanzania Social Action Fund. However, most women, particularly those disadvantaged, derive benefit from road improvement, even if only as pedestrians or wheelchair users taking advantage of a smoother surface, or better travel security when vegetation is cut back. For women with the funds and independence to access the expanded transport services that tend to follow road improvements, there can be significant benefits – faster travel, improved access to farms and markets and sometimes lower transport costs. Nevertheless, women's constrained resources and prevailing cultural mores continue to militate against them directly operating transport, whether for personal or business use.

Understanding climate policy integration in the global South through the multiple streams framework

ABSTRACT Actions needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change have often synergies and trade-offs with sectoral and sustainable development priorities, and the recent focus on SDGs and sustainable transitions highlights the need to integrate climate action into other policy spheres. This process is known as climate policy integration (CPI) or climate mainstreaming. Enhancing its understanding as a public policy making process can provide insights for its operationalization, which becomes relevant in the context of the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions in the global South. This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the how windows of opportunity for CPI are formed by drawing on elements from the multiple streams framework (MSF) developed by John Kingdon. This paper analyses grey literature regarding two cases of climate mainstreaming initiatives implemented by international cooperation organizations. The results show that relevant elements from the MSF, such as, attachment to other high-profile national issues, timing the integration with routine institutional procedures, and the presence of policy entrepreneurs, have been catalysing factors for CPI in the context of such initiatives. However, we can only assess the value of this analytical framework for CPI by testing it systematically through case studies in a variety of contexts.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION (HEI)

The study assessed the implementation of gender mainstreaming in government owned higher education institution in Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Philippines. It examined the level of awareness of school administrators and faculty members on gender mainstreaming initiatives and how they perceived about the extent of gender mainstreaming implementation in the areas of instruction, research, extension and production. The association between administrators and faculty attributes in terms of their awareness on the university’s fourfold functions was also examined. The study was implemented through a descriptive and correlational survey research design utilizing a researcher made questionnaire which was pilot tested and standardized prior to actual conduct of the survey data gathering. Findings revealed that faculty members and administrators were moderately aware of the gender mainstreaming efforts of the university, but with significantly differences in their levels of awareness. By extent of implementation, gender mainstreaming was less implemented in the area of research, moderately implemented in the areas instruction, extension and production. Significant relationship was noted between designation and the level of awareness on gender mainstreaming, no statistical association was revealed among sex, age, academic rank and educational qualification. Meanwhile, age, academic rank and educational qualification were significantly related to instruction but not to research, both age and academic rank were significantly associated with extension and production. Article visualizations:

Together stronger: boundary work within an Australian systems-based prevention initiative.

Complexity and systems science are increasingly used to devise interventions to address health and social problems. Boundaries are important in systems thinking, as they bring attention to the power dynamics that guide decision-making around the framing of a situation, and how it is subsequently tackled. Using complexity theory as an analytical frame, this qualitative exploratory study examined boundary interactions between local government and community health organizations during the operationalization of a systems-based initiative to prevent obesity and chronic diseases (Healthy Together Communities-HTCs) in Victoria, Australia. Across two HTC sites, data was generated through semi-structured interviews with 20 key informants, in mid-2015. Template analysis based on properties of complex systems was applied to the data. The dynamics of boundary work are explored using three case illustrations: alignment, boundary spanning and boundary permeability. Alignment was both a process and an outcome of boundary work, and occurred at strategic, operational and individual levels. Boundary spanning was an important mechanism to develop a unified collaborative approach, and ensure that mainstream initiatives reached disadvantaged groups. Finally, some boundaries exhibited different levels of permeability for local government and community health organizations. This influenced how each organization could contribute to HTC interventions in unique, yet complementary ways. The study of boundary work offers potential for understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the nonlinear behaviour of complex systems. The complementarity of partnering organizations, and boundary dynamics should be considered when designing and operationalizing multilevel, complex systems-informed prevention initiatives.

Unravelling the gender bind, uncovering the heterogeneity of domination

ABSTRACTGender norms and learned practices of student teachers can influence their performance in practice, either fixing or challenging, gendered social norms and expectations. This paper shares the findings of a multi-year mixed-methods research project that explored the understandings of gender norms and experiences of students and staff within a large teacher-training college in Tanzania. Data was collected to inform a wider gender mainstreaming initiative across the institution. Using a blend of quantitative and qualitative methods, the findings identified a strict and rigid gender binary which seemed to inform attitudes and practices of teaching and learning. Furthermore, it uncovered heterogeneous forms of gendered domination that were experienced by staff and pupils within the institution. The findings suggest that stand-alone ‘female only’ gender mainstreaming strategies may not be sufficient to achieve a gender equitable environment within the institution. Rather, it suggests that a whole-of-community approach is necessary to unravel deep-rooted biases and to tackle diverse forms of domination that affect different members of the college community in different ways. Such findings are particularly important in light of the epistemic power that is conferred on teacher-graduates and that is transferred through teaching practices to communities across Tanzania.

