CELEX: 51997PC0265
Language: en
Date: 1997-06-09
Title: Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on integrating gender issues in development co-operation

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                        Brussels, 09.06.1997
                                        COM(97) 265 final
                                        97/0151 (SYN)
                         Proposal for a
                COUNCIL REGULATION fEP
                             ON
INTEGRATING GENDER ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION
                 (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                            EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
 The proposed regulation on integrating gender issues in development co-operation
 (budget line B7-611) seeks to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of Community
 development co-operation through facilitating the integration of proper attention to
gender issues in the development process.
Gender issues refer to the different roles, responsibilities and opportunities of women and
men in different cultures and societies. These differences are increasingly recognised
internationally as having vital implications for development. Women make a crucially
important economic and social contribution in developing countries, but their potential is
severely limited by structural obstacles. These obstacles include persistent and severe
disparities between women and men in nutrition, literacy, education, access to economic
opportunities and control over decision-making, and they act as a brake on the
development of society as a whole. Redressing gender disparities and the empowerment
of women are therefore now considered as crucial priorities for development in terms of
aid effectiveness, as well as of social justice and respect for human rights.
Development interventions have in the past failed to address these issues effectively. In
particular, they have often failed to take accurate account of the varied economic and
social roles carried out by women in project areas, designing projects on the basis of an
incomplete picture of reality and without participation from those most concerned. Such
an approach reduces the effectiveness and the chances of success at policy, programme
and project level.
The actions to be taken under this Regulation come within the framework of Article
 13 Ou of the Treaty on European Union, which identifies sustainable social and economic
development as a priority for Community development co-operation. They also refer
particularly to Article 13 Ou's emphasis on the protection of human rights and on the fight
against poverty.
These actions also form part of the Community's follow-up to its commitments under the
Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies (1985) and at the IV UN World Conference on
Women (Beijing, 1995). The Community was a full participant at the Conference and is
bound by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Council Resolution on
integrating gender issues in development co-operation noted that its guidelines translated
into the field of development co-operation the political commitments undertaken at
Beijing. This draft is also consistent with the gender mainstreaming strategy defined by
the Commission's Communication on Mainstreaming (COM (96) 67) and the inter-
service working paper on mainstreaming a gender and equal opportunities perspective
into all Community policies, of 12 February 1997.
The role of the Community under this budget line is accordingly to take the necessary
measures to:
- ensure the full and effective integration of gender issues in its development co-
operation, at policy, programme and project levels
                                                 ±-
 ---pagebreak--- - facilitate well-targeted, strategic and large-scale initiatives within Community
development co-operation to reduce gender disparities in developing countries.
- support sensitisation and capacity-building on gender issues within developing
countries.
        This budget line is not intended to finance operational projects in favour of
women. Such an approach would risk marginalising the importance of this issue, could
not have an effect on the scale required, and would have little impact of the quality and
effectiveness of mainstream development activities. On the contrary, the function of the
budget line is strategic and catalytic, seeking to include both the integration of gender
issues, and, where appropriate, large scale special interventions to reduce differentials
between women and men, within the mainstream of the Community's development co-
operation. This accords with the "mainstreaming" approach favoured by the Resolution
and by the Beijing Platform.
To achieve this, more emphasis needs to be given to integrating the gender dimension
into macro-economic decision-making and into the formulation and implementation of
sectoral policies and programmes.
The range of actions envisaged includes the following:
    * provision of high-quality technical advice on gender integration in Community
     development policies and strategies
     - provision of high-quality technical advice on gender integration in Community
     programmes and projects during the stages of design, preparation; implementation,
     monitoring and evaluation
     -preparation and development of methodologies, procedures, manuals and guidelines
     to support the integration of gender issues within Community development co-
     operation
     -research and studies to identify and map gender issues in a geographical or sectoral
     context
     -training and sensitisation activities aimed at key decision-makers within
     Community-funded development and within counterparts in developing countries
     -actions in support of co-ordination between the Commission and the Member-
     States to improve the integration of gender issues in development co-operation
     -thematic monitoring and evaluations
     -projects to build up the institutional and operational capacities of developing
     countries on gender issues
     -reinforcing the catalytic role of national machineries responsible for gender and for
     women in developing countries
     -encouraging and supporting partner countries in the revision of existing policy,
     administrative and legal frameworks in a gender-sensitive way
     -support to the formulation, follow-up and monitoring of national plans in
     developing countries designed to implement the Beijing Platform for Action
     -support to the networking and institutional capacities of NGOs and civil society in
     developing countries to press effectively for government action to implement their
     commitments under the Beijing Platform, and to develop their own programmes to
     complement government efforts.
