Regional: Updating the 2012 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer underway

The Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance is in the process of updating the SADC Gender Protocol Barometer to produce the 2012 edition led by Gender Links. The Barometer is an annual publication of the Alliance that tracks SADC country progress against the 28 targets of the SADC Gender Protocol. Key elements are the Citizen Score Card where this time around over 2,000 citizens have participated; and the SADC Gender and Development Index based on empirical data. Read more about the two indices in the 2011 regional barometer.

Country level research is almost complete and between June and July, GL working with country theme lead organisations will edit the reports synthesise these into a regional report. Eleven countries – Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia held reference group meetings to review the country SADC Gender Protocol Barometers to validate findings and fill in gaps. Zimbabwe is set to hold its meeting end of June.

The report will be launched at the Civil Society Forum set to take place between 8 – 12 August in Mozambique ahead of the SADC Heads of State Summit.