Equity and mainstreaming
DevArt is an equity sensitive company that is aligned to gender harmony, special interest group (including youth and persons with disabilities) affirmative action and policy-related work. We have grounded expertise and experience in gender and disability mainstreaming research, training and policy development among other related consultancy services. DevArt has a rich team of experts in gender and disability mainstreaming as well as youth empowerment with decades of experience in affirmative action, advocacy, policy development and implementation at all levels. We integrate our equity-based values with regulatory, policy and global best practice positions to help our clients go beyond mere legal compliance towards embedding equity principles/values in their ideologies helping them to move towards equity profile maturity. Equity and mainstreaming matters are anchored in Article 1 of the UN’s founding Charter “To achieve international co-operation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion” among other national and international legal and policy frameworks.
Gender Mainstreaming
Gender mainstreaming is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, policy or programme, in all areas and at all levels before any decisions are made and throughout the whole process. It is a strategy for making women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes so that both women and men benefit and inequality is not perpetuated. According to the UN Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality of rights and opportunities between men and women. It is therefore of paramount importance to end all forms of gender violence and secure equal access to quality education, health, economic resources and participation in political life for women and men. It is also essential to ensure equal opportunities for access to employment and to positions of leadership and decision-making at all levels. Gender mainstreaming is not a goal in itself but an approach for promoting gender equity through;
i. Gender analysis: The process must start by analyzing the gender equality situation in the given context and identify the expected results in terms of strengthened gender equality.
ii. Identify how: Based on the gender analysis, identify relevant areas for collaboration, the approach to use and how to reach the expected results.
iii. Three main approaches: These may be implemented separately or in combination:
a. Integration of gender equality in interventions in general
b. Targeting specific groups or issues through special interventions
c. Dialogue with partners on gender-sensitive issues.
The three main approaches are all equally relevant and important to mainstreaming strategy and can be used together or separately. Gender mainstreaming is the responsibility of all members of the community especially leaders. To ensure that the perspectives of women and men and the relationships between and among them, are considered and acted upon throughout the cooperation process. We appreciate the fact that different contexts require different actions and enable different means. Consequently, we develop integrated, cultural context sensitive gender mainstreaming solutions based on the understanding that a single standard mainstreaming requirement for all interventions may not suffice. Gender mainstreaming is a method and technical approach to ensure a process of change that is dependent on cultural realignment, political goodwill, leadership and an appropriate policy environment. A gender analysis should include social variables such as ethnicity, culture, age and social class. Information on women and men in terms of their division of labour, roles and responsibilities, productive and reproductive work, access to and control over resources and their relative condition and position in society. It also involves looking at other norms for how gender may be expressed including norms relating to sexuality and identity. The National Commission on Gender and Development Act 2003 provides the framework for mainstreaming gender in all sectors, pledges to enforce a policy of equal opportunities, and stipulate measures for gender mainstreaming in Kenya.
The Government is a signatory to International Protocols relating to gender mainstreaming, including Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 1979, United Nations Declaration of Violence against Women 1993, Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action (1995), United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000 as well as goals of the African Union. All these documents reiterate the need to eliminate all forms of discrimination, promote gender equality, gender inclusion and empowerment. The documents also set goals and targets for achievement. DevArt utilises a methodological framework for gender mainstreaming assessment and gender equity establishment anchored in applicable national and international conventions/best practices. This framework is anchored in the five principles of Gender-sensitive language; Gender-specific data collection and analysis; Equal access to and utilisation of services; Equally involving women and men in decision making; and Integrating equal treatment into steering processes.
Disability Mainstreaming
It is estimated that about 10% of the close to 7 billion global population (700 million) comprises of persons with disabilities (PWDs). It is also estimated that about 80% of PWDs live in developing countries where poverty levels are high. Given that PWDs represent a significant segment of the population, it is only fair that they are integrated into all areas of development in order to achieve both local and international development goals. The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) notes that 98% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not have access to education and that women with disabilities experience double discrimination, first as women and then as PWDs. Moreover, PWDs have little or no access to health care services.
