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A Brief Report of inter project GESI WorkshopsGovernment of Nepal/IFAD Nepal

Background:The IFAD Nepal Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) thematic group was formed inDecember 2013, in IFAD Country Office with the aim to enhance the understanding on GESIconcerns and issues, institutionalize the cross learning, sharing the best practices, building capacityof staff and complement each other to contribute in bringing the desired results in each projects andcontribute to achieve gender equality, women empowerment and inclusion poor and marginalizedsocial groups as goal of government and IFAD. GESI Experts/Focal Persons from all the projectswere the participants

The core members of the group are the gender focal points of on-going IFAD funded projects inNepal with coordinating role of GESI specialist of Country Office, IFAD Nepal. This initiative is a'Learning Alliance' of concern experts, researchers and practitioner on the theme as 'community ofpractice'. The overall goal of the interaction is to improve performance of IFAD-funded projects inNepal with respect to gender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion. Hence,professionals working with other organizations and donor funded projects can also be invited toshare and promote the learning.

First Workshop:

First workshop of this GESI thematic group was organized in 4th April 2014 in SAHAYATRIoffice, Kathmandu. During this workshop, All 4 projects (HVAP, LFLP, KUBK and PAF) sharedtheir GESI status and best practices and lessons learned and updated on GESI policy context andanalyzed the project context. Beside, Ms Dibya Gurung, WOCAN Nepal shared gender, poor andexcluded group responsive planning and budgeting process and tools which was practiced in 3south Asian countries. GESI Experts, Focal points of different projects and Director of PovertyAlleviation Fund (PAF). This workshop was coordinated by GESI Specialist from IFAD countryOffice. In order to interact in regular basis, it was decided to host by a project at least two times ayear. It was decided to coordinate and host the next workshop by High Value Agriculture Project(HVAP) in Kathmandu.

It was learned and decided to increase the participants to make the discussion and learning moreeffective and translate learning into actions properly, namely, Project Manager/Deputy ProjectManager, Planning Officer and GESI Expert/Focal Point. Besides sharing and other regular agenda,it also was agreed among participants that there will be at least a separate session to upgrade theknowledge and skills.

Second Workshop:

Second GESI workshop group was organized in 23-24 September 2014, Kathmandu. As agreed,there was participation from Project Manager, Planning Officer and GESI Experts/Focal Pointsfrom each project which provided an opportunity to widened participation and learning. GenderResponsive Budgeting (GRB) and self-evaluation tools was a special session to upgrade the

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knowledge of participants and also decided to consider gender dimensions while budgeting of eachprojects this session was facilitated by Mr. Durga Prasad Khatiwada/UN Women. Moreover, bestpractices and learning on gender of each project were shared as regular agenda. Prepare a countrylevel GESI strategy and Manual was also agreed however, it has still been in to be done list. IFADself-evaluation checklist for analyzing gender equality and women’s empowerment and socialinclusion in project implementation arrangements was also exercised during workshop and wascontextualize the indicators, translated in Nepali Language and shared to all for its regular analysesin projects and make improvements. IFAD Gender Webinar materials were reviewed and discussedits applicability in projects. This 2nd workshop was hosted by HVAP, in coordination with IFADcountry office.

Third Workshop:

The forthcoming Third GESI Workshop in going to be held on 27-28 May 2015 in Butwal, Nepal.This workshop is coordinated and hosted by KUBK-IFSP. Main focus of this workshop is GESIand Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) and discuss on GESI related reporting formats thatare adopted by ministry of agriculture and the Projects. As ADS has been recently developed and inimplementation process. Dr. Rajendra Adhikari, Head of the Foreign Aid Division, Ministry ofAgricultural Development, Nepal is going to facilitate this session which will enable participants toanalyze the project context and move their actions towards the path of ADS. Besides, sharing,initiatives, best practices and learning of the Projects is a regular task.

Outcomes of the Workshops:

The Practice of sitting together, share the views, initiatives, best practices and learning of theprojects has increased the harmony and strengthening relationships among the staff working inGESI in the IFAD Projects. It has facilitating cross fertilization of ideas and initiatives among eachother. It is also being a great forum for capacity building of staff and professionals regardinginitiating new interventions and introducing practical approach, tools and mechanisms to promotegender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion.

