THE OFFICE ON THE THE OFFICE ON THE STATUS OF WOMENSTATUS OF WOMEN

STRATEGY AND STRATEGY AND OPERATIONAL PLAN OPERATIONAL PLAN

2008/92008/9

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUNDCONTEXT AND BACKGROUNDStrategic objectives of The Presidency:Strategic objectives of The Presidency: Strengthen strategic management and leadership Strengthen strategic management and leadership

capability to achieve greater organisational cohesion;capability to achieve greater organisational cohesion; Improve management, access and sharing of Improve management, access and sharing of

information;information; Co-ordinate, monitor, evaluate and communicate Co-ordinate, monitor, evaluate and communicate

government policies and programmes and to government policies and programmes and to accelerate integrated service delivery;accelerate integrated service delivery;

Foster nation-building and social cohesion to give Foster nation-building and social cohesion to give effect to the People’s Contract;effect to the People’s Contract;

Promote an integrated approach to governance for Promote an integrated approach to governance for accelerated service delivery;accelerated service delivery;

Support, develop and consolidate initiatives for Support, develop and consolidate initiatives for building a better Africa and a better world; and building a better Africa and a better world; and

Promote accelerated and shared economic growth Promote accelerated and shared economic growth and development with an emphasis on the second and development with an emphasis on the second economy and social inclusion. economy and social inclusion.

The Policy Co-Ordination and Advisory The Policy Co-Ordination and Advisory Services (PCAS) is a sub-programme that Services (PCAS) is a sub-programme that facilitates integrated and strategic policyfacilitates integrated and strategic policy

The PCAS is divided into the following units:The PCAS is divided into the following units: EconomicEconomic Governance and AdministrationGovernance and Administration International Relations and TradeInternational Relations and Trade Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Justice, Crime Prevention and Security

(JCPS)(JCPS) Social SectorSocial Sector PlanningPlanning Special Programmes Special Programmes

Special Programmes consists of three main Special Programmes consists of three main areas of intervention; gender, disabilities areas of intervention; gender, disabilities

and children (GDC). These joint and children (GDC). These joint programmes are supported through the work programmes are supported through the work

of the three units:of the three units:

The Office on the Status of Women (OSW)The Office on the Status of Women (OSW) The Office on the Status of Disabled The Office on the Status of Disabled

Persons (OSDP)Persons (OSDP) The Office on the Right of the Child (ORC)The Office on the Right of the Child (ORC)

Office on the Status of Women Office on the Status of Women (OSW)(OSW)

MANDATE: The national Office MANDATE: The national Office on the Status of Women has a on the Status of Women has a

vital role to play as the vital role to play as the principal co-ordinating principal co-ordinating

structure for the National structure for the National Machinery on gender Machinery on gender

equality. equality.

Functions of the National OSW include Functions of the National OSW include (but not limited to) the following:(but not limited to) the following:

To advance a national policy on women’s empowerment To advance a national policy on women’s empowerment and gender equalityand gender equality

To prioritise key concerns and initiatives policy and To prioritise key concerns and initiatives policy and action-oriented research relevant to gender action-oriented research relevant to gender mainstreaming;mainstreaming;

To advise and brief the President, the Deputy President To advise and brief the President, the Deputy President and the Minister in the Presidency on all matters and the Minister in the Presidency on all matters pertaining to the empowerment of women;pertaining to the empowerment of women;

To develop key indicators for measuring the national To develop key indicators for measuring the national progression towards gender equality;progression towards gender equality;

To facilitate awareness-raising and confidence-building To facilitate awareness-raising and confidence-building among women at all levels;among women at all levels;

To provide a co-ordination framework for the effective To provide a co-ordination framework for the effective implementation of the gender programme at the implementation of the gender programme at the national, provincial and local government levels;national, provincial and local government levels;

To consult and liaise with civil society and Parliament. To consult and liaise with civil society and Parliament.

Broad functions of the OSW in support Broad functions of the OSW in support of the Presidential strategic objectives of the Presidential strategic objectives

and the PCAS objectives include:and the PCAS objectives include: Gender mainstreaming; Gender mainstreaming; Capacity Building;Capacity Building; Planning and Coordination; Planning and Coordination; Advocacy; Advocacy; Networking and liaison; Networking and liaison; Support to political principals; and Support to political principals; and Monitoring and Evaluation.Monitoring and Evaluation.

