1. Gender Programming Arab Region
UNESCO GFP Network Training
29 November - 1 December 2011

2. Activities Targeting Women
Education Law , Policy and Strategy Review
Mainstreaming gender and addressing gender discrimination in educational contents and teacher training (in-service)
Thematic studies: SRGBV, Women’s employability
Literacy, non formal education, technical and vocation education
Advocacy & Policy Dialogue: Experts Workshops/Meetings, International Women’s Day
Capacity Building of ministry officials
Women with disabilities
UNESCO Chairs
HIV & AIDS
Capacity of media personnel on gender sensitive reporting and empowerment of women journalist
Kahrez programme in Iraq
Promoting women scientists and participation of women in fellowship programmes
Science and Technology Master Plan
Women and /in culture - Category II Centre in Jordan

3. Major challenges for gender equality - Education
LIMITED ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Low enrollment rates in most countries; high school drop-out rates; high illiteracy levels among women
GENDER STEREOTYPES & DISCRIMINATION
teaching practices, textbooks & curricula, school culture & environment
LIMITED EDUCATIONAL & CAREER CHOICES
Girls chose traditional fields of study and career paths
Although when in school girls tend to do better than boys & access to HE is in favour of girls, there is low participation of women in the labour market

4. gender equality – Disabling environment
Major challenges for
gender equality – Disabling environment
Patriarchy
Culture and Tradition (e.g. early marriages)
Discriminatory legal frameworks
Poverty
Low access to services – especially for women in rural areas
GBV: SRGBV, domestic violence, honor killings, increased trafficking of women and girls, FGM;
Unstable Security Situation
Low participation in the labour market

5. Major challenges for gender equality- Capacity
Lack of awareness/understanding/capacity regarding Gender Equality (among policy makers, education officials, school personnel, etc.)
Lack of adequate gender experts with technical expertise and training capacity (especially Arabic speaking)
Lack of data
Lack of awareness and political support at key levels
Lack of coordination and even competition/division among key stakeholder groups

6. Successful programmes and initiatives
Education Law, Policy and Strategy Review – UNESCO Beirut, UNESCO Iraq
Literacy programmes – UNESCO Beirut, Iraq, Khartoum
CapEFA project – UNESCO Doha
TVET & entrepreneurship education UNESCO Amman, Beirut, Doha
Mainstreaming gender in educational contents and teaching practices – UNESCO Beirut, Khartoum
SRGBV studies – UNESCO Beirut/UNESCO Iraq
Gender in Media – training students or gender sensitive language – UNESCO Amman
Gender equality in HE – UNESCO Iraq
Water and Women – UNESCO Iraq

7. Ongoing obstacles to gender equality programming
Limited expertise and capacity among UNESCO Staff for gender mainstreaming and gender specific programming
Lack of expertise, capacity and material at country level (Arabic language)
Lack of data
Lack of political will and commitment

8. Best practices on gender equality
Promote, systematize and scale up:
Intersectoral collaboration
Communication and sharing of information among FOs/HQs
Engaging line ministries and promoting national ownership
Integration in UNDAF

9. “wish list” for the region in terms of gender equality
Technical & Financial Support – Tools & Methodology for GM & GSP from ODG/GE
Institutionalisation of the GFPs (time allocation/post description/ clarification and recognition of this role)
Coordination- Communication and Sharing of Good Practices
Sustainability /Additional capacity building for the GFP on gender mainstreaming and on specific issues such as gender responsive budgeting, development of gender sensitive indicators, mainstreaming gender in national strategies, evaluation, etc.
Promote dialogue and cooperation among key stakeholders: academics, government officials, CSOs, NGOs, Media, etc.
Increased coordination with UN Women/other UN agencies – UNDAF

10. Based on contributions from:
UNESCO Amman
UNESCO Beirut
UNESCO Doha
UNESCO Iraq
UNESCO Khartoum
THANK YOU!!!