Gender in Local Government Madagascar
Date: October 22, 2013
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| This report concerns the Gender Justice and Local Government programme for Gender Links Madagascar from April 2012 to March 2013. The work has focused on cascading and strengthening Madagascar’s pioneering work on the Centres of Excellence (COE’s) on Gender Mainstreaming for Local Government across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region by Gender Links (GL) and localities of Madagascar. Â The report incorporates the analysis of council institutional profiles and projects obtained through the Centres of Excellence (COE) process and the SADC Protocol 2013 summit. The report covers the activities undertaken in all localities of Madagascar and the activities that Gender Links Madagascar has been doing in conjunction with its partners. | Contents
Key Facts |
- In 2011, 15 councils signed MOUs with Gender Links and formed part of Centres of Excellence (COE) process. During this year, Gender Links developed a partnership with Saha. It was agreed that Gender Links will sustain actions that Saha conducted in 16 councils. Thus, 16 councils joined the COE process. In 2012, Gender Links developed a partnership with UNFPA and UNDP. UNFPA trough the Ministry of Population and Social Affairs funded 4 councils. UNDP funded 16 councils through their elections programme. These 16 councils did all stages except the development of action plan (stage 5 and stage 6). In total, 51 councils follow the COE process at present.
- The COEs include the capital city, Urban Council of Antananarivo, and all major cities in Madagascar.
- The COEs cover 5 urban councils and 29 rural councils. Out of the 51 COEs, 34 now have and are implementing gender action plans. The 34 COE councils cover a population of 4 Â 156 Â 901.
- A full report of the verification exercise is in Annex B. Case Studies of all entries to the Summit are in Annex C. Case Studies of winners is at Annex D. This report should be read in tandem with all the Annexes that are attached. Annex C which is called the summit booklet, features 174 good practices of the SADC Gender Protocol@Work, mainly at a local government level (but including localities, NGOs and Ministries).
- The 33 Councils that were verified had a baseline score of 60%, while the average score during verification process was 71% making an increase of 11%
- 29 Councils made presentations at the 2013 Summit. The average score of these Councils during verification was 71% and the average score by the judges during the Summit for these five Councils is 69% making a decrease of -2%. The decrease shows that the judges at the summit were strict.
- It must be noted that progress is evident on the ground with projects. The Council of Bongatsara is one of the winners in the Centres of Excellence category. This council began the process this year with the partnership of UNFPA. As the mayor is a female, she implemented their action plan with a brief delay, and granted a budget for gender. In other hand, the council of Tsiafahy who won during the last summit of 2012, won this year in Local Economic Development category.
- Gender Links saved 20% of the total cost for the venue and the catering during the summit.
- The COE process has resulted in high level political support, with the minister in charge of development opening the summit, but with further widespread support across ministries and political parties, as reflected in the high level attendance at the summit.
The Madagascar Centres of Excellence in Gender Mainstreaming Programme sought to:
- Raise support for the in-country Gender Justice and Local Government summit in March 2013, leading to the regional summit in April.
- Raise support for the rollout of the COEs to all the 119 District Councils, the deadline for the achievement of the 28 targets of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
- Popularise and enhance the application of the SADC Gender Protocol through the community mobilisation that accompanies the COEs, and incorporating its targets in the local action plans in order to increase community outreach and impact of the Protocol@work.
The COEs bring together research, policy, action plans, on the job support and capacity building in a unique model that gives local expression to the 28 targets of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development Ăâ the sub regional roadmap for MDG 3 (gender equality). As in the case of the MDGs, these targets are to be achieved by 2015. 51 councils joined the COE process in Madagascar. A list of the councils that are COEs in Madagascar is:
|
Pre-2012 target councils |
2012/13 target councils | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Benenitra | Madagascar | UNDP | Benenitra |
|
2 |
Ampanihy Ouest | Madagascar | UNDP | Ampanihy Ouest |
|
3 |
Ankazoabo Sud | Madagascar | UNDP | Ankazoabo Sud |
|
4 |
Beroroha | Madagascar | UNDP | Beroroha |
|
5 |
Betioky Sud | Madagascar | UNDP | Betioky Sud |
|
6 |
Morombe | Madagascar | UNDP | Morombe |
|
7 |
Sakaraha | Madagascar | UNDP | Sakaraha |
|
8 |
Toliara I | Madagascar | UNDP | Toliara I |
|
9 |
Mitsinjo Betanimena | Madagascar | UNDP | Mitsinjo Betanimena |
|
10 |
Bemasoandro | Madagascar | UNDP | Bemasoandro |
|
11 |
Sabotsy Namehana | Madagascar | UNDP | Sabotsy Namehana |
|
12 |
Ambohitrimanjaka | Madagascar | UNDP | Ambohitrimanjaka |
|
13 |
Andramasina | Madagascar | UNDP | Andramasina |
|
14 |
Anjozorobe | Madagascar | UNDP | Anjozorobe |
|
15 |
Andriafamaky | Madagascar | UNDP | Andriafamaky |
|
16 |
Ankazobe | Madagascar | UNDP | Ankazobe |
|
17 |
Moramanga | Madagascar | UNFPA | Moramanga |
|
18 |
Cut | Madagascar | UNFPA | Cut |
|
19 |
Bongatsara | Madagascar | UNFPA | Bongatsara |
|
20 |
Morondava | Madagascar | UNFPA | Morondava |
COE programme
Madagascar is divided into 1549 councils, 119 districts, 22 regions and 6 provinces. The COE process has the strong support of UN agencies such as UNFPA through the Ministry of Population, Social Affairs and UNDP.