OSW STRATEGY AND OSW STRATEGY AND OPERATIONAL PLAN 2008/9OPERATIONAL PLAN 2008/9

Identified challenges have been Identified challenges have been translated into key external and translated into key external and

internal strategies, with internal strategies, with associated key responsibility associated key responsibility

areas (KRAs), strategic actions, areas (KRAs), strategic actions, specific programmes and specific programmes and

activities, programme indicators, activities, programme indicators, outcomes and lead persons. outcomes and lead persons.

External Strategy: External Strategy: To closely monitor the implementation To closely monitor the implementation of national and regional programmes of national and regional programmes

and projects, providing policy and and projects, providing policy and mainstreaming advice, as well as mainstreaming advice, as well as providing the necessary strategic providing the necessary strategic

support towards co-ordination, support towards co-ordination, research, networking and advocacy the research, networking and advocacy the

strengthening of women’s strengthening of women’s empowerment and gender equality.empowerment and gender equality.

Internal Strategy:Internal Strategy: To ensure that the national office To ensure that the national office

functions in a manner that will support functions in a manner that will support monitoring of the implementation of monitoring of the implementation of

national and regional projects, providing national and regional projects, providing policy and mainstreaming advice, as policy and mainstreaming advice, as

well as providing the necessary well as providing the necessary strategic support towards co-ordination, strategic support towards co-ordination, research, networking and advocacy the research, networking and advocacy the

strengthening of women’s strengthening of women’s empowerment and gender equality.empowerment and gender equality.

STRATEGY 1STRATEGY 1Mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s Mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment into the programmes of projects empowerment into the programmes of projects

of government structuresof government structures

GENDER MAINSTREAMINGGENDER MAINSTREAMINGKRA 1: Advance the national policy on women’s KRA 1: Advance the national policy on women’s

empowerment and gender equality to effect empowerment and gender equality to effect mainstreaming of gender in policies, practices and mainstreaming of gender in policies, practices and

programmesprogrammesKRA 2: Prioritise key concerns, initiatives and research KRA 2: Prioritise key concerns, initiatives and research

relevant to the integration of gender issues into relevant to the integration of gender issues into government structures, processes, practices and government structures, processes, practices and

strategiesstrategies

KEY ACTIVITIESKEY ACTIVITIES Develop a country strategy and implementation plan in Develop a country strategy and implementation plan in

support of the National Policy Framework for Women’s support of the National Policy Framework for Women’s Empowerment and Gender EqualityEmpowerment and Gender Equality

Develop a policy on Effective Partnerships in Promoting Develop a policy on Effective Partnerships in Promoting Women’s Empowerment and Gender EqualityWomen’s Empowerment and Gender Equality

Commission research that advances women’s Commission research that advances women’s empowerment and gender equalityempowerment and gender equality

15 year review15 year review Gender profilingGender profiling

Gender responsive budgeting and financing gender Gender responsive budgeting and financing gender equalityequality

Harmful traditional practicesHarmful traditional practices Promote gender responsive budgeting for CFOs and Promote gender responsive budgeting for CFOs and

senior managementsenior management Facilitate the review and rework of the Gender Resource Facilitate the review and rework of the Gender Resource

handbookhandbook

CAPACITY BUILDINGCAPACITY BUILDING KRA 3: KRA 3: Initiate and promote capacity Initiate and promote capacity development and training programmes in development and training programmes in support of gender sensitisation, gender support of gender sensitisation, gender

analysis and the mainstreaming of gender analysis and the mainstreaming of gender at all levels of governmentat all levels of government

STRATEGY 1STRATEGY 1Mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s Mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment into the programmes of projects empowerment into the programmes of projects

of government structuresof government structures

KEY ACTIVITIESKEY ACTIVITIES

Support of the Gender Mainstreaming Support of the Gender Mainstreaming training programme in the public service training programme in the public service and local government (1 week training and local government (1 week training

programme for NGM - sponsored)programme for NGM - sponsored)

