Overview
Launched in 2001, in the context of Mexico's strategy for poverty reduction and social sustainability, the Mexico Gender Equity Project – "Generosidad" – is helping to build public capacity, support community-based approaches to gender, improve women's access to income-generation programs, and increase gender awareness. The project, which will run until December 2005, aims to address the consequences of gender roles on both sexes and to consider the linkages between the genders rather than focusing solely on women. It is financed through a $3.03 million Learning and Innovation Loan (LIL).
In Mexico, inequalities between men and women represent a source of conflict in the family and the community, and a handicap for social and economic development. Mexico has made substantial progress in the last twenty years on issues such as gender gaps in education, maternal mortality rates, and female participation in the labor force. However, progress has been uneven: for instance, fertility rates among rural, uneducated women are double those of women in urban areas. Progress has also been incomplete, with women still only representing 35 percent of the labor force.
The gender inequity in Mexico is exacerbated by stereotyped notions of gender roles. Women and girls still carry out most domestic tasks and boys who wish to help are often discouraged by their mothers, who fear their masculinity could be jeopardized. Many women do not receive any income or are concentrated in low-income activities. Poor services (water and sanitation, electricity) and rural isolation particularly affect women. Men's problems also have negative repercussions on women – such as the drug abuse, alcoholism and violence associated with high rates of male unemployment.
Project Results
Building public capacity:
The "Generosidad " project is building the capacity of Inmujeres, a decentralized autonomous public organization created by President Fox when he took office three years ago. Inmujeres is responsible for promoting equal opportunities for men and women, facilitating women's participation in political, cultural, and economic activities in Mexico, and fostering a gender equity approach in the public sector.
- 36 percent of Inmujeres staff have been trained during 2003 and the 100 percent goal will be achieved in 2004.
Supporting community-based approaches to gender:
The project is supporting community-based initiatives through the Convive Program, a small competitive grants fund:
- Convive is successfully operating in 35 small cities, with a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, including 24 with significant indigenous populations. 70 projects are under implementation, directly benefiting 1,431 people (979 women and 452 men).
- The project is training community leaders on gender equity. So far, 163 women and 59 men have received training in 22 communities.
Increasing awareness and understanding of gender issues:
The project has set up a certification process to recognize progress on gender equity in private firms, public entities, and NGOs. The certification is carried out by an independent company.
- In 2003, 20 firms with around 250,000 employees were certified, including among others Walmart, Kraft, Dupont and Banamex.
- 550 people received training on how to implement gender equity actions.
- 40 firms have asked to be put on the waiting list for certification.
- Gender committees and a women's network have been launched in and between certified firms.
Improving women's access to income-generation programs:
In 1999, an assessment of gender in the Mexican Ministry of Social Development (SEDESOL)'s programs showed that female participation rates in some of SEDESOL's programs were well below those of men. For instance, only 23 percent of participants in the National Fund to Support Small Social Enterprises (FONAES) were women. The "Generosidad" project is helping improve women's access to this funding:
- 53 women's organizations have received technical assistance, resulting in 20 of them receiving credit from FONAES and 15 new projects being prepared.
Lessons Learned
The "Generosidad" project has been very well received by the communities and organizations participating in its execution. In particular: The gender approach involving men and women, rather than only women, has been effective in creating an open, friendly atmosphere in which to discuss gender issues. Community-based organizations have proved to be an excellent vehicle for promoting gender equity and a better understanding among communities. The project has shown how gender equity programs can be useful components of poverty reduction programs. The certification program has offered an opportunity to improve work environments and better understand labor trends.
The World Bank is recommending a second phase of this project to consolidate the progress made.
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