Mainstreaming climate adaptation into sectoral policies in Central Africa: Insights from Cameroun

While considerable advances have been made in mainstreaming climate adaptation into sectoral policies in most regions across Africa, little is known about Central Africa (CA) even though the sub-region has enormous potentials to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through the Congo basin forest. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the progress made in mainstreaming climate adaptation into sectoral policies in CA based on insights from Cameroun. To achieve this, 30 strategic policy documents published by the government of Cameroun covering different aspects of climate adaptation were exploited. Additional information was obtained from interviews with 27 stakeholders working in relevant government ministries/institutions and international organizations. Results show that significant progress has been made to mainstream climate adaptation into the forestry and energy sectors. This has been facilitated by the putting in place of national policies that consider climate change impacts and mitigation/adaptation in these sectors. Meanwhile, little progress has been recorded in the water and agricultural. The lack of progress in these sectors can be attributed to the absence of national policies that take into account climate change impacts in these sectors. Overall results show that the National Adaptation Plan of Action has played a key role in enhancing the mainstreaming of climate adaptation into sectoral policies in Cameroun. Notwithstanding the progress recorded, many obstacles such as the lack of human and financial resources still exist. Stakeholders proposed a series of potentially useful solutions to tackling obstacles hindering cross-sectoral mainstreaming initiatives. This paper contributes to contemporary debates on the extent to which adaptation mainstreaming is happening at national level in sub-Saharan Africa, and reveals the obstacles that need to be addressed in order to sustain this initiative in CA and other regions of the continent.

Gender mainstreaming in politics: Perspective of female politicians from Pakistan

ABSTRACTThis study aims to explore the challenges and obstacles faced by female politicians in Pakistani politics despite gender mainstreaming initiatives. This qualitative study was based on 20 interviews with key informants, who were serving women members of the national assembly, provincial assembly, and district councilors from the Punjab province of Pakistan. This revealed that the foremost challenge faced by women in politics here was gaining formal entry into the political system due to various socio-cultural constraints, such as the culture of pardha (veiling), dual responsibility of household-work and political careers, intrusion by males into women’s political careers, and lack of support by the political party leadership. Despite gender-mainstreaming initiatives, including gender quotas, the underlying patriarchal structure of society serves as a major hindrance for women’s empowerment. The promotion of a gender-inclusive culture in politics requires concerted and holistic approaches and deeper changes in society and politics, rather than merely increasing the number of women in the political system.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN THE CONTEXT OF ACEH DEVELOPMENT

Gender mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality. Mainstreaming is not an end in itself but a strategy, an approach, a means to achieve the goal of gender equality. Mainstreaming involves ensuring that gender perspectives and attention to the goal of gender equality are central to all activities - policy development, research, advocacy/dialogue, legislation, resource allocation, and planning, implementation and monitoring of programs and projects. Gender mainstreaming is, therefore, becoming a collective awareness and concern in most countries since it is viewed as one of the most appropriate, comprehensive and representative approaches to solve both the problem of gender inequality and the problem of violence against women and children including in Indonesia in general and Aceh in particular. This study is aimed at exploring how gender mainstreaming initiatives, attempts to integrate a gender equality approach to post-tsunami and post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts in Aceh, take part in the social and political reconstruction by both reproducing and subverting gendered images of temporality and spatiality as well as promoting a holistic gender equality in all aspects of life. The method used in doing this research is a library method in which all related data and library resources are collected, examined and finally analyzed. The result of this study suggests, among others, that gender mainstreaming should be based on a holistic approach, not only in spirit and conceptual basis but also in practical and social reality basis, such as empowering women in having equal access toward education, access to economic resources, access to the right of possessing property, etc. Moreover, one of another important result of this study is that the violence against women and children that still commonly occur almost everywhere in the world should be viewed as collective enemy and challenge which needs to be faced and eliminated collectively as well.

