DCDPRO DrVerloo

Learning from experiences: the Dutch model of gender impact assessment and gender mainstreaming: 

Learning from experiences: the Dutch model of gender impact assessment and gender mainstreaming Breakfast Seminar Mieke Verloo 3 May 2006

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment:how it started: 

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment: how it started Window of opportunity Joint venture academics and femocrats

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment Why?: 

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment Why? Policies are not gender neutral, they are a crucial part of the gendering of our societies Gender impact assessment aims to intervene and redirect policies so that they work towards gender equality rather than perpetuate unequal power relations

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment When?: 

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment When? If interventions in policy making are to be successful, they have to be done in the early stages Informed choice when to apply EER would be needed, but only voluntary use was politically feasible

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment How?: 

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment How? Conceptual model Clarifies what the problem of gender inequality is: a problem of power relations Clarifies where to look for this problem: in labour, intimacy and citizenship Clarifies how these power relations work: through material and discursive mechanisms Clarifies what should be criteria: equality, autonomy and pluriformity

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment How?: 

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment How? Intervention in the policy cycle Looks at current gender relations in the field of a certain policy proposal Assesses the difference the proposal will make Proposes alternatives

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment Who? : 

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment Who? Different possibilities in different contexts Regular actors: civil servants Outsourcing: hiring gender experts Joint ventures

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment Intended results: 

EER: the Dutch design of gender impact assessment Intended results Redirecting policies so that they work towards gender equality Improving the quality of policy making Improving the quality of democracy

EER in practice: 10 years of experience: 

EER in practice: 10 years of experience Random and limited use In 10 years 21 EERs across 7 Ministries Not always in the early stages of policy making

EER in practice: 10 years of experience: 

EER in practice: 10 years of experience Insufficient quality of some EERs Lack of standing of the instrument Lack of impact of results

EER in practice: 10 years of experience: 

EER in practice: 10 years of experience Not only problems: Some success in terms of impact What determines success? [and failure] Political opportunities Mobilizing networks Fit between frames

Lessons to learn from the experiences with EER in practice: process: 

Lessons to learn from the experiences with EER in practice: process Installing an instrument in a liquid bureaucracy is almost impossible Resources are important, and there is often too little of them Role of entrepreneurs is crucial Role of mobilizing networks overlooked in Nl

Lessons to learn from the experiences with EER in practice: design: 

Lessons to learn from the experiences with EER in practice: design Resistance to be expected as civil servants are convinced of the gender neutrality of their work Deep understanding of gender(ing) processes needed

Lessons to learn from the experiences with EER in practice: context matters: 

Lessons to learn from the experiences with EER in practice: context matters Can the Dutch experience travel? How are political opportunities? How are mobilizing networks? How do frames of gender and power fit with dominant frames? How liquid are the bureaucracies?

The Dutch EER: an approach looking for more chances: 

The Dutch EER: an approach looking for more chances Conceptual framework can be adapted to context, but link to power analysis needs to be secured Just a pilot is not enough, installing GIA firmly in the policy process is needed If civil servants are convinced of the gender neutrality of their work, there will be ongoing resistance Doing GIA requires expertise, and ongoing independent monitoring

Slide16: 

Looking forward to your questions!