Gender Sensitivity and Empowerment of Women
.............................................

Empowerment of Women through Strengthening
Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Programmes of NGOs in Asia

Enhancing Women's Empowerment through Strengthening Reproductive Health Programmes of NGOs in Pakistan

Violence Against Women: South to South to North Mentoring

Empowerment of Women through Strengthening Comprehensive Sexual
and Reproductive Health Programmes of NGOs in Asia

The Department for International Development (DFID), UK granted funding in 2001-2004 to Interact Worldwide (IW), a British NGO for the implementation of a women’s empowerment project in Asia.

Operating under the theme of South-South Collaboration to strengthen the management of collaborating NGOs through capacity-building, technical assistance is being rendered by IW and ICOMP to implementing NGOs - Bangladesh Women’s Health Coalition (BWHC), Bangladesh; Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT), Thailand; Yayasan Kusuma Buana (YKB), Indonesia; and Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA), India.

These NGOs conducted various clinical and community activities in their own countries while CHETNA provided support in gender-sensitive and women-empowering information, education and communication (IEC) materials development. This innovative project adopted a unique approach in empowering women: developing a strategic intervention framework using capacity-building activities at both internal (organisational, programmes and individual/service
provider) and external (community) levels.

Programme Achievements • Heightened the awareness of community women on gender sensitivity and women’s empowerment. • Provided a platform for community women to voice their concerns. • Encouraged male participation. • Developed gender-sensitive and women-empowering IEC materials. • Increased gender sensitisation at organisation, programme, individual/ service provider and community levels.

..................................................................................................................

Enhancing Women's Empowerment through Strengthening Reproductive Health Programme of NGOs in Pakistan

Supported by CIDA (2003-2005), the RH programme of Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association (PAVHNA), an umbrella organisation acting as a national resource centre, was strengthened. The partner NGOs in women's empowerment project shared their experiences through South-South participatory learning for action and ICOMP provided technical assistance.

Adapting the earlier strategic intervention framework on achieving gender sensitivity and women's empowerment, capacity building activities were conducted at both internal level (organisational, programmes and individual/service provider) and external level (community).

Men's session in progress

 

Programme Achievements Reviewed, revised, tested and adapted: • Gender-sensitive, women’s perspective and rights-focused IEC materials. • Gender training curriculum focusing on women’s empowerment and reproductive rights. • Needs-based gender training for partner NGOs and other organisations.

..................................................................................................................

Violence Against Women: South to South to North Mentoring

ICOMP with support from UNFPA, has been collaborating with agencies in countries in the North and South on an innovative pilot project concerning violence against women (VAW), particularly domestic violence. It created a VAW support network for NGOs in the UK, Uganda, Bangladesh and Pakistan in 2004. This involves enhancing organisational capacity to develop and implement effective programmes as well as pilot implementation of advocacy, community
activities and care of those affected.

This partnership, along with partnerships created and maintained by individual member organisations of the network and UNFPA will be a strong force with a strategic impact on the elimination of VAW.


VAW Network

Bangladesh:
1. Bangladesh Women’s Health Coalition (BWHC)
2. Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR)
3. Nari Pokkho (NP)

Pakistan:
1. Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association (PAVHNA)
2. Urban Village Watch (UVW)

Uganda:
1. MIFUMI

United Kingdom:
1. Asian Women’s Resource Centre (AWRC)
2. Asian Women’s Centre (UKAWC)