EMBRACING GENDER EQUITY FOR DEVELOPMENT TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY DELIVER SERVICES

The situation in the council, regarding gender issues has changed since leadership now is aware its importance in development, however the political leadership remain unbalanced as women are still the minority in the council by numbers as compared to men. In the council there are 48 seats and only three are women while the rest are men.
Fourteen seats within the administration of high positions in management are held by men, whereas twelve are held by women.

Service provision has changed since the programmes are geared towards balancing the equation of men and women. The following made it possible to mainstream gender and come up with tangible results;
• Gender Action plan
• Appointment of gender focal persons in the three part of council(Headquarters, 2 sub districts ie Maun Admin Authority and Okavango)
• Formulation of committees in Headquarters
• Secured a budget to workshop management and provide for subsistence to attend to gender activities
• Gender report being a standing item in the management agenda

The challenges that gender activists are facing is that women have come to believe that it is right to be controlled by men. However with intensification of our activism, men are beginning to realise the importance of gender equity and equality. Hence they encourage their female counterparts to attend rallies that they have mobilised, for them to contribute and add face. COE collaborate with Civil societies and complement each other to close the gaps.

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