16 Feb 2025

In an effort to promote gender equity and enhance the effectiveness of its results-based management system, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs hosted a comprehensive training session for its gender committee in Maun on Thursday.

Speaking at the session, North West District Concil’s (NWDC)chief civil and mechanical engineer, Mr Bosiela Saudu said the event, which brought together members from various departments, aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively integrate gender considerations into their work and reporting processes.

He further said gender mainstreaming was essential for creating policies and programs that were inclusive and equitable by means of equipping committee members with the right tools and knowledge.

“We need to ensure that gender considerations are not an afterthought but a fundamental component of our results-based management approach,” he said.

For his part, deputy District Commissioner and chairman of the gender committee, Mr Ramogapi Gaborekwe said gender mainstreaming was essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally.

He further added that by integrating gender perspectives into all levels of planning and decision-making, Botswana could unlock significant economic, social, and environmental benefits.

“Studies reveal that empowering women and ensuring their equal participation in the workforce can lead to higher productivity, innovation, and improved community resilience, therefore prioritising gender equality not only fosters inclusive growth but also enhances the effectiveness of sustainable development efforts,” he said.

Mr Gaborekwe also urged policymakers to implement strategies that champion gender equity, recognising it as a vital catalyst for holistic progress and a resilient future.

An official of department of gender affairs, Mr Felix Mapeu highlighted that methodologies for collecting and analysing gender-disaggregated data were crucial for understanding the different impacts programs had on men, women, and non-binary individuals.

He further elaborated that one of the methodologies to be used for mainstreaming included integration of data which combined quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding of gender issues.

“Another methodology is policy analysis which deals with the assessment of gender policies with regard to analysing the impact of existing policies on different gender groups using disaggregated data,” Mapeu said.

Mr Mapeu also said the gender mainstreaming actions included integrating perspectives into all policies so that they were developed to explicitly address gender equality, women empowerment and advocacy efforts to challenge discriminatory norms as well as ensuring that laws promoted gender equality and protected rights for all. ENDS