STRATEGY 2STRATEGY 2National Planning, Co-ordination and Advocacy National Planning, Co-ordination and Advocacy

to facilitate the Mainstreaming of Gender to facilitate the Mainstreaming of Gender

Equality and Women’s EmpowermentEquality and Women’s Empowerment

PLANNING AND CO-ORDINATIONPLANNING AND CO-ORDINATION KRA 4: KRA 4: Provide a co-ordination framework Provide a co-ordination framework

and planning processes for the effective and planning processes for the effective implementation of the gender programme implementation of the gender programme

at the national, provincial and local at the national, provincial and local government levelsgovernment levels

KEY ACTIVITIESKEY ACTIVITIES Consult with the NGM in the development of Consult with the NGM in the development of

the National Plan of Action for Women’s the National Plan of Action for Women’s Empowerment and gender equalityEmpowerment and gender equality

Planning and co-ordination of NGM meetings Planning and co-ordination of NGM meetings (every 2 months)(every 2 months)

Provide secretariat support to the NGM Provide secretariat support to the NGM proceedings and processesproceedings and processes

Compile regular reports that facilitate the Compile regular reports that facilitate the work of the NGMwork of the NGM

Co-ordinate programmes of NGM Co-ordinate programmes of NGM Co-ordinate meetings of the GFPs from Co-ordinate meetings of the GFPs from

national government departments and national government departments and provincial OSWprovincial OSW

Co-ordinate the meetings of the Presidential Co-ordinate the meetings of the Presidential Working Group on WomenWorking Group on Women

STRATEGY 2STRATEGY 2National Planning, Co-ordination and Advocacy National Planning, Co-ordination and Advocacy

to facilitate the Mainstreaming of Gender to facilitate the Mainstreaming of Gender Equality and Women’s EmpowermentEquality and Women’s Empowerment

ADVOCACYADVOCACY KRA 5: KRA 5: Consult and liaise with government, civil Consult and liaise with government, civil

society and the private sector focussing on the society and the private sector focussing on the need to ensure that gender mainstreaming need to ensure that gender mainstreaming

impacts on societal perceptions and supports impacts on societal perceptions and supports transformation transformation

KRA 6: KRA 6: Facilitate awareness-raising and Facilitate awareness-raising and aaadvocate for the promotion of new attitudes, advocate for the promotion of new attitudes,

values and values and behaviourbehaviour, and a culture of respect for , and a culture of respect for all human beings in line with the achievement of all human beings in line with the achievement of

women’s empowerment and gender equalitywomen’s empowerment and gender equality

KEY ACTIVITIESKEY ACTIVITIES Manage and facilitate events Manage and facilitate events 16 Days of Activism (Nov/Dec)16 Days of Activism (Nov/Dec)

Women month (Aug) 365 days of Action Women month (Aug) 365 days of Action (ongoing)(ongoing)

International Women’s Day (100 years)International Women’s Day (100 years)(March 2009)(March 2009)

Women’s Health (ongoing/Aug-Oct)Women’s Health (ongoing/Aug-Oct) SADC protocol (May-Aug)SADC protocol (May-Aug)

Ghana HLF (May-Sept)Ghana HLF (May-Sept) Gender Budget initiative (ongoing)Gender Budget initiative (ongoing)

CSW round table discussions (July-Aug)CSW round table discussions (July-Aug) CSW 2009 (Sept-Feb 2009)CSW 2009 (Sept-Feb 2009)

STRATEGY 3STRATEGY 3Monitoring and Evaluation of delivery on the National, Monitoring and Evaluation of delivery on the National,

Regional and International Mandates for Gender Regional and International Mandates for Gender Equality and Women’s EmpowermentEquality and Women’s Empowerment

MONITORING AND EVALAUTIONMONITORING AND EVALAUTION KRA 7: Develop M&E framework with key indicators KRA 7: Develop M&E framework with key indicators

for measuring the national progression towards for measuring the national progression towards women’s’ empowerment and gender equality women’s’ empowerment and gender equality

