GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

Indigenous, Local Women at Forefront of Defending Environment, Community Development

admin_samdhana — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 09:44:35 +0000

Indigenous, Local Women at Forefront of Defending Environment, Community Development admin_samdhana Fri, 10/07/2022 - 16:44

In 24 indigenous and local communities in the Philippines, women are at the forefront of facilitating efforts that address pressing community issues and vulnerabilities, especially on defending the environment.

Through the Women Environmental Defenders (WE-Defend) program, Samdhana supports Cohorts—-individuals who have had long years and experience in leading their community, and Fellows—-individuals who are taking up the challenge and stepping in as next generation leaders, to learn and practice new skills in pursuit of their respective communities’ goals.

The 12-month program also provides them the opportunity to interact and exchange stories and ideas with other women environmental defenders from across the country, so that together they may reflect on their collective experiences, and gain fresh insights that will enrich their individual capacities and that of their community network.

Each of the Cohorts and Fellows is provided micro grants to implement their personal and community projects through a period of six to eight months. A number of the emerging leaders will undergo internship in other fields, like that in media, legal practice and research to further advance their leadership skills and capacities.

Samdhana welcomed the first batch of eight Cohorts and 16 Fellows during the program’s launch last May 29 to June 2, 2022 in Lantapan, Bukidnon. They come from 11 tribes/ ethnicities, namely, Tala-andig, Higaonon, Subanen, Blaan, Agusanon Manobo, Menuvu Kerintiken, Calamian Tagbanwa, Bisaya, Bukidnon, Tboli-Blaan, and Dibabawon.

In discussions about their community struggle, the Cohorts and Fellows acknowledged that being in the frontline is never easy, especially as the concern of protecting the environment is normally a gargantuan issue.

But Marcela Octaviano, 52, a Tboli-Blaan Cohort from Koronadal City, South Cotabato, is optimistic “feminine energy and women’s innate capacity” will be their asset in making a difference for their communities.

“Women are gifted with the competence to nurture every member of the community, rooted in their experiences to heal and provide and care for life,” Octaviano said.

This post was written by Sabrina Balais & Samdhana KMRD Team

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CLIMATE CHANGE

GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

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Fri, 10/07/2022 - 12:00

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Participants of the Women Environmental Defenders (WE-Defend) program's launch last May 29 to June 2, 2022 in Lantapan, Bukidnon. (SAMDHANA)

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Samdhana Participation in W20

admin_samdhana — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 02:28:51 +0000

Samdhana Participation in W20 admin_samdhana Tue, 07/19/2022 - 09:28

Women20 (W20) held the third meeting in Manokwari, West Papua on Thursday (8/6) and Friday (8/6). This meeting raised the themes of rural women, women with disabilities, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Samdhana, as part of a development partner in West Papua, is committed to supporting the event.

In collaboration with Balitbangda West Papua and Inspirational Young Papua (PMI), Samdhana facilitated the presence of four participants who were part of the MSME group and village women activists in Sorong and Raja Ampat. Samdhana also facilitateding an exhibition booth for Papuan women's products at W20.

The four participants included Febri Wally and Mama Meriyones Fami from Noken Art Center Village, Sorong Regency; Yuning Fonataba from the Yufon Raja Ampat Gallery, Waisai Raja Ampat; and Frorida Reba from the Papua Design Gallery, Sorong City.

On this occasion, the four participants also participated in a series of W-20 events, such as discussions and field visits.

Besides presenting female figures of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in West Papua, Samdhana also held a talk show with the theme of "Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights of Papuan Women as Pillars of the Family Economy".

The results of this discussion highlights that women have big role in family economy. The initiatives carried out by the Papuan community and women have made a significant contribution to the income and economic resilience of the family.

This is evidenced by the existence of studios and socio-cultural movements that become a forum for channeling the spirit, stories, and hopes of Papuan women, with various dynamics of social issues in them.

For example, the Yufon Raja Ampat Studio. This is a place for learning and connecting the coastal communities of Raja Ampat with young women with an unintended pregnancy. Then, there is Noken Village Studio in Sorong which has become a home for Moi’s women, especially widows and victims of domestic violence, in order to strengthen the family's economic resilience.

Currently, these studios operate with different business models and tend to market their products in their respective homes. BI (Bank Indonesia), together with the West Papua Dekranasda, is interested in establishing cooperation and networking for the development of MSMEs based on traditional products. Business incubation will be an important part of it. This is certainly an opportunity for groups of women who belong to are small and medium enterprises to get support, "said Yunus Yumte, Samdhana Program Officer in West Papua.

