USAID State2State activity meets GESI officers in Gombe for effective results
The United States Agency for International Development State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness Activity Gombe Field Office has met with desk, Gender and Social Inclusion Officers of Ministries Departments and Agencies to discuss successes, challenges and way forward for effective implementation of GESI issues.
The meeting which held at the custodian Hotel Gombe reviewed performance of the GESI and Desk officers in relation to their prescribed functions and roles for State2State Activity.
It also appraised the progress and impact of the implementation of the activity and interventions across the MDAs and strengthened capacity of the desk officers for more effective stakeholder engagement and implementation of State2State Activity and interventions.
Objectives of the meeting are to update officers with State2State’s fiscal year three work plan and to provide a shared understanding of specific roles and for effective implementation and program results.
In an address of Welcome, the State2State Gombe team lead Alhaji Mohammad Abubakar, said the State2State activity is a five-year year initiative implemented by DAI in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi Sokoto and Gombe States, Nigeria.
The Purpose of the activity ,he said, is to increase accountability,transparency and effectiveness in the targeted states and local government and that the activity operates on gender equity, social inclusion and do no harm principles.
He said activities carried out from January to March 2023 included, “technical assistance on implementation of Internal Generated Revenue expansion strategy, Mentoring support to align the funds segment of 2023 budget with the national chart of accounts, technical assistance for the development of the state annual procurement plan,” Abubakar said.
Other activities carried out are the pause and reflect session,CSO forum, dialogue on conflict mitigation and prevention, training on inclusive Public procurement processes and annual procurement planning for priority MDAs.
He urged participants to feel free and make positive inputs for effectiveness and improvement of GESI issues in their respective MDAs.
The State2State Local Governance LG Manager, Hajiya Zariyatu Abubakar, in a presentation on Inclusive governance reform and service delivery said Gender is economic, political and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being a male or female.
She said Gender is relational and refers not simply to women and men but to the relationship between men and women and that it is socially constructed roles and responsibility that changes over time and varies within and across culture.
“Gender is not about women’s issues but both men and women, understanding gender means understanding the behaviours,opportunities and constraints that affect both men and women,” the USAID LG Manager said.
Abubakar also explained the concept of social inclusion, where she said is a process that ensures that those at the risk of social exclusion gain the opportunity and resources necessary to participate fully in economic,social, political and cultural life and to enjoy a standard of living considered normal in the society in which they live.
She said gender and social inclusion is a concept that address unequal power relations between women and men and between different social groups and it focuses on the needful action to re-balance and that these power relationship ensures equal rights,opportunities,and respect for all individuals regardless of their social identity.
Abubakar then gave an overview of the Nigerian National Gender Policy 202I, adding “it represents a set of minimum standards expected of the Nigerian government to meet its mandate for gender equality, good governance, accountability and being social responsive to the needs of everyone.”
Equity she added, remains the foundation of the core principle agenda 2030 ” leave no one behind ‘ and that the overall objective is a society in which women and men:girls and boys enjoy the same opportunities, rights,and obligations in all spheres of life .
The LG Manager explained that the GESI desk officer within MDAs LGAs is a gender machinery that would be embedded within all line ministries and parastatals to ensure the implementation of the National Gender Policy within the strategic plans and activities and financing of all sector ministries .
She said all sector ministries at the Federal, state and local government levels would be required to have unit desk gender focal office headed by a senior officer .
“Established Desk Officer would be required to meet every quarter to share information about the progress of the implementation of gender plans within the different sectors.analyze challenges and results.develop capacity building plans for the sectors,and report to the national gender policy technical committee.
“Advise and brief the commissioner, permanent secretary, relevant directors on all matters relating to gender equality and women empowerment in the sector,” USAID LG Manager added.