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Annexes:

Annex 1: Minute: 1st Meeting of Gender and Social Inclusion Focal Points6 December 2013;IFAD Country Office, Chakupat, Kathmandu

IntroductionThis meeting minute summaries the discussions among Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) FocalPoints of different International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) funded projects inNepal. Though informal, the meeting was the first of its kind organized by the country office inNepal. Agenda of the meeting, the list of participants and list of GESI focal points are provided inannex 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

Gender and social Inclusion Focal Points are appointed by Project Manager/Director. They serveas resource persons on GESI-related issues, advocate and/or implement activities to promote genderequality and women’s empowerment and social inclusion in IFAD-funded projects in Nepal. InIFAD- funded projects in Nepal, GESI focal points oversee the development and implementation ofGESI Strategy (COSOP 2013-2018) to each project together with the PMU. Oftentimes GESI focalpoints also serve as focal points to the issues related to socially-disadvantaged groups.

Goal and Objectives of the MeetingIn response to the requirement of Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (2013-18) that states“Every project will be requested to prepare a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) strategyto ensure women and poorer/socially-disadvantaged groups’ access to project benefits, specifyingexpected outcomes and related indicators”, the overall goal of the meeting was to improveperformance of IFAD-funded projects in Nepal with respect to gender equality and women’sempowerment and social inclusion by developing GESI strategy.

The purpose of the meeting was to help the GESI focal points achieve the above mentioned goal asa team through closer partnerships and support between the projects and through sharing of currentchallenges and solutions. The meeting served as the initial introduction of the project GESI focalpoints to one another. An additional objective was to explore the need for a common country levelgender strategy in the absense of independent and specific gender strategies and indicators (GESI)at project level, except KUBK-ISFP and HVAP. (Though KUBK-ISFP, HVAP are the onlyprojects with a GESI strategy, it is also not being fully utilized.)

Agenda 1: IntroductionEach participant introduced her/himself stating their current and previous position, roles andresponsibilities in their respective projects. The meeting was also an important step towards thedevelopment of upcoming Country Programme Implementation Support Unit (CPISU) as this wasthe first time the focal points were meeting for a mutual cause.

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Agenda 2: Sharing experience of being a GESI focal points in IFAD-funded projectsThe GESI focal points reflected on their experience of being a GESI focal point in their projectsand the challenges they were facing in fulfilling their responsibilities. Additionally each GESI focalpoint updated on the status of the gender strategies of their projects: PAF was still to develop oneby the newly established GESI unit; LFLP will not develop GESI as the project is coming to an endand is currently using the line ministry’s gender strategy; HVAP has developed its GESI strategy,yet so far only in English, being translated in Nepali and in the process of its implementation.KUBK-ISFP has also developed GESI strategy included in design completion report but requiresmodifications based on baseline survey that will be conducted in 2014.

The following common points emerged in GESI focal points’ experiences in serving as a genderfocal point in IFAD-funded projects in Nepal:

1. GESI focal points have limited impact in project interventions as colleagues andmanagement are not committed to mainstreaming gender throughout the organization inpolicy as well as in practice;

2. GESI focal points are not in senior enough positions and do not have enough power topropose, exercise and act against gender-blind attitudes and policies;

3. GESI focal points exist as an additional responsibility in all of the projects (except HVAP)as the job in its own right does not exist. Moreover, ISFP does not yet have officiallyappointed GESI focal points ( will be recruited in 2014). Thus, the GESI focal points areover-burdened and need to perform as self-starters to propose and execute gendermainstreaming.

4. GESI focal points have to deal with resistance from colleagues in their respective colleges;management staffs of the projects often overlook their roles.

5. Each project are not taking seriously the matter of GESI during their implementation ofactivities at the field level though COSOP has clearly stated its inclusion in every projects.

Agenda 3: Discussion on the need and gaps in projects in relation to gender equality

The participants voiced the following needs and gaps in the project level:1. Need for a concrete and pragmatic GESI strategy;2. Need for specific and concrete gender indicators in project design document;3. Need for gender balance in staffing at managerial level (board, technical team etc.) as well as

consultant level;4. Need to focus on failures and challenges equally with success stories during supervision and

final evaluation;5. Need for Nepali versions of gender policies for effective implementation (HVAP GESI

strategy, IFAD gender policies etc.)6. Need to deal with mindset and attitudes of project colleagues regarding gender and social

inclusion aspects;7. Need to incorporate GESI concerns in business plans and proposals funding both producers

and traders in more critical way through gender lens;8. Need to design strategy to uplift women from producers to traders through project activities;

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9. Need to capacitate GESI focal points though trainings and regular consultation from IFADlevel;