                                    -      let -
 ---pagebreak--- A specific strategy will be developed for each region in order to tailor activities as much
as possible to immediate regional priorities.
At the end of every budget year, the Commission will submit a report to the Parliament
and the Council, setting out the activities undertaken and evaluating their results.
The scale and importance of Community activities in the field of development co-
operation necessitate initiatives by the Community to ensure its implementation of its
commitments at Beijing, complementary to those undertaken by Member States.
                                            -A$r-
 ---pagebreak---                                     Proposai for a
                          COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)
                                          on
   INTEGRATING GENDER ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATTON
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular
Article 130w thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c of the Treaty,
 ---pagebreak---  (1)  Whereas the importance of women's economic and social roles in developing
      countries has led to increasing international recognition that their full participation
      without discrimination is indispensable for sustainable and effective development,
(2)   Whereas their contribution to development is presently achieved in the face of
      formidable obstacles specific to women, which limit the outcome of their work and
      reduce the benefits to society as a whole,
(3)   Whereas these obstacles include persistent and severe disparities between women
      and men in access to basic services, control over economic resources and access to
      decision-making;
(4)   Whereas development interventions havefrequentlyfailed to adequately address
      the differences between women's and men's situations, roles, opportunities, and
      priorities, thereby reducing their overall success,
(5)   Whereas redressing gender disparities and the empowerment of women are crucial
      for social justice, human empowerment and the effectiveness of development
      efforts,
(6)   Whereas development co-operation must encourage the necessary accompanying
      changes in attitudes, structures and mechanisms at political, economic, legal,
      community and household level,
(7)   Whereas it is now recognised that though specific efforts to enhance the role of
      women in development remain as necessary as ever, the focus must widen to
      encompass both men's and women's roles, responsibilities, needs, access to
      resources and decision-making, and the inter-relationship between them, known as
      gender issues
(8)   Whereas development effectiveness requires that interventions should
      systematically integrate gender analysis in the conception, design, implementation
      and evaluation of all development policies and interventions,
(9)   Whereas the foregoing analysis is set out in more detail in the Commission's
      Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on integrating gender
      issues in development co-operation of 18th September 1995*, and was endorsed
      by the Council in its Resolution described below,
1
   COM (95) 423
                                             -3
 ---pagebreak---  (10) Whereas the Council in a series of Conclusions from 1982 to 93 has stressed the
        importance it attaches to women's role in development,
 (11) Whereas the Community and its Member States were signatories to the Nairobi
        Forward-Looking Strategies in 1985 and to the Declaration and Platform for
        Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing in 1995, which
        stressed the need for action against worldwide obstacles to gender equality and to
        ensure that a gender perspective is reflected in all policies and programmes,
 (12) Whereas the UN Declaration on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
        against Women (1979) considers discrimination against women as an obstacle to
        development which parties agree to eliminate using all appropriate means, and the
        UN Declaration on the Right to Development (1986) emphasises the right of all
        persons to participate in and contribute to development and the need to undertake
        effective measures to ensure that women have an active role in the development
        process,
 13) Whereas the European Parliament has emphasised in numerous Resolutions, and
        particularly in its Resolution of 14 May 1992^ on the situation of women in
        developing countries and its Resolution of the 15th June 1995 on the fourth Wortld
        Conference on Women in Beijing^, the need to integrate proper attention to
        women's roles and priorities in Community development co-operation and to take
        adequate measures to ensure active implementation of the conclusions of the
        Beijing Conference,
 (14) Whereas the resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments
        of the Member States of 20 December 1995 endorses the Commission's
        Communication on the same subject, requires the full integration of gender issues
        in development co-operation and coordination between the Commission and
        Member States in this field, and sets out guidelines which also translate into the
        field of development co-operation the political commitments undertaken at Beijing,
(15) Whereas this approach is further endorsed by the resolution of the Council and the
        member states on human and social development of 22 November 1996,
