Liberian-German Cooperation in Health Strengthening Gender Equality at Liberia’s Health Training Institutions – The Gender Audit Process – 2018

Why should we care about gender at health training institutions? Gender is a major factor in career choices of heath workers in Liberia (see graph). Women are the majority in “caring” jobs, men dominate “technical” roles. Pre-service education is a critical step in any health worker’s life. Gender plays an important role in students’ career choices, enrolment, retention and performance. While some gender-related issues are outside of the school’s influence, it is responsible for providing a gender sensitive study and work environment for students, faculty and staff. This concerns e.g. school policies and services, teaching approaches, and staff and students’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Explain the chart before moving on to the next bullet 05.10.2019

Some examples… Are women and men equally represented among faculty, management and admin staff at the school? Does it make a difference? Do men students of care professions such as nursing or midwifery feel equally accepted by classmates, teachers and patients? Among students who have recently become parents, who will have more time to study? A man or a woman? Do women students in technical subjects (e.g. medicine, lab technology) have women as role models among faculty and during practical placements? Do women and men apply in equal measure for different subjects at the school? If not, why not? Do women and men have an equal share in classroom discussions or does one gender usually dominate? Do teachers give equal value to contributions of both genders? If a woman student is sexually harassed by a teacher without consequences for him, will she feel comfortable at the school and be able to focus on her studies? 05.10.2019

What are the objectives of a gender audit? A gender audit is a tool and process to promote organizational learning. It aims to enhance the collective capacity of the school to examine its activities from a gender perspective and identify its strengths and weaknesses in promoting gender equality. This will help make the school a more equal and supportive place in its day to day activities for everybody: all students, faculty, management and administration. It is a participatory process in which all groups that make up a school community (students, faculty, administration, etc.) come together. Explaining why it promotes organizational learning (before moving to the next point): We often do not think that our institutions create disadvantages for specific groups of people, because we are not aware of it and do not critically reflect on actions and processes. These disadvantages may affect women at our school, for example students as well as teachers or administrative staff. As long as we do not become aware of these disadvantages we may think that our institutions are gender neutral, which means neither men nor women have advantages or disadvantages. A gender audit brings more light in this regard. 05.10.2019

How does the gender audit work? A gender audit examines structures and processes of the training institution from a gender perspective (e.g. student recruitment, teaching, relationships, HR, data systems, policies). That means asking questions like: Do certain structures or processes equally consider the interests of men and women? Do they favor one gender? How do certain attitudes/ behavior impact on women and men? At the end of the audit, the school will adopt and implement an action plan to promote gender equality. The audit process itself contributes to this by making everybody more sensitive to attitudes and behavior that respect the rights of all. …So what are the concrete steps? This slide explains how a gender audit works. It give examples of questions that will be asked and stresses the fact the the gender audit itself will contribute to higher gender awareness at the institutions. The last sentence refers to the next slides. 05.10.2019

What are the different steps of a gender audit? Refer to the roll up and the poster that stays at the school, but take some time to explain each of the steps. 05.10.2019

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How can you participate? 1st step: Complete the self-assessment questionnaire! Read through the statements and think about your school. To what extent is each statement true for your school, in your opinion? The questionnaire is anonymous It should take about 10 minutes to complete Definition of technical terms is provided on the cover page Return the questionnaire before you leave the room (Later in the process: participate in focus group discussions, the audit workshop, training, and activities in the gender action plan) This slide provides concrete instructions for the self-assessment questionnaire. It should be up on the screen while participants complete the questionnaire, so that they can refer back to it. It is also suggested to refer to the definitions on flip charts and maybe explain these definitions before they fill in the questionnaire, so that they are not only provided individually on the cover page of the questionnaire, but also to the whole group. When all questionnaires have been collected, then the last slide can be put on the screen to thank everybody for participating-. 05.10.2019

Thank you for your participation Thank you for your participation! Together we can make gender equality a reality at the school! 05.10.2019