It didn't stop there. Samdhana's support in W20 activities was also given to Yonnece Demetouw from the Menoken (Nokener) Domberai community. She is the facilitator who mobilized community products to be displayed in the exhibition on 9th– 12th June 2022.

At this event, the booth of the Menoken (Nokener) community was visited by the Acting Governor of West Papua, Komjen Pol (Ret.) Paul Waterpauw. He also discussed it directly with Yonece Demetouw.

This article was uploaded on Samdhana blog: "Partisipasi Perempuan Papua dalam W20 di Manokwari"

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

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Papuan women's delegation attended the W-20 activity. In addition to the exhibition of community processed products, they also participated in the whole series of W-20 delegation engagements, 8-9 June 2022

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Nurturing Women Environmental Defenders

admin_samdhana — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:23:24 +0000

Nurturing Women Environmental Defenders admin_samdhana Mon, 04/04/2022 - 07:23

In 2021, the Philippines was identified as the deadliest country in Asia and 3rd in the world for environmental defenders, with women facing unique vulnerabilities and even graver threats. Women bear the burdens of environmental destruction when their homes and livelihoods, their sources of clean water, food and medicine are gravely affected or lost.

Samdhana Institute is currently implementing the project “Nurturing Indigenous and Local Women Environmental Defenders”.

The project will support twenty-three (23) indigenous and local women environmental defenders (WEDs) in the Philippines to participate in the Cohort and Fellowship Program. Through this program, WEDs will be able to engage in meaningful and unique opportunities for learning and practicing new skills, reflection and retreat, and interaction and exchange with women defenders in other sectors to strengthen their networks. They will be supported to implement their own community projects through a period of 6-8-months.

Application to the WED Cohort and Fellowship Program is now open. Click this link and download the files for more information.

W-D Aplication Form

W-D Aplication Form Details

#nurturinggeneration

#KatutuboKalikasanAtKatatagan

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

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WE-D APPLICATION FORM-v2.pdf

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Wed, 03/02/2022 - 12:00

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Application to the WED Cohort and Fellowship Program is now open

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Menoken in Tanah Timor: Building Youth Leaders in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) for a brighter future and resilient community

admin_samdhana — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 06:35:09 +0000

Menoken in Tanah Timor: Building Youth Leaders in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) for a brighter future and resilient community admin_samdhana Mon, 12/27/2021 - 13:35

As part of its ongoing commitment to foster unity to foster unity in diversity throughout Indonesia the Menoken journey recently travelled to the districts of South-Central Timor, with the aim of strengthening networks, sharing ideas for the protection and preservation of the environment. With theme of Menoken in Tanah Timor, the menoken putting special focus on the younger generation to be the next leader, this initiative was supported by a number of communities from outside East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

On Tuesday, 24 August 2021, Menoken in Tanah Timor, brought together community members, local officials and representatives, to discuss plans for environmental protection in the two locations. A key theme of the Menoken in Tanah Timor, was how the youth could lead the way in these initiatives, thereby planting the seed of a long-term, sustainable approach to community-led conservation.

Menoken in Tanah Timor was opened by local Regent Korinus Masneno, who reiterated the importance of cooperation and solidarity, especially in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. He added that this social support network must also be leveraged for the good of the environment.

“Facing the threat of environmental damage in the next 50-100 years, the children and youth of Timor today need to be prepared,” said Masneno in his opening remarks. “They must understand the threat of environmental damage and its impact on life in the future,” he added.

Various other speakers went on to highlight the vital role that children will play in the future of their communities and the stability of their environment; essentially, that tomorrow’s world will be designed and built by the children of today.

With that in mind, Menoken in Tanah Timor is supporting activities that will nurture the younger generation’s love of nature. The Menoken in Tanah Timor was also set out in Manusak Nature School in Kupang Regency, where children aged 2-5 years are encouraged to engage with nature, while also learning how and why it must be protected. Here, students learn to plant trees, to use water more sustainably, and how to properly care for the land without resorting to slash and burn.

The Menoken in Manusak Nature School was held over three days and attended by around 50 local representatives of the local community. This included children with disabilities, the Secangkir Koppi literacy community, Film Kupang, the NTT Language Ambassadors, Rumah Mentari, Kopi Kaoem, and the Mama Aleta Fund Foundation.

