Govt: We are for gender equality in planning

THE government expressed its commitment to incorporate gender parity issues in policy and planning in attaining gender mainstreaming agenda.

The assurance was given here over the weekend by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups Permanent Secretary, Dr Zainab Chaula during training on strengthening transformational leadership.

The training organised by the UN women and Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) in Africa was meant for the ministries’ Directors of Policy and Planning and the Gender Focal Persons (GFPs).

Dr Chaula said it was key for the cadres to be aware of the GEWE principles and see how best they can be added in national gender policies, so that they come up with planning and strategies in making gender mainstreaming in their operations.

She said the ministry in collaboration with UN-Women among other partners, are working on the implementation of the national gender policies including the ongoing finalisation of the Reviewed Gender Development Policy (2020) and the National Gender Development Strategy (2020-2030) in Mainland.

“In line with UN Women’s mandate, a long-standing partnership has been developed to support the reviewed gender development policy and coordination of the National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women NAP (2017-22) on EVAWC” said Dr Chaula.

She said the partnership has made it possible for functional mechanisms delivery of quality response and support services at national, local government, and community levels.

UN Women aims at scaling up the support to ensure that the ministries’ Directors of Policy and Planning and Gender Focal Persons in the Mainland Tanzania- have increased understanding on transformative leadership and GEWE principles for effective guidance and implementation of gender-responsive national policies.

Also they intend for the cadres to be well versed with issues related to legal frameworks, economic, social, and environmental strategies; as well as cross-cutting issues, institutional mechanisms, and resource mobilisation for them to have a gender sensitive eye.

The goal is to strengthen their capacity on transformative leadership for effective promotion of GEWE as an important accelerator in the achievement of Tanzania’s national economic, social, and environmental objectives Dr Chaula said there will be increased guidance and accountability for effective gender mainstreaming in public finance management and the application of Gender Responsive Budgeting