Gender Policy and Action Plan Implementation in Zimbabwe's Vungu Rural District Council

SADC PROTOCOL@WORK SUMMITS AND AWARDS 2022 INSTITUTIONAL COE Template (Zimbabwe, Vungu Rural District council, 14 November 2022 presented by Lorraine T. Maheru) Please use your background photos to make your presentation unique. Quotes and any other visuals make your presentation more engaging! .

OVERVIEW COUNTRY ZIMBABWE COUNCIL VUNGU RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL GENDER CHAMPION COUNCILLOR YEUKAI PARADZA GENDER FOCAL PERSON LORRAINE TANAKA MAHERU IS THE COUNCIL A HUB OR SPOKE COUNCIL? SPOKE Latest score (year) NIL Women Men Total % Women Council 4 15 19 21% Management 1 5 6 16% Council staff overall 9 22 31 29% Population served 61279 60433 121712 Key characteristics

I. GENDER POLICY, ACTION PLAN, HUB AND SPOKE BASELINE SDG POST 2015 SADC PROTOCOL TARGET INDICATOR S TARGET GROUP ACTIONS OUTPU T WHO TIME FRAM E BUDGE T Photo of the Gender Policy approved Gender Policy which is aligned to prevailin g national (NDS1) regional (Post 2015 SADC Protocol on Gender and Develop ment) and internati onal Commit ments (SDGs)? Council has a draft Gender policy which is aligned to the NDS1 Does the council have an approved Gender Action Plan? Yes Currently under review Is there a gender policy and action plan that incorporates the Post 2015 SADC Gender Protocol, SDGs and other relevant targets? YES It is well known and has a high profile champion within the council.? YES Strategic objective: Increase council s level of awareness around national, regional, international commitments that the country has made especially the Post 2015 SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, SDGs, and the National Gender Policy Does Council have an Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceabl e legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empower ment of all women and girls at all levels Laws and policies are accompanied by public awareness campaigns to demonstrate link between equal representation participation of men, and women to democracy, good governance, and citizen participation. An active approved gender policy Councillors Officials Traditional Leaders Community incl Youths and People with Disabilities Consultations Recommendation by the Social Services Committee Initiate Council meeting Share doc for review by other stakeholders Meeting Reviewing Strengthening Gender Action Plan Minute s-Full council resoluti on. Numbe r of consult ations held. Approv ed gender policy Review ed GAP Numbe r of Meetin gs held Council Dec 2021 TBA Wome n Affairs At the moment we are using our draft gender policy Church groups Students Youths Gender sensitive policies and bi-laws in place. All stakeholder s An active approved gender action plan.

I. GENDER POLICY, ACTION PLAN, HUB AND SPOKE BASELIN E SDG POST 2015 SADC PROTOCOL TARGET INDICATO RS TARGET GROUP ACTIONS OUTP UT WHO TIME FRA ME BUDG ET Photo of the Gender Policy have an approve d Gender Policy which is aligned to prevaili ng national (NDS1) regional (Post 2015 SADC Protocol on Gender and Develop ment) and internat ional Commit ments (SDGs)? Council has a draft Gender policy which is aligned to the NDS1 Does the council have an approve d Gender Action Plan? Yes Currentl y under How has the council coordinated and contributed to the hub and spoke activities e.g. provincial strategy meetings? Quarterly meetings Exchange visits Peer learning Seeking guidance through phone How often are hub and spoke activities conducted by the council? Quarterly Strategic objective: Increase council s level of awareness around national, regional, international commitments that the country has made especially the Post 2015 SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, SDGs, and the National Gender Policy Does Council and strengthe n sound policies and enforcea ble legislatio n for the promotio n of gender equality and the empower ment of all women and girls at all levels Adopt Laws and policies are accompanied by public awareness campaigns to demonstrate link between equal representation participation of men, and women to democracy, good governance, and citizen participation. An active approved gender policy Councillors Officials Traditional Leaders Communit y incl Youths and People with Disabilities Consultations Recommendatio n by the Social Services Committee Initiate Council meeting Share doc for review by other stakeholders Meeting Reviewing Strengthening Gender Action Plan Minut es-Full council resolut ion. Numb er of consul tations held. Appro ved gender policy Revie wed GAP Numb er of Meeti ngs held Counci l Dec 2021 TBA Wome n Affairs At the moment we are using our draft gender policy Church groups Students Youths Gender sensitive policies and bi- laws in place. All stakeholde rs An active approved gender action plan.