(16) Whereas the recognised importance of these issues to development effectiveness
       makes it appropriate to envisage specific activities aimed at ensuring adequate
       attention to gender issues across the mainstream of Community financial
       instruments, which should increasingly assume responsibility for these key
       questions,
2
  A3-0146/92
3
   A4-0142/95
 ---pagebreak--- (17) Whereas the most effective approach is considered to be strategic and precisely
       targeted sensitisation initiatives capable of achieving a substantial multiplier effect,
       rather than the funding of small-scale operational projects,
(18) Whereas the scale and importance of Community activities in the field of
       development co-operation necessitate initiatives by the Community to ensure its
       implementation of its commitments at Beijing, complementary to those undertaken
       by Member States,
(19) Whereas measures need to be taken to finance the activities covered by this
       Regulation,
(20) Whereas detailed rules for implementation, and in particular the form of action, the
       recipients of the aid and the decision-making procedures should be laid down,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
                                                 Article 1
 1. The Community shall provide financial assistance and technical expertise to support
the effective integration of a gender perspective in the mainstream of its development co-
operation policies and interventions.
2. The assistance provided pursuant to this Regulation shall complement and reinforce
assistance provided pursuant to other instruments of development co-operation with a
view to taking fully into account gender considerations in Community policies and
interventions.
                                              -5
 ---pagebreak--- 3. For the purposes of this Regulation "gender" means the different and interrelated
roles, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men relative to development,
which are culturally specific and socially constructed, and can change over time, inter alia
as a result of policy interventions.
                                            Article 2
 1. The following are the central objectives of activities to be carried out pursuant to this
Regulation:
 (a) To support the mainstreaming of gender analysis and the adoption of a gender-
 sensitive approach in the conception, design and implementation of Community
 development policies and interventions at macro, meso and micro level, as well as in their
 monitoring and evaluation.
 (b) To support and facilitate the inclusion of actions addressing major gender disparities
 and on an appropriately large scale in the mainstream of Community development
  interventions
  (c) To develop and promote endogenous public and private capacities in developing
  countries which can take the responsibility and initiative for mainstreaming the gender
  dimension in the development effort.
 2. Activities eligible for financing include, in particular:
 - provision of technical advice and support on the integration of gender issues in
     development interventions, in particular at macro and sectoral level
 - research and other activities aimed at including gender implications in analyses,
     policies, country and sector strategies
 - schemes to build up the institutional and operational capacities of developing
     countries on gender issues at national, regional and local level
 - supporting the collection and dissemination of key data desegregated by sex,
 - development of methodologies, guidelines, manuals, procedures, indicators and other
     operational instruments seeking to improve the integration of gender issues in
     development activities
 - thematic monitoring and evaluations
- training and sensitisation of key decision makers,
- support to the formulation, follow-up and monitoring of national plans in developing
     countries designed to implement the Platform for Action of the Beijing Conference
                                                -6
 ---pagebreak--- - providing resources and technical assistance to developing countries in measuring and
   valuing unpaid work for inclusion in GNP or for reflection in parallel satellite
   accounts, as appropriate and in conformity with the UN System of National Accounts
   (SNA) 1993,
- actions within the framework of co-ordination with Member States on integrating
   gender issues in development co-operation
3. Particular attention will be given to emerging areas for sensitising development co-
operation to gender issues, including emergency operations and crisis prevention, human
rights and démocratisation, macro-economic analysis, sexual and reproductive health and
rights.
                                          Article 3
Beneficiaries of activities carried out under this Regulation may include public authorities
and government agencies, decentralised departments, regional bodies, universities and
research centres, traditional and local communities, trade unions, co-operatives, non-
governmental organisations and associations representing local people, particularly
women.
Particular attention will be given to endogenous structures that can play a role in
strengthening local capacities with respect to gender.
                                           Article 4
1. The instruments to be employed in the course of the activities referred to in Article 2
shall include studies, technical assistance, education, training or other services, supplies
and works, as well as audits and evaluation and monitoring missions.
