Mrs. Leah Chatta-Chipepa, ACBF Program Officer, Zone III

Based on the understanding that reducing gender-based and other socio-economic inequalities can lead to the expansion of economic opportunities and sustainable growth, how can efforts to stimulate private sector development be advanced to promote gender equality Reports on the assessment of progress made in the implementation of international instruments and commitments of gender equality, equity and womens empowerment identify different stakeholders in the promotion of gender issues. In addition, these reports propose a programme of action to accelerate further implementation of commitments. These actions include capacity building initiatives, legal reform, enabling policy environments, gender awareness, and womens targeted interventions.

However, while stakeholders such as government ministries and agencies, capacity building institutions, funding agencies, womens/gender organizations, think tanks, and academia efforts and actions are highlighted, little or no mention is made of the efforts and role of the private sector in the promotion of gender equality. Government and non-governmental reports do not mainstream private sector initiatives in reports tracking gender equality promotion. This scenario de-links private sector participation and collaboration with other actors in the struggle for eliminating gender disparities. Creating interface between state, civil society and the private sector in the promotion in gender issues is critical in order to promote policy dialogue that will contribute to the reduction of disparities between women and men, girls and boys.

Interface for policy dialogue is an effective way for different actors to engage with each other. Engagement begins with dialogue. With regard to the public sector, gender advocacy groups have traditionally been excluded from decision-making processes and thus do not understand the processes and rules of engagement. In addition , since womens participation is assumed despite the fact that the environment may be hostile to their involvement, both parties need to know and understand the rules of engagement to initiate dialogue.

Women and men face different social and economic constraints in responding to economic opportunities in the private sector. In general, these constraints relate to women lacking education and appropriate training, and having less access to and control over collateral, capital, and financial markets. Women also have greater household and child care responsibilities. Taxation laws and regulations may include discriminatory provisions against women, while attitudes and beliefs may put up barriers to womens opportunities in the private sector. By recognizing and addressing These inefficiencies in the market and the social system to ensure womens equal participation in private sector development can be recognized and addressed through policy dialogue interface capacity building projects.

Consequently, the support to tripartite capacity building programs involving the public and private sectors, and gender advocacy groups will go a long way to mainstreaming the three sectors in promoting gender equality and ensuring the tracking of progress and actions to reduce gender disparities. While women-specific organizations and networks continue to play an important role in promoting womens empowerment and gender equality, it is critical that they are equally represented in both public and private sectors with relevant gender perspectives forming an integral part of the sectors programs. Building the capacity of womens groups, the private and public sectors in the rules of engagement that include skills and knowledge in research and policy analysis; networking and information dissemination; negotiation; lobbying; and, advocacy would promote greater synergy and harmony in advancing the gender agenda. The private sector should thus become part and parcel of the efforts promoting gender equality through interface capacity building interventions that strive to improve stakeholder engagement and participation in policy dialogue.