II. GOVERNANCE Detail Evidence Photos or video of women leaders. What is the percentage of women s representation? 21% How many committees does the council have? 6 How many committees are chaired by women? 1 How many committees are chaired by PWD? Nil In what way do women/ youth/ PWD participate in council consultations and decision-making. Participation in public meetings like budget consultative meetings WASH Meetings Farming meetings GBV awareness campaigns

III. WORK PLACE POLICY AND PRACTICE How gender sensitive is the work place? The workplace is very much gender sensitive. There is inclusion of everyone male or female in all the activities we do. When advertising for posts we encourage women to participate. There are more women in managerial positions than in lower levels. Women and men are offered equal opportunities be it in stand allocations, service delivery and employment. Provide examples. Evidence Include photos and articles as evidence here. What proportion of the workforce is women? 29% What is the proportion of youth and PWDs employed by the councils? 3% Does the council have a sexual harassment policy? Yes How are sexual harassment cases dealt with? They are reported to the senior officer of that department who in turn notifies the HR of such developments. But in the case whereby the Senior officer is the one sexually harassing employees the employees are advised to report directly to the HR officer who in turn is the Gender Focal person.

IV. LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Include photos, videos and articles or newspaper clippings here. The Council has a local economic development plan or projects that target women, PWD, and youth entrepreneurs. Market places designed and % of stands allocated to women, men, PWD and youth on an equal opportunity basis. Market places have been designed in our Rural service centres in Muchakata, Insukamini, Maboleni, Gunde and Somabhula 13% of women were allocated stands 60% men 26% youths 1% PWD Existence of entrepreneurship finance schemes linked to council that benefit women, men, people living with disability, and youth. SMEs Finance schemes are linked to the Council through Ministry of Women affairs and Women s bank that benefit women, men,pwd and youths in horticulture farming, mining etc What arrangements have been made by the council with external sources of finance to promote access to finance for local entrepreneurs, especially women, PWD and the youth. Council partners with Ministry of Women affairs in financing entrepreneurship through agents of the Women's bank, SMEDCO, Youth bank etc The agents provide loans for women, youths, PWD business start-ups in sectors like horticulture farming, poultry, piggery, goat farming, cattle farming and fattening, bee keeping, mining, etc Does the council allocate tenders to women-owned businesses? For 2023 we target to increase the number and value of contracts allocated to women , PWD and youth by putting a caption regarding to them on our tender adverts. Grannies Nutrition Garden Ntabamhlope Ward 4 Lower Gweru

V. INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Land and housing Sex disaggregated data of land allocations for council & community beneficiaries. Council keeps sex disaggregated data on land allocations. Sex disaggregated data for housing allocations Council keeps sex disaggregated data on housing allocations. . Housing Allocations Proportion (%) Number Women 60 26% Men 165 74% Total 225 100% Water and sanitation Are there water committees? Yes Types of water and sanitation projects. Borehole repairs and rehabilitation Piped water schemes rehabilitation, repairs and extensions Toilet construction in households, business centres, schools and clinics How gender-responsive are these. We have 276 WASH committees 105 women (38%) 171 men (62%) Water Committees Number Chairpersons of Water Committees Vice Chairpersons of water committees 152 Women 105 105 Men 171 171 124 Total 276 276 276

VI. SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, HIV AND AIDS Evidence photos/videos of projects and imp How does the council promote SRHR? Provision of health facilities providing the SRHR services at accessible pIaces Outreach programmes by the implementing partners providing the SRHR services Providing free SRHR services (affordability) Do women, men, people living with disability, and youth have equal access to treatment. Yes. Though limited How has the council ensured that health/SRHR facilities are more accessible to these groups? The average distance from each citizen to the nearest clinic is 5 kms. Construction of Impala clinic in ward 1, Gatawa clinic in ward 2 and Riverdale clinic in ward 9 has reduced walking distance from citizens as well as maternal mortality by 60% How does the Council encourage or support Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) in schools? Ensuring that all schools have comprehensive sexuality education lessons offered by all the schools by the appropriately trained teachers. Ensuring that comprehensive sexuality education is time tabled by all the schools. An officer from JHWO co facilitating with an officer from Musasa during capacity building training of community facilitators on SRHR in the presence of Vungu rdc officials

