Summit 2016-Qibing Council COE

Qibing Council is found close to the Mafeteng border post and has joined Centres of Excellence (COE) in 2015.

The council, with regards to policy implementation, is aware of the Post 2015 SADC Gender Protocol, SDGs and other relevant targets. It has also developed the gender action plan. The council has 10 councillors, of which four of them are men and six of them are women. The Deputy Mayor of Qibing Council is a female.

There are four committees within the council, by which women chair two of those. Women in this council are quite involved, because even the councillors are dominated by females. The council is working towards involving more women, youth and people living with disabilities.

Women, young people, people living with disabilities (PWD) and community members participate in public meetings and community projects. About 26%-50% women partake in public consultations within the council, and women play a huge role in decision making in Qibing. In addition, women, men, youth and people living with disability are part decision making regarding the climate change and in coming up with strategies to combat climate change.

The council’s workforce has a total percentage of 57 percent men and 43 percent women. Women form 67 percent of the council’s management. The secretary of the council is a female, and that shows that women in Qibing Council are being given platforms to lead.

There are provisions for three months maternity leave but not for paternity leave. The council does not have a policy against sexual harassment, however if there are any cases regarding that issue, the council uses the government policy of sexual harassment and report the matter straight to the police. The community also works closely with the police to report infringing matters, such as cases of gender-based violence.

Qubing Council allocates a substantial budget to gender-related projects, these amounts have increased from 2015 to 201 6.

The council has allocated space for both women and men where they can place their stalls for their markets, which is part of the local economic development plan. In this case people, especially women, can uproot themselves in business and grow as entrepreneurs. The council has also employed youth and PWD in the projects that the council runs.

Women, men, PWD, and youth are involved in the planning, management and maintenance of water and sanitation. The council has four committees of water and sanitation, and two of those are chaired by women. Moreover, during family planning campaigns women take part in distributing condoms for females and males.

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