Abstract IA24: The scourge of hepatocellular cancer in Africa

Abstract Worldwide hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths with 80% of cases occurring in poor countries. In Africa HCC is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the third most common in women. Although HCC is prevalent in all Sub-Saharan African countries where data exist, the highest prevalences have been reported in countries in West Africa with annual incidences as high as 20 per 100 000 inhabitants. Historically viral hepatitis, in particular hepatitis B virus (HBV), aflatoxin and dietary iron overload have been implicated as the main etiological factors, but both alcoholic liver disease and metabolic syndrome-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) seem to play an increasingly important role. There are striking differences in the clinical presentation, clinical course and prognosis of HCC in African patients, compared to developed countries. In African populations, in particular in rural areas, the disease occurs at a younger age with a mean age at presentation as low as 34.7 years having been reported. Furthermore, a larger percentage of HCCs present in non-cirrhotic livers. In well-resourced countries the diagnosis of cirrhosis would prompt tumour-directed investigations and screening for HCC with potentially earlier detection of tumours. This partially explains the fact that African patients present with larger tumours and more frequently with advanced disease in terms of metastatic burden. African patients are therefore less likely to undergo curative-intended intervention with resection rates as low as 1% being reported in rural African populations, compared to up to 37% in well-resourced Western countries. Whereas improved survival has been reported for patients undergoing curative-intended intervention in a number of well-resourced countries, the prognosis for African patients in general remains dismal with annual mortality rates approaching the annual incidence. The continent faces tremendous challenges in managing HCC. With virus-related HCC being responsible for approximately 90% of HCC cases, primary prevention with HBV immunization will have an immense impact on the occurrence of HCC. In spite of immunization having been shown to be cost-effective in low and middle income countries and a WHO recommendation that the HBV vaccine should be incorporated into the expanded program of immunization, the roll-out in Africa has been hampered by regulatory, financial, logistical, social and cultural barriers. Diagnostic capabilities, universally very limited in African countries, are typically concentrated in urban facilities, out of reach of rural patients. Access to treatment, whether curative- or palliative-intended is limited. It is a perverse coincidence that in the recently published report of The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery Western, Central and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa were identified respectively as the regions with the highest, second highest and third highest rates of surgical need per population in the world. One can question whether there, on a global scale, is sufficient focus on the unique and often desperate fate of African patients. With some exceptions, mainstream HCC initiatives are exclusive, or are perceived as being exclusive of African institutions. This is ominously evident in the fact that less than 1% of currently ongoing clinical HCC trials are conducted on the continent, in spite of Africa being one of the hotbeds of HCC. Citation Format: Eduard Jonas. The scourge of hepatocellular cancer in Africa [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA24.

Conceptualizing the Tensions Evoked by Gender Integration in the Military

The South African military has adopted an assertive affirmative action campaign to ensure that women are represented across all ranks and branches. This has brought about new tensions in terms of gender integration, related to issues of equal opportunities and meritocracy as well as the accommodation of gender difference and alternative values. The argument is made that the management of gender integration from a gender-neutral perspective cannot bring about gender equality, as it obliges women to conform to and assimilate masculine traits. This affects women’s ability to function as equals, especially where feminine traits are not valued, where militarized masculinities are privileged and where women are othered in ways that contribute to their subordination. Under such conditions, it is exceedingly difficult for women to bring about a more androgynous military culture espoused by gender mainstreaming initiatives and necessary for the type of missions military personnel are engaged in today.

Do local needs matter?: the relevance of women’s NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa

This article focuses on the potential of women’s non-governmental organizations (WNGOs) for effectively addressing gender inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the mainstreaming of gender and women’s issues continues to pervade global governance, scholars, and practitioners have questioned whether local WNGOs are capable of formulating projects that are relevant to the communities in which they work. One important challenge is local WNGOs’ dependence on external funding and agendas. The extensive literature on women and development indicates that there is a critical need to develop a more radical, transformative feminist agenda for women’s empowerment. The objective of this quantitative study is to test the association between WNGOs’ emergence and measures of gender inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. It argues that while there is evidence that WNGOs’ formation represents a legitimate response to African countries’ challenges in terms of gender inequality, the institutionalization of gender within NGOs does not automatically translate into greater gender equality and women’s empowerment. This article identifies some of the gaps and limitations of gender mainstreaming initiatives within African WNGOs. Examining the heterogeneity of women’s organizing and WNGO formation in the region and gaps in development activities, this study highlights the importance of place and space in developing a progressive feminist agenda. The quantitative analysis used in this study, which highlights the uneven geographies and scales of WNGO intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa, contributes to, and calls for more geographic studies on development and gendered activism.

Book Review: General Politics: Post-Tsunami Reconstruction in Indonesia: Negotiating Normativity through Gender Mainstreaming Initiatives in Aceh

Book Review: General Politics: Post-Tsunami Reconstruction in Indonesia: Negotiating Normativity through Gender Mainstreaming Initiatives in Aceh

Female Peacekeepers and Gender Balancing: Token Gestures or Informed Policymaking?

Since the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 (2000), which is referenced in most of the mandates for peacekeeping authorizations and renewals as of its adoption, UN peacekeeping forces have begun a process of gender balancing. While we have seen an increase in the numbers of female peacekeepers during the decade 2000–2010 and variation in the distribution patterns of female military personnel, we do not know if female military peacekeepers are deploying to areas that are safest or to areas with the greatest need for gender-balanced international involvement. Because the decision-making authority in the allocation of peacekeeping forces rests with the troop-contributing countries, which might not have bought into the gender balancing and mainstreaming initiatives mandated by the UN Security Council, we propose and find evidence that female military personnel tend to deploy to areas where there is least risk. They tend not to deploy where they may be most needed—where sexual violence and gender equity has been a major problem—and we find only a modest effect of having specific language in the mandates related to gender issues.