What will it cost to implement the provisions of the SADC Gender Protocol?

GL, UN Women and the SADC GU have launched an initiative to cost the implementation of the Protocol following an expert group meeting 16-18 February. The meeting examined existing gender policies and action plans and found that many of them are dated; none are aligned to the SADC Gender Protocol. In a meeting with representatives of gender ministries attending the audit of National Action Plans to End Gender Violence, the experts canvassed a three prong approach that includes:

• Updating and aligning gender action plans and policies to reflect the targets of the Protocol.
• Using county barometers to identify gaps and prioritise actions.
• Determine what it will cost to take these actions, both for the apex structures as well as line ministries responsible for implementation.

The next step will be to meet with a team of researchers from 28-30 March to assist in updating country Barometers and gathering vital information for in-country workshops, to be held over the remainder of the year. The researchers will also meet with the steering committee of the Alliance (country focal networks and cluster leaders), attending the Gender Justice and Local Government Summit, on 30 March to map a forward looking strategy.