"Menoken activities always prioritise friendship,” explained the founder of the Beta Solusi Rumah Foundation. “We focus on getting together, camping, cooking and eating as a group, exchanging stories and knowledge, singing and enjoying cultural arts together," he added. Samdhana has conceived events such as these to build solidarity and pride in traditional knowledge, while also mobilising action for positive causes.

Deputy Chairman of the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago, Abdon Nababan, also noted that in NTT and many other areas of Indonesia, environmental damage is often the result of mismanagement by policy makers. “Fires are a common problem because the forest is dry and being degraded due to human activities,” explained Abdon during the meeting. “Everyone in the area has a responsibility to work together and reduce the risk of forest fires,” he added.

Many speakers were of the opinion that the current model of state control over the environment will ultimately lead to its destruction through exploitation. They request greater cooperation between Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) and elected officials, to ensure contracts for natural resources are not issued without prior consultation with those who live on the land. The Noken meetings reaffirmed that, in order to be managed effectively and protected for future generations, responsibility for the environment must be returned to Indigenous Peoples.

The local government in Kupang views nature schools as an essential part of children’s upbringing in the district. To show their support for the Manusak Alam School, the Kupang Regency Government recently helped to repair the trail that leads to its entrance, while also providing seedlings of fruit trees and bamboo in collaboration with the RSBI Foundation.

The Noken events in Kupang and Timor re-established ties between communities and offered hope for the future. The most positive output of the events was the involvement of the young people themselves. Several young champions were identified in each location, who will now take up the challenge of building solidarity through environmentalism in their communities and friendship groups.

To that end, Rian, Eu, Syair and Nong from the Secangkir Koppi community will document and publish poetry, books and stories about Menoken in Tana Timor; Esther and Tesa, from the Soke Felakdale Community, plan to open a gallery and coffee shop; Heru, from the Kupang Film Community, will make films that can help educate the community; and a group of youngsters from the Manusak Nature School Community plan to set up more nature schools on other islands, where coffee corners and online edu-ecotourism can spark a youth-led environmental movement.

Following the Noken meetings, various other youth groups resolved to tackle the issues faced by their communities, including land rights in customary areas, building relationships between differently abled groups, preserving and celebrating traditional arts and supporting gender equality and the protection of children throughout Timor and Kupang. Together, and with the support of the Samdhana Institute, these youth groups offer a glimpse of a brighter, green and more united future.

*Source of article: Menoken meeting notes; OELAMASI Kompas, 24/8/21

About Noken

"Noken" is a woven fabric that’s common in Papua, Indonesia. Used for knitted bags and other daily handicrafts, the fabric has many applications and great cultural significance; it is a symbol of traditional knowledge, new life, hope and communal spirit.

Inspired by this ubiquitous fabric, the Noken programme has created a strong network of communities, united by a common cause and linked together through various complementary activities. These activities relate to the rights of IPLCs, economic development, sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty and environmental sustainability.

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

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Fri, 12/24/2021 - 12:00

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Eu and Syair from the Secangkir Koppi community sharing knowledge with sign language. (SAMDHANA/Anggit)

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Mbok Denik: "Being Different is Not Wrong"

admin_samdhana — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 23:38:54 +0000

Mbok Denik: "Being Different is Not Wrong" admin_samdhana Fri, 03/26/2021 - 06:38

"Denik, stands for Made Cenik or the youngest Made,[1] in short Denik" said Mbok Denik explaining the origin of her nickname. Ni Made Puriati was born in Mengwi, Bali, and came from a family of farmers and construction workers. As the youngest of four children, she also has six cousins living in a household called Kempaon, consisting of eight women and three men. Though surrounded by women, her upbringing never differentiated between the role of men and women. "We are farmer family. We don't have the privilege of choosing what we want, so we need to do all the work, or things will be difficult (for us)".

Mbok Denik said the household roles are different compared to Bali's customary roles. When it comes to decision-making, men take the lead. Women tend to be the support system of the family. It is because customary-related decision-making will affect many people and sekala and niskala (the living and the hereafter). It is often draining on the energy and emotion. The men do not want to add burden to the women during customary events, which is why men take the lead. Besides managing the household, Balinese women mostly share the responsibility as the family's economic provider.

