Summit 2017-Khoelenyana Council COE

Khoelenya Council is  the fourth council working with Gender Links in the district of Mohale’s Hoek. The council has in many instances approached the District gender officer wanting to become a COE and they thought it is about time that they also work with gender eye and make difference in their communities. The have been doing a lot of work with many organisations related to gender but have never been able to document the work or have a guiding tool such as the gender policy. The gender policy is therefore going to be a very useful tool to guide their work.

The council has gender action plan that incorporates the Post 2015 SADC Gender Protocol, SDGs and other relevant targets, It is well known and has a high profile champion within the council that also present the council in the district. There are 18 council members and 10 are women while eight are men. The council has four committees and two are chaired by women of which one is a gender committee.

The women, people living with the disability (PWD) and youth participate in public gathering; from 76%-100%. During land rehabilitation management activities women always take part and people with disability are given a fair chance.

The council has 17 employees and 10 are women, in management there are 5 and three are women. Also the physical planner of the council is a woman.

There is a provision of three months maternity leave and nursing hours for another three months after the maternity. The council does not sexually harassment policy, but cases are reported at the police station. Most of the time the Councillors bring such matter to the gender committee and the gender violence victims are advised to report such cases at the police or meet and engage social workers. The council situated in a place where is accessible to everybody and facilities catered for disability people.

Khoelenya Community Council allocated budget to gender-related projects for the 2017 to 2018.

Market places designed and 88% of stands allocated to women, PWD and youth on an equal opportunity basis. Such places are at the busiest areas; holy cross and braakfontein. The council is working with Caritas Lesotho in order to extent hand on finance schemes that benefit women. Another one is the council working with the Action Aid Lesotho and teaching women about chicken layering project. Care Lesotho also is working with group of women within the council and formed credit and savings schemes and more than 60 women are part to such schemes.

The council has encouraged women to come together as a group of at least 20 people and register their company and assistance was given to those willing, so far 30 people have benefited from the jobs created by the council.

Women, PWD, and youth are equally involved in projects that prevent climate change such as waste management, sustainable energy and recycling and benefit from economic opportunities arising from this.

In terms of land and housing Sex disaggregated data of land allocations for council & community beneficiaries are well kept and 197 females and 115 males have been allocated land.  For Water and sanitation the council has managed to improve 3 borehole, 8 hand pumps and built new 12 VIP toilets.

For prevention of gender based violence and campaigns the council is working with community policing forums (Mahokela) holding public awareness and public gatherings.

Click here to read more about the Khoelenya Community Council.