Local action and results for gender equality post 2015!

The Post -2015 era is here! Just after the reviewed Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Gender Protocol; and a year into the implementation of the Sustainable Development goals, new baselines have been set for the localisation and implementation of these instruments within the tier of government closest to the masses, local councils and their communities.

The 2016 SADC Gender Protocol@work Summits will provide a platform for knowledge dissemination and sharing of best practices in nine SADC countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The summits are open to local authorities and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community based organisations (CBOs). The summits will take place in November and December 2016.

Objectives for the Summits in 2016 are to:

• Build capacity of councils on developing targeted campaigns on gender equality and communication strategies for popularising their implementation of gender action plans;
• Set new baselines in 2016 aligned to SDGs and reviewed SADC protocol implementation.
• Identify gaps and recommendations for strengthening implementation aligned to the reviewed protocol and Sustainable Development Goals;
• Enhance ownership and promote sustainability of the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development at the local level;
• Share best practices on mainstreaming gender in service delivery within the councils and communities.
• Strengthen targeted and effective communication skills sets in localising the SDGs and reviewed protocol.