NEWS

Real and innovative solutions for gender equality in public administration

Applying the gender perspective is not only a matter of will, therefore, from UNDP we created the course: Keys to Gender Equality in Public Administration. A practical and innovative training to face the challenges that the integration of the gender perspective in the public sector requires.

Alvaro Campos from WEM Institute (Masculinity, Sexuality and Couple) during one of his presentations.

After the success of the first 2020 cohort, we are already preparing a new edition of the Keys to Gender Equality course, which will be held in the second semester of 2021. If our emphasis during the first edition was to provide innovative tools and practices for advancing gender equality in public administration, in this second edition we also hope to promote creativity as an added value to the work in the public sector. An inspirational lever to achieve more inclusive and fair policies in times of uncertainty. 

 The course Keys to Gender Equality: Real and Innovative Solutions for Public Administration is part of the global Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions program, developed by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP). 

 With this training, UNDP aims to contribute to reflection on what it means to integrate the gender perspective. With this purpose we created a didactic space from which to develop mechanisms, procedures and practical strategies to strengthen and promote gender equality in public administration. 

Looking for innovative solutions 

No, this is not just another course on gender. Besides training on how to integrate a gender perspective in the work and organization of public institutions, based on the international agreements reached in the Beijing Platform (1995)the training opens the space to work and discuss around topics that the participants propose in online participatory spaces, aiming to address the personal and professional concerns of those who are part of the process. 

Along the same lines, we will have spaces for the exchange of institutional experiences, where participant individuals and institutions will be able to share their experiences and lessons learned with the rest of the group. 

No, this is not just another course on gender. The training opens the space to work and discuss around topics that the participants propose in online participatory spaces, aiming to address their specific concerns, according to their positions and areas of expertise.

 191 people, 16 countries, 8 weeks: The success of the first cohort 2020 

The first edition of the course was held in 2020, with 191 participants from public institutions from 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Delivered live through Zoom, it lasted 8 consecutive weeks. 

What did we talk about for 8 weeks in 2020? 

The first edition of the course began with a review of basic concepts of gender equality and intersectionality, in order to deepen the influence of gender stereotypes and biases in public policies. With examples of existing policies and joint reflection we learned to ask the key questions to create more gender sensitive policies. 

The course went on providing tools and strategies for integrating a gender perspective throughout the public policy cycle, followed by the unavoidable issue of budgeting with a gender perspective. We also discussed and reflected about how to promote co-responsibility regarding care and reproductive work, prevention and attention to sexual harassment and gender violence in the work place, and non-sexist and inclusive communication. 

The last two sessions were dedicated to three emerging and pressing, topics in the current context of Latin America and the Caribbean: new and alternative masculinities; gender identity and expression; and gender responsive digitization of public administration.  

 Who participated as international guests? 

The course was taught by the UNDP team in the region, with the support of specialists with recognized experience in the field and international prestige. We were lucky to have: 

 This year we resume and innovate. We want to promote creativity as an added value for advancing gender mainstreaming into work in the public sector. 

 

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