10. Need for a systematic monitoring and reporting on progress related to gender equality andsocial inclusion;

11. Need for a stronger support by the government in implementing gender-enabling activities atproject level;

12. Need for mandatory accountability principles or negative consequences for lack of attention toand/or failure in addressing gender and social inclusion strategies;

13. Need to integrate GESI perspective in budgetary decisions to effectively implement GESIbudgeting in the projects (independent of national budgeting);

14. Need to focus on qualitative measures and process equally with quantitative indicators;15. Need to design and implement the activities based on GESI perspective

To address the above needs and gaps, the participants suggested the following:

1. Development of Country Level GESI Strategy for IFAD funded projects in Nepal withcommon as well as project specific indicators;

2. Facilitation of regular meeting of GESI focal points on trimester basis to share and discusschallenges, opportunities, lessons learned and cross-fertilization of experiences;

3. Establishment of online as well as on-ground resource center for GESI related publicationsand materials;

4. Sanction a separate section under Gender and Social Inclusion in project annual reports andcountry office level annual report;

5. Production of annual/biannual joint gender monitoring and evaluation of IFAD fundedprojects in Nepal;

6. Include and incorporate GESI to other strategies for mandatory and efficient implementation(e.g. strategy in value-chains).

Agenda 4: Next Steps

The GESI focal points will share brief Gender Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities andThreats (SWOT) analysis of their projects (IFAD guidelines for SWOT analysis in Annex4) by first week of January through email;

The GESI focal points will study the existing HVAP Gender Strategy (uploaded in dropbox)by first week of January and share the comments through email;

Based on the above findings, development of GESI strategy (either as a common strategy oras an project-specific strategy) should begin;

Based on the above findings, the GESI focal points will propose for suitable gender-relatedtrainings at managerial as well as grassroots level, what is this and how? by which date andhow

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The GESI focal points shall maintain communication with one another and IFAD countryoffice.

The GESI focal points shall start collecting materials to set up the proposed resource centrein the IFAD country office by end January.

Proposed Rendezvous:January 2014: Skype conference on updates and follow-up on next stepsMarch 2014: Face-to face gathering to continue the new tradition of meeting on trimester basis(staff from outside KTM are requested to propose a date during other travel to KTM for example)March/April 2014: Country Programme Gender Workshop on a selected trainings and to finalizeGESI Strategy.

Participants in the meeting

1. Ms. Meena Nakarmi, GESI Specialist, PAF;

2. Ms. Shila Gyawali, Planning Officer, LFLP;

3. Ms. Pratibha Rijal, GESI Advisor, SNV/HVAP;

4. Mr.Tribhuban Paudel, Gender, Social Inclusion and Group Development Expert, HVAP;

5. Ms. Kukka Korhonen, Associate Professional Officer, IFAD Nepal;

6. Ms. Lorina Sthapit, Junior Consultant M&E and Gender, IFAD Nepal.

Annex 2: Draft Concept Note onSECOND GESI LEARNING ALLIANCE WORKSHOP

Background:The IFAD Nepal Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) thematic group was formed inDecember 2013 with the aim to enhance the understanding on GESI concerns and issues,institutionalize the cross learning, sharing the best practices, building capacity of staff andcomplement each other to contribute in bringing the desired results in each projects andcontribute to achieve GESI mainstreaming as goal of government and IFAD. The coremembers of the group are the gender focal points of on-going IFAD funded projects in Nepalwith coordinating role of GESI specialist of Country Office, IFAD Nepal. This initiative is a'Learning Alliance' of concern experts, researchers and practitioner on the theme as'community of practice'. Hence, professionals working with other organizations and donorfunded projects can also be invited to share and promote the learning. First workshop of thisGESI thematic group was organized in 4th April 2014.

Workshop Objectives:The general objective of this workshop is to strengthening learning process, enhancinggender mainstreaming, integration of social inclusion to bring the desired results in projects.However, specific objectives of this workshop are to;

a) Share the present GESI status and best practices and lessons learned among theProjects,

b) Update on GESI policy context (National and IFAD) and analyze the project context,and

c) Familiarize on gender, poor and excluded group responsive planning and budgetingprocess and tools,

Workshop Outcomes:Outcome depends on the activeness and commitment of participants along withenabling/supportive environment in the project. There is no doubt on participants'commitment and projects' support on translating these learning into actions. As outcomes canbe immediate as well as long term, however, the immediate expected outcomes of thisworkshop are;

a) Enabled to analyze the gender and social inclusion dimensions of their projects anddevelop concrete actions for gender mainstreaming and inclusion of poor and sociallyexcluded groups in project activities,

b) Produced results on analyzing the project context, at least, workforce diversity,beneficiary diversity, gender, poor and excluded responsive planning and budgeting (1year),

c) Enhanced capacity of staff on identifying and initiate actions in addressing GESIconcerns/issues in the project.

