【IC Net Limited】Exploring together - Developing together

Transport and Gender: “Integrating Transport into World Bank Financed Transport Programs, Component 1”

IC Net conducted the case study of “Integrating Transport into World Bank Financed Transport Programs”, supported by the JCTF (Japan Consultant Trust Fund) of the World Bank from December 2001 to June 2003. It functioned as the lead company in the cooperation with two British organizations: TRL (Transport Research Laboratory), a transport-specialized consulting firm; and IFRTD (International Forum for Rural Transport and Development), a NGO specializing in rural transportation and development.

As of 2003, the World Bank supported transport projects in 104 countries. This study selected 10 cases that addressed and seemed particularly useful to gender concerns, summed up the results in a common format, and aimed to provide gender perspectives for ongoing and prospective projects. The 10 cases were selected from the applications by local consultants. The selected local consultants implemented the case study, and IC Net, TRL, and IFRTD summarized the results. In the end, the selected cases were two in Bangladesh, and one each in China, Laos, Lesotho, Peru, Senegal, Uganda, Vietnam and South Africa, respectively.

Transport and Gender: “Integrating Gender into World Bank Financed Transport Programs, Component 2”

In order to disseminate the study results of “Transport and Gender” supported by the JCTF (Japan Consultant Trust Fund) of the World Bank from 2001 to 2003, the Component 2 developed training programs and teaching materials for the transport sector’s stakeholders. The teaching materials consisted of a trainer’s guide, presentation slides, a documentary video and handouts for participants, all of which were expected to be used widely through the World Bank’s website. Dissemination workshops were held in Laos (August 2004) and Uganda (November 2004) to verify the effectiveness of the materials.

In consideration of worldwide usage, the teaching materials included gender analysis, a regular part of gender training, as a main item so that local facilitators would be able to adjust them to suit their own cultures and social conditions and help enhance the participants’ understanding of gender perspectives.

Project on Gender Mainstreaming and Policy Development: Gender Responsive Policy Analysis

The Project on Gender Mainstreaming and Policy Development in Cambodia started in April 2003. The C/P of this project was the Ministry of Women of Cambodia. The purpose of this project was to improve the capacity for incorporating a gender point of view in all aspects of policy development including policy analysis, recommendation, implementation and monitoring. The project focused on the field of economic empowerment and performed activities for staff members of the following five related ministries: Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Rural Development; Commerce; Industry Mines and Energy; and Labor and Vocational Training. Although gender policy analysis has been tried in a series of workshops, it has not been firmly established as a method. Consequently, the IC Net consultant was dispatched as a short-term expert and developed a method of policy analysis from a gender point of view. The IC Net consultant identified a hidden gender issue within problem analysis in the existing PCM methodology and established a method of adding gender-related activities to the existing activities. The IC Net consultant developed visual educational materials and a training module. The C/P mastered the skill to incorporate a gender perspective in policy analysis and facilitate workshops in the other five ministries.

Capacity Building of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs of Afghanistan for Reconstruction and Development

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs is only three years old and lacks a capacity to formulate and put forward policy recommendations and engage in advocacy. An IC Net consultant supported capacity building of the ministry as a JICA expert from September 2002 to June 2004. Due to the high marks she received, the ADB Afghanistan office asked her to work as a policy and planning advisor/team leader in this project. Main activities of the project are: (1) support to structural reform of the ministry; (2) support to improvement of the capacity to collect information and conduct studies through joint implementation of a study on the social and economic situation of women, (3) revision and strengthening of the administrative and financial systems of the ministry; and (4) support to the minister and vice minister in formulating policies. The consultant’s duties include managing and maintaining a project team which includes another international consultant, three local consultants and two support staff members. In addition, the IC Net consultant needs to train the Afghan consultants of varying abilities. The challenge lies in supervising the entire team.