What role do gender dimensions play in post-conflict reconstruction (PCR)? Policymakers have largely been slow to employ gender analysis and focus. This paper proposes a framework of three interrelated gender dimensions to help develop more effective approaches to PCR: (i)women-focused activities, (ii)gender-aware programming, and (iii)strategic attention to transforming gender relations in order to heal trauma, build social capital and avoid further violence. Policies aimed at achieving gender equality may be instrumental for achieving sustainable peace.
PCR policies and programmes typically fail to include women effectively or to reflect gender dynamics in their design and implementation. Women’s rights-focused activities are usually under-funded. Donors sometimes inadvertently promote gender inequality, for example, by not including women in programmes for ex-combatants.
To address such issues, three dimensions should be considered:
- Dimension One – Women-focused activities: This covers three potential situations: (1) where gender analyses reveal disparities of need or opportunity that affect women, their families and post-conflict PPP overall; (2) where building anew after conflict presents opportunities to focus purposefully on pre-conflict inequalities; and (3) where investment in women’s capabilities may contribute to the post-conflict agenda.
- Dimension two – Gender mainstreaming: This involves systematically identifying and addressing gender issues that may obstruct or improve efforts to build peaceful and prosperous post-conflict societies. Though predicated on improving women’s contributions and participation, or on recognising how gender roles and relations may affect policy implementation, the analytical dimension of gender mainstreaming may strengthen macroeconomic and microeconomic development activities.
- For macroeconomic policies, the most urgent issue is when they may have disparate impacts on women and men (as well as on rural and urban, poor and rich, and different ethnic groups).
- Microeconomic activities tend to raise issues regarding the beneficiaries of resources, human capital investment and opportunities – and of how women and men may, or may not, relate effectively with within them.
- Dimension three – Gender role transformation: This dimension addresses gender factors in conflict’s traumas, rebuilding social capital, and preventing violence in order to achieve sustainable peace. For example, if policies address families as economic units, they may build on women’s war-time economic experiences, provide men with skills they lack, and model the sharing of responsibilities. This dimension requires attention to the psycho-social difficulties of reintegration and rebuilding trust.
Policymakers need to consider the inclusion of gender dimensions as strategic and incorporate gender analysis into all post-conflict analysis and policy or project design. Focusing on disparities is not ancillary or optional but should be a priority and an integral component within strategies for building peace, participation and prosperity. Policymakers should also:
- Address women’s rights, particularly the rights to: (i) participate fully and effectively in decision-making, particularly political; (ii) own property, including housing, land, and other assets; (iii) work without discrimination in hiring, benefits, promotion or firing; and (iv) live free from violence.
- Purposefully design programmes to change ways in which people relate to one another.
- Ensure that collected data is always sex-disaggregated data – to see what works for men and women.
- Dedicate resources to help understand gender within different cultures and societies and develop a base for gender equality.
- Ensure that all project proposals address gender opportunities or barriers and outline the gender focus of programmes.
- Track actual expenditures against gender equality promises.