Unlike her siblings, pursuing education was essential for Mbok Denik from the very beginning. She considered this as a way to seek a better fortune, but along the way, she felt that this was not the entire reason for schooling. With courage, she pursued her dream, until she who graduated with a university degree from the Al-Falah University in Surabaya, East Java and Panji Sakti University, Singaraja, Bali. Mbok Denik dared to be different and choose her path to become a successful, prosperous and happy female social entrepreneur. Her courage also led her to work in a non-governmental organization focusing on environmental management and community empowerment.

Working for the Wisnu Foundation since 2000, and currently the Foundation director, she humbly said, "I am still a villager. I love the village very much." Her love for the village made her continue to strive for community development. One of the programs she coordinates is to revive Mertajati Tamblingan Adat Dalem Tamblingan in Catur, Buleleng Village, Bali, as a tradition-based sustainable forest learning center. With Samdhana Institute's support, the program aims to save Alas Mertajati as a source of life and livelihood, and maintain its function as a learning center on sustainable forest. Further, the program supports the Dalem Tamblingan Customary Community to regain Alas Mertajati as their customary forest through a social forestry scheme. In parallel, it also prepares the area to be the learning center.

This program is aiming on the younger generation, the parents perceive the program as a positive way of influencing the young people. Mbok Denik said, "Many mothers commented that they are very proud of what their children had done; and they became more aware of environmental issues."

Talking about the women's role, Mbok Denik revealed that there is an expression of Ibu Pertiwi and Bapak Angkasa (mother earth and father sky) in Bali. "We need to take care of Ibu Pertiwi as our beloved mother earth, but not forget that without the sun, the moon, and the stars (Bapak Angkasa) the world would not run accordingly.” She agrees that women are perceived as the source of life that needs to be protected, but this does not mean that women are weak or are the only ones who have needs. “Both men and women have an equal role in the universe, so they must walk hand in hand".

In celebration of World Women's Day this March, Mbok Denik wishes to send a message to all women. "Do not be afraid to be different. Soleh is ok. Soleh in Balinese means different. Be a woman who dares to be different, but be different with good nature," she said.

"You can be poor, but don't be poor in power and creativity. Keep building courage, continue to voice aspirations, and never be afraid to be different.” Mbok Denik feels the need to convey this message because the oppression of some people in Indonesia still occurs, and often their existence is ignored. She aspires to continue to speak the voices of those who are marginalized. One thing more she wants us to remember: less thinking and talking about it, but more of doing it. ###

[1] Made is the term for the second child according to the naming tradition among Balinese tribe -Wikipedia

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

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Posting Date

Thu, 03/25/2021 - 12:00

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Mbok Denik or Ni Made Puriati, her life dedicated for community empowerment and wellbeing, particularly participatory mapping, advocacy, and women movement. The milestone has guided her career from its start and led her to Yayasan Wisnu and now took the role as the director of the foundation.

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Feature

Panika ha Pusaka – wearing the Higaonon women’s identity proudly

admin_samdhana — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 07:38:55 +0000

Panika ha Pusaka – wearing the Higaonon women’s identity proudly admin_samdhana Fri, 03/19/2021 - 14:38

Panika, the headdress of the Higaonon women, symbolises a sacred responsibility to champion their cultural heritage. Not any Higaonon woman can wear the panika. She has to make the commitment, and be recognized as a conduit of continuing the Higaonon traditions. Pusaka pertains to precious resources, both tangible and intangible, that remains in the Higaonon’s ancestral territories. Thus, Panika ha Pusaka[1] can be translated as women bearers of culture and values of the Higaonon. They chose this name to reflect the value of indigenous women, and use a term that is commonly known in the various Higaonon communities in Cagayan de Oro.

The Higaonon women face threats similar to other Indigenous communities, such as land grabbing and “red-tagging”, among many issues. One of the women shared that in their community, a hydropower project is again being reintroduced after 15 years. She worries about the negative feedbacks on the project; that is why personally, she is not supportive. Despite the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act in the Philippines, their right to give their free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to projects is not fully respected. They said there is still high discrimination against indigenous women, and they have no political representation, such as in the local legislative body.

Members of Panika ha Pusaka have done small projects and participated in trainings and other initiatives individually. They wish that there will be tangible strengthening of more Higaonon women through their own organization. They envision that they will be able to bring back their cultural customs and practices. Thus, their purpose for doing their strategic planning.

One of their first priorities will be organizational strengthening. The women are confident that even without budget or funding, they will be able to commit to their regular meetings. They reflected that in the past they were already able to do this, which is also one of the reasons why the Higaonon women’s movement has sustained. One other matter close to their heart is livelihood development. They plan to pursue floristry because of the availability of flowers in their areas, and develop their food preservation skills. Thus, they will do skills-sharing among them to increase livelihood opportunities.