Participants:

1. Project GESI focal points/ GESI Experts,2. Project Planning Officers3. Project Managers/Assistant Project Manager (at least one),4. Representative from GESI unit MoAD5. Gender and M&E Consultant/IFAD

6. Other project officers (interested and if available in Kathmandu during workshop time)

Facilitation and coordination:Most of the sessions will be facilitated among the participants themselves. There will beguest facilitators in some specific sessions for upgrading the knowledge and hands-on skillson new initiatives. As this learning alliance will be coordinated on rotation basis, this eventwill be coordinated by HVAP in support of CO, IFAD.

Budget:As agreed during the previous workshop, the expenses of the second GESI workshop (lunch,tea, materials etc.) will be borne by HVAP as coordinator of this workshop. However, DSA,transportation cost other associated costs for the participants will be borne by the respectiveprojects.

Second Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Training/WorkshopSchedule

Venue: Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) Meeting Hall, Tahachal, KathmanduHost Project: High Value Agriculture Project (HVAP)Workshop Coordinator: Mr. Tribhuban PaudelDate: 23-24 September, 2014Day 1: Tuesday 23 September 2014Participants: Project managers, planning officers, GESI focal pointsTime Activity/Agenda Facilitation8:30-9:00 Registration/Tea Tribhuban Paudel9:00-9:10 Welcome remarks and workshop objectives Hari Prasad Gurung9:10-9:15 Introduction Tribhuban Paudel9:15-10:30 Presentation on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) Mr. Durga Prasad

Khatiwada,10:30-12:30 Exercise on Gender Responsive Budgeting Mr. Durga Prasad

Khatiwada,12:30-13:00 Q/A Session and closing remarks Tribhuban Paudel13:00- 14:00 Lunch

14:00-16:15 Individual project presentation on GESI activities(progress on previous agreed action, challenges ingender mainstreaming in the projects, lessons learnt,best practices, next steps and plans (15 mins each forpresentation and 10 mins for discussion after eachpresentation)

GESI Focal Points,Respective projects

16:15-16:45 Feedback on the GRB and how the projects will usethe knowledge

Tribhbuan Paudel/ LorinaSthapit

16:45-17:00 Wrap-up and tea/coffee Tribhbuan Paudel/ LorinaSthapit

Day 2 Wednesday 24 September 2014Time Activity/Agenda Facilitation8:30-9:00 Tea/Registration Tribhuban Paudel

9:00-9:10 Introduction, overview of agenda, workshop principles Tribhbuan Paudel/ LorinaSthapit

9:10-10:00 IFAD Gender Desk presentation/training/video? IFADHQ gender desk

Lorina Sthapit

10:00-12:00 IFAD self-evaluation checklist for analyzing genderequality and women’s empowerment and socialinclusion in projectimplementation arrangements (2 hours exercise, verbalpresentation, discussion

Lorina/ Tribhuban

12:00- 13:00 Lunch

13:00-14:00 Revisiting IFAD Gender Webinar materials anddiscussion on application/use in projects

IFAD CO/HVAP

14:00-15:30 Discussion and drafting of GESI focal point TORs. IFAD CO15:30-16:45 Preparation and discussion of agreed action and plans

for next workshopHVAP/ IFAD CO

16:45-17:00 Wrap-up and Closing HVAP/ IFAD CO

For Questions: Mr. Tribhuban Paudel 9851061290 and/or Ms. Lorina Sthapit 9818178686

REPORT: See Separate IFAD Nepal Second Gender Equality and Social Inclusion(GESI) Workshop, Brief Report

Annex 3:

The Third GESI WorkshopNepal IFAD Projects.

Background

IFAD has increasingly made overcoming gender inequalities and empowering women acornerstone of its work to reduce rural poverty and food insecurity, since its foundation in1978. Addressing gender issues is central to delivering on all policies and strategicframeworks in IFAD. As a consequence, IFAD is at the forefront of work on gender issues inthe context of agriculture and rural development.