2. Community financing may cover both investment, with the exception of the purchase
of real estate, and, since the project must, if possible, aim at medium-term viability,
recurring expenditure (including administrative, maintenance and operating expenditure).
However, with the exception of training, education and research programmes, operating
costs may normally be covered only during the start-up phase and on a gradually
decreasing basis.
3. A contribution from the partners defined in Article 3 shall be sought from
beneficiaries. Their contribution shall be requested according to their means and the
nature of the operation concerned.
                                             -7
 ---pagebreak--- 4. Opportunities may be sought for cofinancing with other donors, especially with
Member States and the international organizations concerned.
5. The necessary measures shall be taken to emphasize the Community character of the
aid provided pursuant to this Regulation.
6. In order to attain the objectives of consistency and complementarity laid down in the
Treaty and with the aim of guaranteeing optimum efficiency for the totality of these
operations, the Commission may take all coordination measures necessary, including in
particular:
(a) the establishment of a system for the systematic exchange and analysis of
     information on operations financed or being considered for financing by the
     Community and the Member States;
(b) on-the-spot coordination of these operations by means of regular meetings and
     exchanges of information between the representatives of the Commission and
     Member States in the beneficiary countries.
7. In order to obtain the greatest possible impact globally and nationally, the
Commission, in liaison with the Member States, shall take any initiative necessary for
ensuring proper coordination and close collaboration with the beneficiary countries and
the providers of funds and other international agencies involved, in particular those
forming part of the United Nations system.
                                         Article 5
Financial support pursuant to this Regulation shall take the form of grants.
                                            -8-
 ---pagebreak---                                            Article 6
1. The Commission shall be responsible for appraising, deciding and administering
operations covered by this Regulation according to the budgetary and other procedures
in force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities.
2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations
financed pursuant to this Regulation shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in
Article 7.
3. The Commission shall be authorized to approve, without seeking the opinion of the
Committee referred to in Article 7, any extra commitments needed for covering any
expected or real cost overruns in connection with the operations, provided that the
overrun or additional requirement is less than or equal to 20% of the initial commitment
fixed by the financing decision.
4. All financing agreements or contracts concluded pursuant to this Regulation shall
provide for the Commission and the Court of Auditors to conduct on-the-spot checks
according to the usual procedures laid down by the Commission under the rules in force,
in particular those of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the
European Communities.
5. Where operations are the subject of financing agreements between the Community and
the recipient country, such agreements shall stipulate that the payment of taxes, duties or
any other charges is not to be covered by the Community.
6. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal
terms to all natural and legal persons of the Member States and of the recipient
countries. It may be extended to other developing countries.
7. Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient country or other
developing countries. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may
originate elsewhere.
8. Particular attention will be given to:
- the pursuit of cost-effectiveness and sustainable impact in project design,
- the clear definition and monitoring of objectives and indicators of achievement for all
    projects.
                                               9-
 ---pagebreak---                                           Article 7
1. The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committtee made up of
representatives from the Member states and chaired by a representative of the
Commission:
-in the case of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the EDF Committee set up by
Article 21 of Internal Agreement 91/401/EEC on the financing and administration of
Community aid under the fourth Lomé Convention, adopted on 16 July 1990 by the
representatives of the Member States meeting within the Council,
-in the case of the Mediterranean countries, the MED Committee set up by Article 6 of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 1762/92 (1) of 29 June 1992,
-in the case of the Asian and Latin American countries, the ALA Committee set up by
Article 15 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 (2) of 25 February 1992.
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the
measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time
limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if
necessary by taking a vote.
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition each Member State shall have
the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.
The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the
Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been
taken into account.
                                           Article 8
An exchange of views shall take place once a year on the basis of a presentation by the
representative of the Commission of the general guidelines for the operations to be
carried out in the year ahead, in the framework of a joint meeting of the Committees
referred to in Article 7(1).
                                              10
 ---pagebreak---                                             Article 9
  1. After each budget year, the Commission shall submit an annual report to the European
 Parliament and the Council giving an account of the activities financed under this
 Regulation relative to integrating gender issues in Community development co-operation
 and of their outcome, together with:
 - a summary of other operations financed under this Regulation in the course of that year
 - a list of the projects indicating the names of the implementing partners and the
 percentage of the operational cost financed by the Community
 - an evaluation, complete with figures, of the implementation of this Regulation over that
 period.
