Gender Considerations in Global Workforce Development Programs Kate Carpenter, Vice President September 12, 2012 ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Gender in the Project Cycle Planning Program Design & Implementation Life Skills Monitoring and Evaluation ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Planning phase: Gender Analysis Identify structural and cultural issues (traditional roles/stereotypes, disparities in educational or skills levels, unequal access to resources). Review of existing data, interviews, focus groups. Survey public, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors, community leaders, families and youth! What will prevent young men and women from benefiting equally from the program? What inequities may lead us to target one gender due to relative disadvantage or risk levels? What approaches needed for each gender? ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Examples of findings from gender analyses in Youth:Work programs Middle East: concerns about female safety; limitations on movement; acceptable careers. Jordan: culture of shame around working in certain jobs, especially for young men. Jamaica: young males’ education obtainment and literacy rates lower than females. Kyrgyzstan: prevalence of bride kidnapping. Mexico: strong gender stereotyping. Caribbean: single mothers need child care. Peru: more women in informal employment. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Program Design/ Implementation Consider gender findings when designing: outreach to and selection of youth for training; choice of and preparation of trainers; time, place, and composition of training classes; support services (transportation, child care, remedial education, psycho-social support); outreach to parents and community; working with employers to ensure workplaces meet needs of both sexes. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Training Design in Youth:Work Training classes segregated by gender. Training scheduled to accommodate household or employment responsibilities. Gender awareness training for local trainers. Female trainers for female students. Stipends for transportation and child care for single mothers to facilitate attendance. Remedial education for young men. Specific outreach to enroll women victims of gender violence or early marriage. Targets to ensure enrollment of equal numbers of men and women. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Job Placement Design in Youth:Work Working with employers to ensure safe working environments and transportation options for women. Stipulations for equal pay for men and women placed in jobs. Gender awareness training for career counselors and mentors. Providing role models that break with traditional stereotypes. Preparation of girls to deal with workplace inequities. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Life Skills: a Critical Tool Offered to men and women equally. Some lessons tailored to different gender audiences and based on local issues. Includes lessons on gender bias, equality, gender–based violence, etc. Reproductive health information is critical. Builds awareness, self-confidence, communication and conflict resolution skills. Begins to change perceptions among both sexes of inherent biases. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Examples – Life Skill Activities Harshal, of his Planning for Life training in India: “I had heard about gender inequality but never realized that I had been party to it by being insensitive towards women in my family. I have found a new respect for women.” Hamza of his Youth:Work Jordan life skills training: “Most importantly, I learned how to think positively and break through barriers imposed by the ‘culture of shame’. All Jordanian boys should have the chance I had … the country would be different.” Elisa, school drop-out of her Youth:Work Mexico training: “the news here says there isn’t work but IYF showed me how to be successful and overcome life’s challenges.” ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Parental Involvement Awareness raising sessions for parents about gender bias/constraints. Invite parents of young women to observe training sites, classes, and workplaces to increase comfort level. Secure parental support to attend trainings. Clarify goals, benefits and expectations of workforce training and placement. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Examples – Parental Involvement Youth:Work Jordan’s outreach to parents has resulted in greater openness to parents allowing their daughters to pursue non-traditional careers. “My daughter now feels confident walking into a computer lab and is able to express herself in front of people” (Parent of Youth:Work Jordan beneficiary). When her husband objected to her joining the life skills training, Bhavna convinced her mother-in-law to let her try it by bringing her along to the training. Bhavna is now starting her own business with support of her husband. “I did not allow my daughter to join the course, but now seeing Farhat’s confidence after the course I am getting her enrolled in the next session” - Neighbour of an enrolled student in India. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Monitoring and Evaluation Design gender-specific data collection from the beginning. Ensure local partners track gender from program entry to training performance to job placement. Analyze data during implementation to check results and make adjustments. Do post-program analysis to identify changes achieved in gender equality. Review what worked and lessons learned. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation

Summary Gender should infuse all phases of a program’s implementation. Analysis prior to program design is critical to anticipate needs. Gender issues do not exist in a vacuum – need to involve parents and community. Life skills are opportunity to raise awareness among both sexes about gender issues. Establish M&E mechanisms for continual review of achievement of gender goals. ©2012. All Rights Reserved. International Youth Foundation