Addressing gender inequalities and empowering women are vital to meeting the challenge ofimproving food and nutrition security, and enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty.Agriculture growth is enhanced if both women and men are enabled to participate fully aseconomic actors. Development program are more relevant and sustainable if both women andmen are able to participate in rural institutions and express their needs and priorities in thedecision- making forums.

The IFAD-Nepal CO also has been supporting to its Projects aiming to address the issues ofGender and Inequalities in Agriculture sector of Nepal. In this context, with its facilitationsupport “Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)” thematic group was formed inDecember 2013. The core members of the group are the gender focal points of on-goingIFAD-funded projects in Nepal. This community of practice aims to strengthen project GESI

strategies, resolve GESI-related issues and ensure capacity building of staff to meet theoverall project goals through GESI-responsive approaches. The first GESI workshop, titled“Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Learning Alliance Workshop” was organizedin April 2014.

Thereafter, the second Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Workshop was held on23 and 24September 2014 at Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) Meeting Hall in Tahachal, Kathmandu.Theworkshop was hosted by High Value Agricultural Project (HVAP), and facilitated by theIFAD countryoffice. The major focus of the workshop was “Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) andself-evaluation tools” for project GESI activities, besides the regular updating of activitiesand capacity building of the project staff.

As the second GESI workshop has agreed to host the third GESI workshop by KUBK, thisconcept note has been prepared to make it happened with the supports of Project Managers(Directors)/ DPM( Directors), IFAD CO, Planning Officers, M& E Officers, GESI Advisors,Experts and focal points.

Objective of the third GESI workshop:However, enhancing the knowledge of project staff in mainstreaming gender and socialinclusion in the projects through capacity building and constructive discussion will beongoing as in the past; workshop will cover new topics to update the knowledge and asregular there will be sharing of learning and new initiatives; following will be the major focusof workshop:

To discuss on “GESI and Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS)” To share initiatives and learning of the projects

Methodology: Presentation Group discussion

(30 minutes for each project (20 min presentation, 10 minutes discussion))

Main Agenda:

Share our best initiatives, achievements, learning and Issues & Opportunities of eachproject.

Why GESI mainstreaming has to be considered as an integral part of programme inAgriculture Development Sector (ADS)?

How Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) complies the mainstreaming of GESIin agriculture sector?: MOAD

Updating of "Gender Action Learning System (Uganda)”: Mr. Tribhuban Paudel,GESI Advisor, HVAP

Update on recent initiatives and action on Gender and Social Inclusion atnational/international level,

AOB (if any):

Expected result:

At the end of workshop, the participants will have;

Clear understanding in GESI perspective in ADS Develop understanding on GALS, Developed cross learning of projects,

Rationale:The Ministry of Finance in Nepal formally introduced GRB in 2007 in compliance to whichall sectoral ministries and projects are required to categorize their programme budgets basedon gender equality. Development projects and donor agencies are extensively adopting GRB.Therefore, with a view to follow the system and to bring gender sensitivity into projectbudget and policies, GRB was introduced to IFAD projects during the workshop. Toaccelerate the adaptation process of GRB in programme, knowledge on “Gender AuditingTools” is highly crucial. Hence, this note demands an experience resource person on “GenderAuditing”.

Duration of the workshop: Duration of workshop could be of 2 days, however dependsupon the context and contents.

Venue: As per the suggestion of management of KUBK, the venue of workshop is proposedwithin Rupandehi district (Most probably in Regional Training Centre, AgricultureDevelopment Bank, Mangalapur, Rupandehi (Yet to decide exact place)Participants of the workshop:

3 participants from each IFAD funded project (PM/DPM, Planning Officer. GESIFocal point/ GESI Advisor)

There will be 4 participants in case of HVAP, as there is provision of GESI Expert inaddition to GESI Advisor in HVAP.

In addition to three participants, KUBK proposes its M&E Officer to participate theevent. Thus, there will be 4 numbers from KUBK.

Logistic arrangements:KUBK will provide breakfast, daytime meal and teas only for the participants and resourcepersons during the workshop period. Thus, participants are requested to arrange theiraccommodation and diner by their own.Budget PlanTotal 22 persons have been estimated including 3 resource persons from MOAD and IFADSr.no

Description Unit Quantity Rate( Nrs)

Total amount( Nrs)

1 Breakfast and tea Nos. 22 * 2 days 150 66002 Lunch Nos. 22 * 2 days 250 110003 Training hall Days 2 2500 50004 Generator power supply

( in case of no power)Hours 8 400 3200

Total = 25,800.00