 2. The Commission shall regularly assess operations financed by the Community with a
 view to establishing whether the objectives aimed at by those operations have been
 achieved and to providing guidelines for improving the effectiveness of future operations.
 The Commission shall submit to the Committee referred to in Article 7 a summary of the
 assessments made which, if appropriate, may be examined by the Committee. The
 assessment reports shall be available to any Member States requesting them.
 3. The financing guide indicating guidelines and criteria for project selection shall be
 published and distributed among interested parties by the Commission's services,
 including its delegations in the recipient countries.
                                           Article 10
 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in
 the Official Journal of the European Communities.
 This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
 States.
Done a t . . .                                               For the Council
                                                             The President
                                               11
 ---pagebreak---                                          FINANCIAL STATEMENT
                                 Item B7-611 : Women's role in development
1. Title of operation
    Integrating gender issues in development cooperation. (It would be advisable to propose
    that, in the next preliminary draft budget, the budget item should be replaced by the title
    "Item B7-611: Integrating gender issues in development cooperation", in line with the
    name of the operation.)
2. Budget heading involved
    B7-611
3. ïjyflh—it
    Proposal for a Council regulation on integrating gender iaaues in
       development cooperation
4. Deffiripikffl of operation
4.1 General objective
       This budget heading is intended to finance schemes to integrate
       gender issues, and promote full and equal participation by women,
       in the development process. This objective fits into the context of
       promoting sustainable economic and social development in the
       developing countries and involves launching new methods and
       policies, with a knock-on effect upon all the development
       cooperation financed by the Community.
       As pointed out on a number of occasions by the Council and
      Parliament, the integration of gender issues in the development
       process is recognized as essential. This means promoting the
       participation of women and recognizing their active role as full
       partners in all development activities, from design to evaluation
      (mainstreaming).
                                           4&
 ---pagebreak---       The Commission, as a full participant in the IVth World
      Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), must ensure that the
      results of this Conference are followed up and implemented in the
      context of its own development cooperation, in accordance with
      the Resolution of 20 December 1995.
      This objective and the implementation of the Resolution of
      20 December 1995 require closer coordination with the Member
       States in accordance with Articles 13 Ou, 13 Ox, and 130y of the
      Treaty on European Union.
      Within the context of the OECD Development Aid Committee
      (DAC), the Commission has been invited to take part in a number
      of studies on the application of the guidelines laid down by the
      DAC on the participation of women in development.
      The types of action planned are described below.
           Operations to inform and sensitize decision-makers and
           administrators of the development programmes financed by
           the Community, at headquarters and in the developing
           countries (training courses, instruction manuals, appropriate
           technical assistance, research and studies).
           Operations to promote the integration of gender issues in the
           design, programming,financing,execution, monitoring and/or
           evaluation of the projects and programmes financed by the
           Community in the developing countries.
           Strategic operations to inform and raise awareness among
           those involved in the governmental and regional decision-
           making process in the developing countries so that greater
           account is taken of women's requirements in the development
           process.
           Operations as part of coordination with the Member States on
          gender issues.
           Operations to include schemes aimed at reducing gender-based
           disparities in the developing countries in the mainstream of
          projects and programmesfinancedby the Community.
4.2 Period covered and arrangements for renewal.
      The policy is for an indefinite period. Individual schemes are for a
      year and can be renewed until adoption of this regulation.
5.    Classification of expenditure/revenue
      Non-compulsory expenditure/ Differentiated appropriations.
                                            "3
 ---pagebreak--- 6.     Type of expenditure/revenue
       Grant of up to 100 % of the costs. However:
            systematic efforts are made to seek a contribution from the
            project beneficiaries;
            opportunities for cofinancing are sought with the Member
            States and multilateral, regional or other organizations.
7.     Financial impact
7.1 Method of calculating cost of operation:
       The main expenditure is made up of the remuneration and travel costs of
       experts highly specialized in gender and development who have to visit
       the developing countries to work with the administrations, EC
       Delegations and project staff in order to integrate gender analysis.