At the end of the day, the Higaonon women proudly wear their identity, not only through their cultural clothing, but through their determination and love for their people and ancestral domain. ###

[1] Formerly carrying the name Kagayhaan Ancestral Domain Higaonon Women Organization. Their current members come from the different barangays of Cagayan de Oro City, particularly from the Hinterland Barangays of Disrict 1 (Besigan, Tignapoloan, Dansolihon, Mambuaya, Bayanga, Lumbia, Tagpangi, Pagalungan, Taglimao, Tuburan, Pigsag-an, Tumpagon and San Simon), and 3 Brgys. From District 2 (Cugman, FS Catanico, and Tablon).

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

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Posting Date

Thu, 03/18/2021 - 12:00

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The Higaonon women's wearing 'Panika ha Pusaka', a cultural heritage of Higaonon communities in Cagayan de Oro. (SAMDHANA)

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POKJA OAT: Community Movement to Create a Resilient Community with the Creation of Traditions and Local Food Security

admin_samdhana — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 08:05:50 +0000

POKJA OAT: Community Movement to Create a Resilient Community with the Creation of Traditions and Local Food Security admin_samdhana Fri, 03/12/2021 - 15:05

In an area near the city of Soe, in South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, three indigenous tribes belong together in a circle called as the Tiga Batu Tungku community, which consists of the tribe Mollo, Amanuban, and Amantun. These three tribes are all part of a workgroup called as Kelompok Kerja OAT (Pokja OAT) or the A’taimamus Ama Organization. The history of how this workgroup is established is firstly driven by the presence of a mining operation in Mollo District that made the local community felt that they were being exploited by them in 1995. Previously, this mining operation was established at four places which were Nausus, Nuamollo, Fatu Naetapan, and Fatu Lik.

In 1996, the people from the three tribes started to feel worried and confused while trying to decipher the signs of a new farming season and how seasons come and go in order for them to farm their crops. Farming is their source of income, yet climate change has changed the pattern of farming for these people which is more difficult for them to predict when to sow and harvest. Since then, the impact of climate change has stymied the profits that are produced from people’s farms each year.

The people started to think that nature is not favourable for them anymore. The duration of seasons is unstable where the rainy and dry seasons are prolonged. Their supply of water has reduced in the dry seasons which resulted in many plants are not in their peak condition, and some are not strong enough to grow due to the lack of water received, and so on. They have tried to mitigate the effects of climate change by planting local plants such as sorghum for their food provision which has to be harvested at least twice a year. They also have tried to plant nutritious kinds of plants as well such as Lombok (chili), onion, garlic, and labu kuning (crookneck pumpkins).

From all the four sites that were used for mining, the three tribes chose Nausus as the place for them to gather and carry their activities. Each year, the people from the three tribes gather at Gunung Batu Nausus to hold activities such as celebrating the Ningkam Haumeni Festival, share traditional tribe knowledge, and also learn and discuss a topic together. Eventually, after the activities became a routine, in 1999, the workgroup that is usually called as Pokja OAT was established by Ibu Aleta Cornelia Baun or Mama Aleta. Nausus, the gathering place for the three tribes, was slowly laid out each day for farming, raising livestock, and crafting traditional trinkets and handicrafts of the people. This location is now a tourism site for the locals and tourists alike. All of these activities have preserved the local wisdom and have given accommodation for visitors to learn more about the tribes’ traditions and values. Additionally, Pokja OAT has also empowered women to actively participate in the community by weaving cloths using natural materials. The products that were produced were blankets, shawls, and unique traditional local tribe cloths which helped to develop the businesses in the Tiga Batu Tungku community.

This year, besides climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic has inhibited the flow of profits even more in the community. The locals are scared and confused on whether to do their activities as usual outside their homes, as most of their daily activities are based outdoors. There was a claim that the government’s COVID-19 support didn’t reach every family that needed it in the area. Many of them haven’t received the needed provision. Overall, the restriction of social interaction has caused the cycle of the community’s economic ecosystem to be disrupted. All of this has contributed to the impediment of the community’s nature conservation programs to prevent climate change where its activities were delayed. Despite all this, the community still strives to maintain their livelihoods independently.