KRA 8: KRA 8: Put in place processes as well as overall Put in place processes as well as overall management systems that will support effective management systems that will support effective

monitoring and reporting of gender mainstreaming monitoring and reporting of gender mainstreaming processes at all levels of governmentprocesses at all levels of government

KRA 9: Ensure compliance to national and KRA 9: Ensure compliance to national and international commitments to women’s’ international commitments to women’s’

empowerment and gender equality through effective empowerment and gender equality through effective monitoring and reporting mechanismsmonitoring and reporting mechanisms

KEY ACTIVITIESKEY ACTIVITIES Develop a M&E framework for monitoring Develop a M&E framework for monitoring

progress of government departments and progress of government departments and local government in implementing the local government in implementing the

National Policy Framework for Women’s National Policy Framework for Women’s Empowerment and Gender EqualityEmpowerment and Gender Equality

Reporting formats for use of national and Reporting formats for use of national and provincial GFPs standardisedprovincial GFPs standardised

Plan and manage a high level NGM reviewPlan and manage a high level NGM review Conduct a gender analysis of GPoAConduct a gender analysis of GPoA Compile reports in compliance with Compile reports in compliance with

international instrumentsinternational instruments CEDAW report (June)CEDAW report (June)

Initiating Beijing report 2009 (March Initiating Beijing report 2009 (March 2009)2009)

AU (July)AU (July) SADC (?)SADC (?)

Commonwealth (ongoing)Commonwealth (ongoing) UN (ad hoc)UN (ad hoc)

STRATEGY 4STRATEGY 4Liaising between the Presidency and national and Liaising between the Presidency and national and

international stakeholders in support of the objectives international stakeholders in support of the objectives of the National Policy Frameworkof the National Policy Framework

NETWORKING AND LIAISONNETWORKING AND LIAISON KRA 10:KRA 10: Liaise between national and Liaise between national and

international stakeholders dealing with international stakeholders dealing with women’s and gender issues and the women’s and gender issues and the

Presidency to support effective Presidency to support effective implementation of the National Policy implementation of the National Policy

FrameworkFramework

KEY ACTIVITIESKEY ACTIVITIES Develop a marketing strategy that will Develop a marketing strategy that will

ensure effective communication with ensure effective communication with internal and external stakeholdersinternal and external stakeholders

Branding and image of OSWBranding and image of OSW Prepare documents for marketing and Prepare documents for marketing and

advocacyadvocacy Support relationship building with Support relationship building with

strategic partner countriesstrategic partner countries China (Sept)China (Sept)

Senegal (June)Senegal (June)

SUPPORT TO POLTICAL PRINCIPALSSUPPORT TO POLTICAL PRINCIPALS KRA 11: KRA 11: Advise and brief the Advise and brief the

President, the Deputy President and President, the Deputy President and the Minister in the Presidency on all the Minister in the Presidency on all

matters pertaining to the matters pertaining to the empowerment of women and gender empowerment of women and gender

equalityequality

ONGOING ACTVITIESONGOING ACTVITIES

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT, PLANNING AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT, PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION

KRA 12: EKRA 12: Ensure that the national office functions nsure that the national office functions in a manner that will support monitoring of the in a manner that will support monitoring of the

implementation of national and regional projects.implementation of national and regional projects. KRA 13: KRA 13: Provide logistical support to planning Provide logistical support to planning

and co-ordination of the NGM for gender and co-ordination of the NGM for gender mainstreaming processes.mainstreaming processes.

KRA 14:KRA 14: Ensure that the national OSW office Ensure that the national OSW office function provides support to ensuring the key function provides support to ensuring the key objectives of the OSW for the strengthening of objectives of the OSW for the strengthening of women’s empowerment and gender equality.women’s empowerment and gender equality.

ONGOING ACTVITIESONGOING ACTVITIES

Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.protection and benefit of the law.

Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. and freedoms.

To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons or other measures designed to protect or advance persons or

categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination, may be taken. discrimination, may be taken.

The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social

origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.

Discrimination on one or more of the listed grounds is Discrimination on one or more of the listed grounds is unfair unless it is established that the discrimination is fair.unfair unless it is established that the discrimination is fair.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, Bill of Rights Section 9The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, Bill of Rights Section 9