VII. GENDER BASED VIOLENCE Include evidence here List key actions council has taken towards: Prevention Public awareness Response and coordination Support and empowerment Council facilitate by giving the implementing partners some MOUs to do programming against GBV in the district. Council has assisted the police with infrastructure for establishing police posts as to curb crimes prevalence. The police have established Police posts in areas like Insukamini, Maboleni, Somabhula, Lower Gwelo Mission, Muchakata and Meeting house where there was an outcry on GBV, rape, stock theft, murder etc. This initiative has reduced the number of GBV cases by 70%. However other posts are required in hard to reach areas like Torvo, North Shangani, Savanna, Ruby, and Ghoko plains. The Council also works with the NGOS to implement programmes such as the SASA which is a model to address GBV. Council participated in the 16 days campaign against GBV with partners like Jointed Hands Welfare organisation, Musasa, MASO, ZHI etc The campaigns had a big impact to the communities because during road shows there was high turnout of people coming to understand what GBV was all about. We had short plays were done on GBV so as to reach out to the people and after the short plays questions were asked and they were now sensitised on the negative effects on GBV and how it wrecks homes. A lot of cases were registered during these campaigns shoeing that people were now getting to understand what GBV is all about. Council is also working on the The Community Norms Change program under the DREAMS RISE project in seeking to addresses harmful cultural practices that fuel HIV and GBV among AGYW and promote practices that have a protective effect. It advocates for safe practices in trying to address the harmful practices that fuel HIV infections and gender-based violence. The community norms change component seeks to encourage boys and men to seek clinical services and to also access these services and contribute to creating a protective and safe environment for AGYW Left: An Officer from Musasa educates the community on the GBV referral pathway during the Roadshow campaign in ward 16 together with Vungu Rdc officials. Right: Assistant Inspector Mkwende encouraging the community to report GBV.

VIII. CLIMATE JUSTICE List the types of projects Irrigation schemes, Insukamini and London farm are examples for irrigation schemes where women, men and PWD are engaged in farming in order to earn a living. Irrigation alleviates water stress and reduces climate variability and extremes Afforestation__and reforestation Women, men and PWD are involved in these through nursing tree seedlings and later selling to the communities in order to earn a living. Trees absorb greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. Recycling through Community based organisations Women, men and PWDs are involved in collecting all recyclable materials such as plastic bottles and selling them thereby earning a living. Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emmissions that would lead to global warming. and include phots/videos of current projects. Does council have a climate change policy? No Examples of 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. How has the council adapted or mitigated against climate change?

IX. GENDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 1. What Gender structures exist in council- e.g. Gender focal persons, gender committee, gender champion? Council does not have a Gender standalone committee but it is incorporated into the Social services committee. Gender focal person is part of management and she is the Head of department for Social services which makes it easy to implement any new ideas on Gender issues so she has the power to influence decisions. The Gender Champion is Councillor Yeukai Paradza Photo 1. Is the council Gender Action Plan aligned to the Council s strategic plan? Yes Gender is written into the job descriptions of key functionaries. Yes How does the council monitor and evaluate gender? Through quarterly budget reviews meetings 2. 3. 4. 5.

X. GENDER RESPONSIVE BUDGETING Photo 1. Did the Council submit an entry in the GRB category? No 1. Has the Council drawn up a Gender Responsive Budget statement as per Ministry Guidelines? .the statement is yet to be drawn up since it s a mandatory requirement this year. All I can say is that our budget is going to be hundred percent gender responsible. We couldn t upload anything since we have not yet finished the budgeting process. 1. 2. . Nothing to showcase as the process is still ongoing No What are key highlights?

CHALLENGES . The challenges that we face are that some sections or departments that don t fully understand what a gender response budget is like and some of the information needed is not provided for in time but we continue to urge each other and assist and even request assistance from other hub councils and spokes. . There are some activities which when budgeted for don t get funding when its time for implementation because the finance people used not to give priority to gender activities. This has since been overcome by trainings motivated by gender links where treasures were called on to be sensitised and get short trainings on what gender is as well as understanding the importance of having GRB budget. What have been the main challenges? How have these been overcome?

LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION What lessons have been learned in the COE, hub and spoke process? They have empowered us in key gender concepts, democracy and governance; Improved our leadership qualities During exchange visits with Gokwe South we learnt that the Zimbabwe National Army can construct Infrastructure like clinics and schools. We then mobilised the army for the construction of Impala clinic in ward 1 They have assisted us in understanding the importance and synergies around gender, the economy and budgets; They have also informed us about the collection of good practices for addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) at the local level; They have assisted us with sustainable campaigns and case studies on GBV and empower GBV survivors with life skills, financial skills and mentoring opportunities that will ensure they have economic empowerment to better their lives. How are these being applied? During budget consultative meetings and reviews, GBV awareness campaigns, stakeholder meetings etc. . In the hub and spoke we share experiences and notes. If there are some councils encountering problems, the problems are discussed and solutions are proffered. . We get to see what other councils are doing and how they are doing it such that we get motivation to do like wise.

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION How can the COE, hub and spoke work be sustained within your organisation? By using the M and E model where data highlights the district situation and informs management on how and where to channel resources for appropriate interventions. For the programme to be sustainable, we need to budget for the meetings that we have as hub and spoke. We have a pool of funds were all councils in the hub contribute funds to the hub council, then those funds are used to fund Travelling and Subsistence and any other activities that we want to do as a group. For its sustainability council need to budget for such activities and they shall be monitored since they are being carried out timeously and because of funding we were not able to meet and only few meetings were conducted. Our hope is that if we continue sharing notes and having meetings , we will get to copy what others are doing and implements them as well.