       In addition there is expenditure resulting from the cost of training or
       information sessions for EC personnel and/or decision-makers in the
       developing countries who are responsible for development
       projects/programmes, the aim being to increase their ability to take
       account of the roles and requirements of men and women and to include
       this dimension throughout the project cycle.
       There are also the costs of studies, training manuals, research and
       bulletins/reports which are intended to inform staff of the specific
       requirements and priorities of women in the ALA/MED and ACP
       countries.
    There is further expenditure linked with thematic and follow-up studies
which may be requested in the context of closer coordination with the Member
States and the OECD/DAC, and the costs of strategic schemes and projects to
raise the awareness of decision-makers in the developing countries so that
greater account is taken of women's specific requirements.
7.2 Itemized breakdown of cost
       Equal distribution between eligible geographical regions is sought, and
       this may vary according to demand and/or priority.
                        BREAKDOWN                             1997           1998
            Technical assistance                                1.6            1.6
            Training                                           0.8             0.8
            Projects                                           2.0             2.0
            Research                                           0.6             0.6
                                                               5£              5.0
                                            41
 ---pagebreak--- 7.3 Indicative schedule by theme in 1997
                                      THEMES                                    %
           Development of methodologies and instruments                         10
           Mainstreaming in project cycle                                       20
                                                                   :
           Mainstreaming in policies and strategies                             20
           Sectoral and/or geographical research/studies                        10
           Sensitization   of decision-makers     in the   developing           20
           countries
           Capacity-building in the developing countries                        20
7.4 Indicative schedule of commitment appropriations (ECU million)
                                                           1997            PDB 1998
           B7-611
8. Fraud prevention measures
      Technical checks by Commission officials, assisted by independent
      experts.
      The Commission, prior to payment, checks the grants and the receipt of
      services and preparatory studies, feasibility studies and evaluation
      reports requested, taking into account contractual obligations and
      applying recognized principles of economics and sound financial/general
      management.
      Fraud prevention measures (audits, submission of reports, etc.) are
      included in all agreements or contracts concluded between the
      Commission and payment recipients.
9. Elements of cost-effectiveness analysis
9.1 Specific and quantified objectives; target population
           Specific objectives :
           This action ties in more generally with the objective of sustainable
           development, the role of women being essential as a key economic,
           political and social factor.
                                             4J
 ---pagebreak---          To give support to government organizations and Community
         institutions in taking decisions on the integration of gender issues in
         development cooperation policies and programmes. This support
         takes the form of strategic guidelines, methodologies and working
         instruments, the provision of high-level technical assistance, training
         and awareness-raising schemes, at headquarters and in the
         Delegations and for the local partners in the developing countries,
         support for particularly strategic operations, notably those intended
         to strengthen capacity in the developing countries for integrating
         gender issues in development.
         Target population
         In order to create multiplier effects, the two target groups chosen
          are designers and administrators of development policies and
         programmes in the developing countries and within the Commission
          itself.
         In addition to these target groups, all women and local populations
          in the developing countries are targeted.
9.2 Grounds for the operation
         Need for Communityfinancialaid.
          A new aspect of development aid which could improve the quality
          and viability of all Community development cooperation is being
          taken into consideration. In view of the lack of experience available
          in the approach to gender issues, we have to concentrate our efforts
          on this type of operation.
          Budget heading B7-6110 (ex B7-5051 and B7-5052) was
          established in 1992 at the initiative of the European Parliament,
          which, like the Council in many conclusions and recently in the
          Resolution of 20 January 1995, has pointed to the need to integrate
          women and development issues in development cooperation. The
          Resolution specifically stresses the need to earmark sufficient
          funding for a strategic, catalytic approach, with the drawing-up of
          policies and methodologies, training, research, monitoring and
          evaluation.
         In acting upon "The run-up to 2000" and the Resolution of
         20 December 1995, the Community is also required to improve
         coordination between the Community and the Member States in
         integrating gender issues in development. This budget heading is
         also intended to step up the degree to which operations financed by
         the Community dovetail with, and complement, those financed by
         the Member States.
         It is therefore necessary to have an appropriate financial instrument
         to enable the Commission to conduct the proposed operations.