Therefore, there is a need to provide all services and information in formats accessible to persons with varying forms of disabilities. Environmental suitability concerns are particularly important to PWDs and hence the need to address the issue of infrastructure among others. Disability mainstreaming is the process of integrating the formerly segregated and/or stigmatised issues and people into ‘mainstream’ society and development programmes and out of the welfare department. It is a strategy through which concerns, needs and experiences of persons with disabilities are made an integral part or dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that persons with disabilities benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. Simply put, this means promoting the full inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in society. We are a special groups interest firm and help organisations and communities see disability inclusion issues from a human and policy appraised position. We then help them develop policies, programmes
Youth and Children Empowerment
Youth and children constitute close to 51% of the global population, despite this, their voice in and contribution to global governance and economy is still very low. Additionally, human rights violations and abuses targeted against youth and children are disproportionately high compared to their numbers. This calls for an increased focus on addressing obstacles to children and youth participation in development. The obstacles of today will become the barriers of tomorrow. We help society to identify the obstacles and create structures that help youth to overcome them today so that they do not become barriers to their effective participation in development tomorrow. Youth empowerment is a process through or by which children and young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives. Youth Empowerment is meant to establish an environment and effective platforms where youth may exercise authentic participation and pursuit their own visions, dreams, hopes, and concerns pertaining to development and overall well-being. The programme activities are grounded on the fundamental evidence that if young people have sufficient incomes and resources to sustain productive lives, they can generate an economic opportunity and contribute to the wider good and care for others.
Our interventions work towards building environments ensure that the policies and programmes produce empowered youth who become drivers of change by promoting them to realize their maximum potential as citizens and as economic subjects and ensuring youth transition well into adulthood with the skills, capacities and sustainable livelihoods. The idea is to ensure the effective participation of youth in socio-economic and political spheres of life and to mentor current generations of youth as well as raising future change agents through responsible parenting. We encourage advocacy for quality implementation of national youth policies and the promotion of social accountability between young citizens and duty bearers. We use diverse Youth Empowerment programmes to provide a range of mechanisms and platforms where youth exercise authentic participation, voice up their concerns and share their dreams. Youth empowerment differs from youth development which is centred on developing individuals, while empowerment is focused on creating greater community change through the development of individual capacity.
Youth empowerment examines six interdependent dimensions: psychological, community, organizational, economic, social and cultural. Psychological empowerment enhances an individual’s consciousness, belief in self-efficacy, awareness and knowledge of problems and solutions and of how individuals can address problems that harm their quality of life. This dimension aims to create self-confidence and give youth the skills to acquire knowledge. Community empowerment focuses on enhancing the community through leadership development, improving communication and creating a network of support to mobilize the community to address concerns. Organizational empowerment aims to create a base of resources for a community, including voluntary organizations, unions and associations that aim to protect, promote and advocate for the powerless. Economic empowerment teaches entrepreneurial skills, how to take ownership of their assets and how to have income security. Social empowerment teaches youth about social inclusion and literacy as well as helping kids find the resources to be proactive in their communities. Cultural empowerment aims to recreate cultural practices and redefine cultural rules and norms for youth. Through these dimensions of empowerment, programs can work on empowering youth in one or more aspects of their lives.
We help organisations and communities design and implement Youth empowerment programs aimed at creating healthier and higher qualities of life for underprivileged or at-risk youth modelled around the five competencies of a healthy youth: Positive sense of self; self- control; decision-making skills; a moral system of belief; and pro-social connectedness. The underlying motivation of YE developmental interventions and programs is to define positive outcomes of healthy youth and create positive developmental settings that promote youth competence, confidence and connections. The positive developmental youth settings entail supportive relationships and support for efficacy/mattering. Supportive relationships foster trust and respect between youth and non-familial adults while support for efficacy and mattering specifically focuses on youth being active, instrumental agents of change in their communities, collective decision-making and adults listen to and respect their voice.