by Warren Cassell
Participants at the Gender Equality forum
On Wednesday, August 20, 2014 the Caribbean Development Bank in partnership with the Government of Montserrat sponsored a National Consultation on the comprehensive gender assessment research which took place in June of this year.
The consultation took the form of assessing Montserrat’s capacity and constraints to gender mainstreaming, gender equality implications in socio economic sectors and equality considerations in government policies.
When finalized, the Comprehensive Gender Assessment of Montserrat, can be used by Government to mitigate the gender gaps and foster collaboration with international partners and donor agencies.
Nana Oye Hesse Bayne
According to Social Economist and Gender Expert Consultant for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Nana Oye Hesse Bayne, who conducted the research for the Gender Assessment, the aim of the assessment included to:
“ (a) Critically analyze the national capacity for and constraints to gender mainstreaming in government, the private sector and civil society (including legislation, policy, institutional structures and mechanisms, financial and human resources, knowledge and skills, etc.); (b) Uncover the links between gender equality and the different socio-economic life chances of men and women, to enable CDB to provide support for a more gender-responsive programme on poverty reduction, economic growth and sustainable development in Borrowing Member Countries (BMC); and (c) Identify the constraints, opportunities and risks for CDB to promote gender equality in its development programmes in the BMCs.”
PS Elija Silcott
Mrs. Hesse-Bayne addressed several stakeholders who formed focus groups to discuss the preliminary research findings and provide feedback.
In explaining how the research findings can be tied into sustainable development for the island the gender expert said, “A government gender disaggregated budget segments and identifies the impact of public revenue allocations and expenditures on men and women. It creates an avenue to ensure that all resources and benefits are equitably distributed. It is imperative that Montserrat’s sustainable development plan is implemented to ensure that no one is left behind.”