Currently, 51 councils are part of the COE process (see Annex A). Â The COE approach includes a unique blend of research and evidence, applied to strategies and action planning, with on-the-job capacity building and applied learning, vigorous Monitoring and Evaluation, affirming of good practise, and sharing of learning at the annual summits.
The target groups for the programme are the local government councils, both rural and urban in Madagascar. Working from the ground up has proven the best way to integrate policy and community actions in gender mainstreaming as this is streamlined into the service delivery approach of local government. The programme has raised a critical mass of women and men who are pushing the gender equality agenda as gender champions (the councillors) and gender focal persons (the technical persons). Prior to the local elections, Gender Links organised a mock council meeting to train potential councillors on how to participate in the next election in 2 regions: Atsimo Andrefana and Analamanga.
Gender Links Madagascar, with the collaboration of localities and other partners, facilitated ten four-day workshops on Women in Politics. The skills and techniques that were used encouraged women to stand as candidates in the next local elections.
Emerging evidence suggests that this is an effective and sustainable model. Learning from the first phase has been incorporated in the second phase that has expanded the original six phases to ten phases. Strengthening of action plans through additional content and practise on climate change and sustainable development; care work and local economic development, and IT skills of councillors will be strengthened as part of the communications component.
Prior to the summit, GL Madagascar undertook an on-the ground verification exercise of the COEs where evidence of progress was gathered and an updated scoring exercise was done through the local government scorecard. The verification exercised was benchmarked using the council action plans, which include gender based violence plans all based on the SADC Protocol on gender and development. With challenges of time and access, doing the verification in all 34 councils was a great challenge for Gender Links Madagascar. Finally, 33 councils were verified.
Through the COE process, 34 councils have gender action plans, which include gender based violence action plans. The on-the job nature of the COE process has equipped gender focal persons and champions with skills to facilitate some of the COE workshops and to introduce peer to peer learning between councils. Gender mainstreaming is therefore firmly on the agenda of service delivery in these councils. The summary of stages completed per council is as follows:
| N° | Council |
COE stages | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||
| 1 | Alakamisy Itenina | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Ambalavao | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Ambatondrazaka | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Ambohibary | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Ambohimirary | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Analavory | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Andoharanomaintso | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Andriambilany | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Anjinjaomby | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | Anjomanakona | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Anosimena | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Antanamitarana | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | CUA-Antananarivo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 14 | Toamasina (CUT) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Ialananidro | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Isalo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Ivato Aeroport | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Mahanoro | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | Mahavelona Foulpointe | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | Mahazina | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | Malaimbandy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 22 | Manambina | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 | Manjakandriana | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | Miantso | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | Miarinavaratra | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 | Sahambavy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | Soalandy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 | Soavinandriana | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Sub Urbaine Toamasina | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Tsiafahy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 31 | Urbaine de Diego | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Ambohitrimanjaka | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 33 | Andramasina | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 34 | Ampanihy Ouest | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 35 | Andriampamaky | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Anjozorobe | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | Ankazobe | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 38 | Ankazoabo sud | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | Bemasoandro | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 40 | Benenitra | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 41 | Beroroha | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 42 | Betioky Sud | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 43 | Bongatsara | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 44 | Mahajanga | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Mitsinjo Betanimena | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 46 | Moramanga | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 47 | Morombe | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 48 | Morondrava | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 49 | Sabotsy Nemehana | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 50 | Sakaraha | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 51 | Toliara I | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 52 | Ramena | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 53 | Sakaramy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 54 | Joffre ville | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 55 | Antsapano | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 56 | Maintirano | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 57 | Mahajijo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 58 | Andaboka | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 59 | Betanatana | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 60 | Ambovombe | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 61 | Tsimananada | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 62 | Ambonaivo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 63 | Maroalopoty | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 64 | Amboasary sud | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Ranopiso | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 66 | Manambaro | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 67 | Fort dauphin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Training of trainers workshops
The Madagascar model for cascading the COEs
After the regional summit in 2011, having won the prize of the Centre of Excellence, all members of the Malagasy delegation decided to create an organization called “Association of Elected Gender Sensitive – AESG”. The association is now formal and the general objective is to popularize the gender approach in all localities in Madagascar. Members are convinced that we cannot talk about development without the equal participation of men and women. The members of the associations are mayors, councilors, representatives of the Ministry of Population and Social Affairs and also the Ministry of Decentralization, civil society and various technicians.