         That is the reason for this budget heading, which, with an amount of
         ECU 5 million for 1997, is not intended to finance operational
         development projects for women, since larger amounts are needed
                                            *€
 ---pagebreak---            to promote their cause (principle of mainstreaming), in accordance
           with the Resolution of 20 December 1995.
           By choosing to target operations on capacity-building for
           project/policy designers and administrators, the highest possible
           multiplier effect is sought.
       *   Advantages over possible alternatives
           Strategic awareness-raising schemes, aimed at integrating gender
           issues into the mainstream of development, are regarded as more
           effective than a plethora of small-scale microprojects for women,
           which are often very limited in their impact.
       *   Explanatory reference to similar Community or national operations
           Certain Member States have a very active policy in this sphere, but
           a major commitment by the Commission should act as an incentive
           for the other Member States or suppliers of funds.
           The Community, for its part, must act to ensure that the operations
           which it finances are of good quality and will provide sufficient
           return, and take the utmost possible account of gender issues as
           they affect development as a whole.
9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation
   Monitoring and evaluation indicators are selected and applied in the case of
    each operation.
   Under the terms of the Council Resolution of 20 December 1995, the
   results obtained will be evaluated and presented to the Council every two
   years (first presentation: November 1997).
   A study was commissioned in 1996 on the implementation of the Council
   Resolution, and in particular: 1) the effects of the training of decision-
   makers (Commission and local);            2) the introduction of gender analysis
   into the project cycle; 3) an increase in the number of projects/programmes
   which include a gender approach.
     The study identified five priorities for implementing the Resolution:
   - training in gender analysis and gender planning for decision-makers and
   planners;
   - the development of instruments and methodologies for gender
   mainstreaming at macro and sectoral levels;
   - monitoring of the mainstreaming of gender issues in the design and
   implementation of strategies for different countries;
   - wider involvement of staff in the promotion and monitoring of the
   mainstreaming of gender issues;
   - greater coordination with the Member States in certain pilot countries.
    The priorities identified for the budget heading reflect these indications.
                                             ">4
 ---pagebreak--- 9.4 Coherence withfinancialprogramming
           Is the operation incorporated in the DG'sfinancialprogramming for
           the relevant years?
           Yes
           To which broader objective defined in the DG's financial
           programming does the objective of the proposed operation
           correspond?
           The proposed operation ties in with the general objectives laid
           down in within the framework of sustainable social and human
           development (Article 13 Ou of the Treaty on European Union).
10.     Administrative expenditure
    The actual mobilization of the administrative resources required will
    depend on the annual Commission decision on the allocation of resources,
    account being taken of any additional amounts or staff allowed by the
    budgetary authority.
 10.1 Impact on the number of posts
    Operations already conducted in the form of pilot schemes by DG IB et
    DGVni staff.
 Type of post               Staff to be assigned to                of which           Duration
                              management of the
                                   operation
                         Permanent       Temporary    by         using by recourse to
                         posts           posts        existing staff additional staff
                                                      in the DG or
                                                      service
                                                      concerned
 Officials      or   A                          2            2
temporary staff
                     B          1                            1
                     C         0.75                         0.75
 Other resources
                                                                                   '
            Total              1.75             2           3.75
                                               1<g
 ---pagebreak---         10.2 Overallfinancialimpact of the additional staff
                                     Amounts                       Method of calculation
 Officials
 Temporary staff
 Other resources       (indicate
 budget heading)
                          Total
     For information, the indicative cost of the existing human resources is
     estimated at ECU 397 500/year (3.75 officials at an estimated average cost
     of               ECU 106 000/official/year): grades Al, A2, A4 and A5.
     10.3 Increase in other operational expenditure resultingfromthe operation
     The necessary resources are obtained by redeploying existing resources.
        Budget heading                Amounts                      Method of calculation
        (No and title)
                           Total
For information, the indicative costs of the meetings financed under heading A-2510
would be approximately ECU 31 275.
(Method of calculation: average cost ECU 695/Member State's representative/meeting x
15 representatives x 3 meetings/year.)
                                                     /\0)
 ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-14'
                                                           COM(97) 265 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
 EN                                                             05 11 06      04
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-252-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-78-20659-8
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
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