1 / 14

Promoting gender-sensitive entrepreneurship via microfinance institutions

This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab

menefer
Download Presentation

Promoting gender-sensitive entrepreneurship via microfinance institutions

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation • In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button • Select “Meeting Minder” • Select the “Action Items” tab • Type in action items as they come up • Click OK to dismiss this box • This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered. Promoting gender-sensitive entrepreneurship via microfinance institutions Una Murray FAO, March 8th 2005

  2. Whether programmes, policies and services are appropriate Gender issues in the actual organisational structure Gender sensitivity in MFIsconsider… Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  3. Whether programmes, policies and service are appropriate in HIV/AIDS prevalent areas HIV/AIDS within the workplace & policies for dealing with HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS and MFIsconsider… Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  4. Acknowledge gender based diff. • E.g. home based, family labour, start smaller, network, lacking different skills Gender sensitivewhat does it mean? • Puts the onus on the MFI itself • How diff. affect entrepreneurial activities • Relative business conditions of wo/men • A focus also on women “catching up” Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  5. Promoting gender sensitive entrepreneurship • The approach must suit culture – e.g. Buddhist philosophy, Islamic banking principles • Remember women clients not all the same- different needs for different categories of women e.g Philippines • Aim to ensure needs, constraints & concerns are addressed in service delivery -listening skills • Working in HIV area – which products? • Still should be a strong emphasis on women’s access to services Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  6. Promoting gender sensitive entrepreneurship • Build confidence to diversify products, study tours • Strength groups, networks, negotiation, quality control, discussing business ideas, registration…. • Involve in decision making processes in MFI – quotas? rotating committee members of MFI? • Which skills are required for committee members? book-keeping, time saving • Evening sessions more suitable for women? Or men? Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  7. Monitoring progress E.g. balanced score card women’s involvement 1 of 10 KPIs Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  8. Sensitivity of MFI staff • Commitment of MFI leadership is key • Attitude + mentality shift – how do staff view typical client (e.g. APB Lao & mini-hatcheries) • Observe gender differences • Short gender sensitisation sessions effective • Sensitising sessions on HIV (DAI) • Stress improvements in service delivery when staff are gender aware. Mainstreaming gender without a paddle! Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  9. Simple gender(or HIV) policy statement • Link with national commitments • What MFI aims to achieve and why • Strategies to implement policy • Sex disagg data + analysis • Representation of women • Emphasis on non-traditional business ideas • Provide linkages to BDS • Clear outputs e.g. • Increasing satisfaction with service provision by both women & men • Improved ratios of staff in mgt Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  10. Gender sensitive language in communications • Powerful tool for describing reality • Communicates..to all involved down the line • ‘neutral terms’ youth, end users, farmer.. “& women” at end of list? • Regular updates, bulletins, short case studies sent out to staff • Clearly identify in publications as a gender/HIV sensitive institution Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  11. Creating a gender sensitive culture within MFI • Acknowledge difficulty MF officers face to reach targets & also work on other social issues • Clear job descriptions are required, specify gender analysis skills required, link to performance appraisal • Use female MFI officers where appropriate • New positions & induction into the culture of the MFI Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  12. Financial resources for promotion gender sensitive MF • MFI strives to be $ sustainable => limited resources for staff training, data analysis… • Offset against being a dynamic learning organisation • Depends on donors & their commitment to monitoring gender issues • Consider costs of info; plan carefully; how will info be used? Who will do analysis? • Link to other service providers IMAGE Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  13. Sharing good practices • Showcase women who were successful when given opportunities • MF has shown that women are effective managers in MFIs • Share lessons learned Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

  14. Thank youHappy International Women’s Day! Una Murray: gender & dev consultant

More Related