In 2011, GL has developed a partnership with SAHA to extend and cascade the concept in 16 other councils where SAHA operates. To do this, members of AESG were trained as trainers to implement the partnership. Twenty trainers were trained in the first training. Following this partnership, 31 councils have become Centers of Excellence.
Taking into account the successful experience of SAHA and the impact of the concept vis-ĂÂ -vis the community, and for the extent of the Big Island (1549 councils), GL sought extend the cascading concept in other cities of Madagascar and sought partners.
The Ministry of Population and Social Affairs in partnership with UNFPA responded favorably. Four more towns have benefited from this partnership. Reproductive health has been well integrated into the process.
UNDP has also developed a partnership with GL. The latter focused on women and elections (Step 7 of the “Center of Excellence”). The interventions took place in each council in the district in the region Atsimo Andrefana and Analamanga, in total 16 councils.
The Members of AESG received capacity-building.
In 2012 Gender Links (GL) undertook its annual verification process. This process is part of the monitoring and evaluation exercise (also known as the stage 9 in the Centre Of Excellence 10 stage process) done by the organization to assess how the councils that are in the COE process are progressing in terms of mainstreaming gender in policies which will result in good service delivery. In 2013, all 33 councils underwent the verification process. Gender Links could not get appointment with the Municipal Council of Mahazina.
The process involved councils reviewing their gender score-card (see Annex B 1) for any changes in the score that they were allocated at the previous summit. They had to score themselves for the past year then Gender Links scored them and a agreed score was negotiated. Â Councils had to collect as much testimonial evidence as possible e.g.: gender-sensitive housing policy, minutes showing their drive towards a gender responsive council. GL compiled institutional profiles of all the Councils. The full set of institutional profiles can be found in the summit document that accompanies this report. Progress in each council and supporting documents can be found on the GL website.
|
Outcomes of the verification exercise |
Outputs of the verification |
|---|---|
|
|
SADC Gender Protocol@Work  Summit
The SADC gender protocol summit took place in Colbert Hotel on the 18th to the 20th of March 2013. For presentations made at the summit please refer to https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page/madagascar-gender-summit, as well as the summit booklet attached. A summary of the summit proceedings and winners going on to the regional summit is contained in the press release.
Below are quick facts for the summit:
| Total number of participants | 174 | |
| 56 male | 118 female | |
| Total number of entries | 174 | |
| Total number of presentations | Overall presentations = 174 | |
| Number of localities represented | 36 | |
| Total number of ministries represented | 3 | |
| Number of media houses present | 6 | |
| Number of judges present | 18 | |
| Female 15 | Male 3 | |
| Number of Chairs | Female 3 | Male 1 |
| Number of winners | 18 | |
| Female 13 | Male 5 | |
| Number of times summit featured in media | 22 | |
| Number of  categories | 3 | |
| Number of themes | 5 | |
| Number of COE Local Government presentation | 29 | |
| Number of COE Media presentation | 6 | |
| Number of Leadership COE Local Government presentation | 18 | |
| Number of Leadership COE Media presentation | 2 | |
Combined with the media and alliance networks, a total of 18 winners were awarded certificates for excelling in best practices on gender mainstreaming and will proceed to compete at a regional level.
- More time should be given to the verification process according the number of councils in the country as well as the distance and the condition of the road.
- The score card needs to be adapted according the country context. For Madagascar, most of the councils don’t have care work as they don’t have PVVIH in the council
Next steps:
Women in Local Government:
- The  way forward is to convene a meeting with all localities so that best practices can be shared; the implementation of the Gender Action Plan as well as the Gender Based Action Plan leading to concrete projects for the 2014 Summit.
- As Madagascar is organising elections this year:
- 50/50 campaign needs to be launched
- “Women in politicsĂÂ programme needs to be implemented
COE cascading and roll out:
- To develop partnerships to cascade the COE process 2013
- To complete the stage 5 and 6 in 16 localities with UNDP
Flow project:
- To finish collecting I stories
- To implement the flow project in 5 councils
Download : Gender in local goverrnment Madagascar report
Download : Analysis of COE gender mainstreaming work
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