Cross-cutting issue: Gender Audit 2004

As directed and supported by the UNCT, the UN System Participatory Gender Audit for Zimbabwe was successfully carried out from 4-22 October 2004. The Gender Working Group chaired by UNIFEM engaged and cleared the conceptual framework for the audit as proposed by the ILO. The ILO Gender Bureau took the technical responsibility and deployed a high level gender audit facilitation team. This first in its kind exercise envisaged to promote learning and self-assessment about gender equality and gender mainstreaming through a participatory approach. UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and ILO were audited on four key areas:

• Information and knowledge management within work unit, and gender equality policy as reflected in work unit's products and public image;
• Staffing and human resources, decision-making, and organisational culture; and work unit's perception of achievement on gender equality
• Gender in the work unit's objectives, programming and implementation cycles, and choice of partner organisations;
• Gender issues in the context of the work unit's gender expertise, competence and capacity-building;