In order to support the community’s livelihood and prepare them both for climate change’s unpredictable seasons and the COVID-19 pandemic, this year The Samdhana Institute collaborate with Pokja OAT to implement their project of land utilization for their local plants’ farm. The goals of this project are to increase the local people’s knowledge especially for the youngsters about gardening and farming, grow local plants as food crops for the Tiga Batu Tungku community, and increase the people’s concern and awareness towards conserving the environment around where they live. The outcome of this project is to have a farm that could be used as a place to cultivate and nurture local food plants and herbs, which could be harvested sustainably. Other than that, the parameter of this project is at least 75% of the people in Pokja OAT are participating or aware of conserving their environment and this farm and 50% of them use this project as an opportunity to cultivate their plants as means of an additional income for their household.

In carrying out the project, the community started by spreading the plant seeds on the watered grounds then prepared the seeding hole for the Lombok plant seeds, and plotted plant plots daily for batang saree, garlic, onion, lemongrass, mint leaves, genoak, Siamese pumpkin, crookneck pumpkin, and medicinal herbs such as various gingers and telang flower so they are easy to differ and plant on the marked plots. There were also reforestation activities at the ecotourism site in Nausus. However, the journey of this project was not without challenges. The unpredictable season made some difficult arrangements for the people to plan their seeding and planting times due to the long dry season. The supply of water was not sufficient for the early-stage growth of the plants due to the water source being dried out. Specifically, the long dry season had given a long time for the seedling and soils to be prepared before a one-week long-only rain came down and gave a very limited water supply for the plants to grow.

Initiating an independency to produce local food was never been easy, some challenges must be overcome and become a learning process for community joint in Pokja OAT. They will continue to make efforts to cultivate local plants and herbal medicines which are not only beneficial as a potential to increasing their livelihood but can also be introduced to the wider community, as a useful lesson towards a resilient community with solid local food security.

***

Women have been associated with nature. We have worked with many of the women strive to get back to their roots, utilizing local knowledge and tradition to be resilient while conserving the environment along the way.

In this Women’s Month, we celebrate nature as our “Mother Earth".

We are proud to present this song by Sandrayati Fay IN DARAMUDA project, titled “SUARA DUNIA” reflecting the nature as we are, reconnecting with nature is part of our humanity, “the water is my blood, the stone is my bone and the land as my body”.

To hear more from Sandrayati Fay, visit:

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

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Posting Date

Thu, 03/11/2021 - 12:00

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As a Founder of POKJA Oat, Mama Aleta strives to empowering women's dignity and freedom #choosetochallenge by sharing sacred traditional tribe knowledge towards the protection of the indigenous people's rights while building a resilient community with solid local product and knowledge

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Feature

Perspectives on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Lifescapes

admin_samdhana — Wed, 13 May 2020 03:44:03 +0000

Perspectives on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Lifescapes admin_samdhana Wed, 05/13/2020 - 10:44

In August 2018, a first Gender Responsive Activities Planning Workshop was conducted for a group of Partners. It was attended by 15 women and 4 men with varied experiences and knowledge on gender equity. This was followed by an assessment of livelihoods and landscapes using the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI)10 perspective.

The process was replicated in several locations where Samdhana has partners, Papua, West Papua, NTT and West Kalimantan. The assessment involved women champions and individuals who understand GESI problems specific to their local context.

The assessment using GESI perspective is a process that reveals the way that men, women and marginalized groups attach meaning to livelihoods and landscapes. It aims to understand the various components and processes, and the roles they play at the individual, core family, extended family, or community level. The assessment framework is a seven-stage analysis, which looks at the landscape, livelihood resources and strategies and social relations to institutions and organizations. It also considers the context, trends and policies, impact of activities within the landscape and livelihood arrangement strategies and sustainable analysis.

The training enabled the participants to use the tool for their own planning, and the outcome of the regional assessments will be used to produce a Guide to Landscape and Livelihood Management using a GESI Perspective. Eventually, the guidance will be developed into a training module for CSOs working on gender and social development. As a result of the success of the approach, Samdhana aims to adopt the GESI as a framework of analysis and implementation to help mainstream gender equity and social inclusion in its programs and projects.

This story was first published on "The Samdhana Institute Annual Report 2018" by The Samdhana Institute. Click here for more stories.

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GENDER & SOCIAL INCLUSION

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Posting Date

Wed, 10/30/2019 - 12:00

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Woman in Tambrauw, West Papua. Photo by Anggit/Samdhana