Gender mainstreaming from the ground up: WFP Qobayat Office
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The document details an action research initiative by WFP and IDS focused on mainstreaming gender equality in WFP field programs. It outlines the implementation and effects of a safety net program introduced in 2013, examining its implications on fertility rates among vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and the elderly. Findings indicate that while safety net benefits were valued, they played a limited role in fertility decisions, highlighting the need for better gender-sensitive program design and data collection methods.
Gender mainstreaming from the ground up: WFP Qobayat Office
- 1. Innovations from the Field Gender mainstreaming from the ground up Phase 2 An IDS-WFP action research partnership, 2015-16
- 2. Aims of Innovations from the Field A WFP-IDS action learning initiative to •Understand what already works to mainstream gender equality in WFP field programmes, and where improvements are needed •Share that learning and knowledge effectively within WFP •Apply lessons to strengthen gender-responsive practice across WFP •Inform critical thinking on gender mainstreaming and contribute to better practice globally
- 3. Program description • Safety net was introduced in November 2013 when the e-cards were introduced and voucher system ended. As part of this system change the first exclusion process took place. To protect the most vulnerable WFP introduced a safety net • Pregnant women • Lactating women of <2 yrs old • Elderly • Non autonomous
- 4. Qobayat Sub-Office • What works? PAL question Qobayat office • What are the fertility effects of the safety program? • Relevance WFP needs to know what are the intended and unintended effects of its program • Gender? Pregnancy has different effects on men and boys and women and girls
- 5. Data needed • Increase or decrease in the number of pregnancies and live births after the introduction of the safety net • Increase or decrease in abortions • Changes in use of family planning • Fertility desires and choices and options • Period increased live birth can occur from august 2014 onwards until June 2016 • Increase in the number of pregnancy after 4 months February 2014
- 6. Quantitative data • PDM data cannot answer question on increase or decrease in the number of pregnancies and live births because it only registers the eligible not the excluded people who are in the safety net • Sex and age not consistently recorded • Verification includes both eligible and not-eligible people but registers <5 yrs. We cannot know if there is a new born • UNHCR collects data but raw data not shared • Analysis of data of 1000 HH incomplete and sts • No data on increase or decrease in abortions as it is illegal
- 7. Qualitative data collected to complement PDM Focus groups discussions •Selection criteria: 1) people who were eligible for safety net and food assistance from WFP before the exclusion and had arrived in 2012 or 2013 2) People who had arrived after 2013 and are eligible for food assistance from WFP •Location: 1) Bire town Municipal building /Akkar district. refugees know this building, it is near and they can walk there 2) Halba town Social Development Centre (SDC)/Akkar district refugees know this building, it is near and they can walk there 3) Mina town, handicap international forum meeting/Tripoli district refugees know this building,it is near and they can walk there. •3 FGDs with women: One with 11 and one with 12 and one with 13 participants (36 total) 3 FGDs with men: One with 11 and one with 9 and one with 13 participants (33 total)
- 8. Qualitative data continued • 2 UNHCR female volunteers one eligible the other not eligible. Both refugee outreach volunteers involved in community work, familiar with community who arrived <2013 • 1 widow, mother 3 girls living in an informal settlement • 2 male chawich, political leader • 3 Male refugee, met in UNHCR when they were here to renew their file, eligible
- 9. Findings: Fertility desires and pressures • People want children for many reasons To continue the family, because children are part of life of being human, to replace personal and collective losses, to help in life. These are not related to the safety net. • All children are equally welcome. Individual respondents have slight preference for boy because they need less protection and are financially more independent, boys and girls can go to school but higher risk for girls to go to school in afternoon • Fertility pressures. Infertility is stigmatizing, causes tension, psychological problems especially for women reason for marrying second wife
- 10. Findings: Fertility planning and choices • People are more careful about having children due to their refugee status. • Plan families using contraceptive pills, IUD and, natural contraceptives/rhythm methods. Condom use low. IUD in hospital or clinic pills from pharmacy. Abortion not acceptable only when life of mother in danger • Illegal abortions take place in private clinics • Ultrasound available but not easily accessible due to cost (33 USD) limited to high risk pregnancy • Access to services –all services including family planning, renewal of papers and distribution- is reduced due to diminished mobility and problems at checkpoints as a result of difficulties with renewing papers. • Access to services, also impaired due to lower income for men. When women work their labour conditions are insecure.
- 11. Findings: Safety net • SSN was important for the elderly, “non-autonomous” persons who cannot work. Less so for pregnant women. SSN reduced overall pressure on men to generate income • Only two people said they did get pregnant because of the SSN benefits and they wanted children. They had to share the benefits with the whole family. • Nobody felt the SSN alone determined pregnancy decisions. The amount received is very low, compared to high children expenses and responsibilities. Pregnancy decisions are based on many factors, overall income is one.
- 12. Findings: Safety net • Cutting off SSN increased stress on couple when they had a young child or non-working members • Three women said SSN played role in abortion • People felt SSN were valuable but poorly managed. They felt exclusion was decision against them as a person. Special concern about the elderly. • “People over 60 will feel useless and a burden to the family” (male respondent, IDI)
- 13. Findings: effect of SSN on fertility rate • None of the respondents thought the SSN was the main reason for pregnancy decisions • Low income and insecurity about the future affect people’s fertility decisions but not their desires to have a family and children • “ I will not get a newborn for an extra 13 dollar per month” male respondent FGD Bire
- 14. Lessons learned • Assumption about the safety net causing women to become pregnant are short sighted. There are no quantitative data to prove it. Qualitative data show that safety net plays very small –if any role in fertility decisions. • Safety net has gendered effects on men and women. Cuts affect the whole family • PDM data need to be analysed and complemented with qualitative data to be useful for program design –including gender sensitive program design and M &E. • Gender focal points can play important role in improving the overall M&E of WFP.
- 15. Identify program action WFP Consider SSN for the elderly and people who cannot work Collaborate with other agencies and NGO working on sexual and reproductive health such as UNFPA, STC etc. Suggestions include: – Attend relevant meetings such as health, GBV to share information and not try to collect everything – Set up referrals for family planning WFP Program -Allocate time and increase authority for gender focal points especially for M&E that informs programs -Use PAL to systematically mainstream gender in program M&E and design -Empower monitors to give quick feedback from on the ground to the management –including on gender. -Reciprocal feedback systems; share information from regional office
- 16. Finalize analysis and documentation • Ppt for global learning meeting in May • Two pages write up • Regional conference on PAL in WFP Lebanon