GENDER EQUALITY

POLICY

– FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WORK

OF NORWEGIAN PEOPLE’S AID
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 CONTENTS

1. Policy statement 4

2. Gender Equality at the core of NPA’s work 7

3. NPA’s work for gender equality 8

3.1 In the NPA organisation 10

3.2 In programme work 12

3.3 In policy, advocacy and communication work 16

4. Implementation 19

Copyright 2018 by Norwegian People’s Aid

Cover photo: Torunn Aaslund
Back page: Julie Stand Offerdal
Design: Oktan Oslo
Photo: Torunn Aaslund

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POLICY STATEMENT

NPA’s vision is solidarity in action and NPA stands

for equal rights for all, irrespective of sex, ethnicity,
religion, sexual orientation, disability, and social
status. NPA’s principles establish that we will
promote human rights, equality, and a just distribution
of power and resources between all individuals,
including women and men. Given the increasing
concentration of power and resources in the hands of
a few, NPA considers that strong popular participation
and organisation are crucial to change power relations.
Women’s influence and organisation must increase
to participate on equal terms with men, while men’s
participation in gender equality efforts needs to
increase in order to realise these goals. NPA
establishes partnerships with organisations that
share our values, including gender equality goals.

This policy lays out NPA’s commitments to strive for

a world free from discrimination based on gender, and
where every human being can fulfil their potential
unhindered by discriminating laws, economic and social
structures. The policy sets out NPA’s commitments and
principles for our gender equality work. The policy
applies to NPA’s international work; all programmes,
our policy, advocacy and communication work,
and not least within NPA.
Photo: Erik M. Sundt

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Gender
The term “gender” refers to the social and cultural gender mainstreaming is a set of specific, strategic
construction of femininity and masculinity and the approaches as well as technical and institutional
relationship between them, as opposed to the biological processes adopted to achieve that goal” (ECOSOC
definition of the sexes. Gender identities and relations agreed conclusions, 1997/2). Gender mainstreaming
are not an expression of human nature, but results from was established as a global strategy through the adoption
social constructions evolved over time. This social of the Platform for Action at the UN Fourth World
character implies a possibility for change through Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995.
political and social action, and gendered roles and NPA’s main approaches for gender mainstreaming are:
relationships are both dynamic and changeable. • Integration of gender equality as part of all programe
for development, mine action and humanitarian
Gender Identity assistance,
Gender identity is a person’s individual concept of iden- • Targeted action for specific groups, often women
tity in terms of gender, whether it is being a man/boy, • Dialogue with partners on gender equality goals
woman/girl, both, or neither. Gender identity is and implementation.
not necessarily linked to the sex of a person.
Gender Analysis
Gender Mainstreaming A gender analysis highlights the differences between
“Gender mainstreaming” is defined as: “The process and among women, men, girls, and boys concerning
of assessing the implications for women and men of distribution of resources and power, opportunities,
any planned action, including legislation, policies or and constraints in a given context.
programmes, in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy The analysis needs to seek information about:
for making women’s as well as men’s concerns and • Division of labour in productive work, child rearing,
experiences an integral dimension of the design, imple- and community work
mentation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and • Gendered roles and responsibilities, to understand how
programmes in all political, economic and societal men and women, girls and boys interact, what they do,
spheres so that women and men benefit equally and can do, and are expected to do, including distribution
inequality is not perpetrated. The ultimate goal is to of power
achieve gender equality. As such, gender equality is the • Access to and control of resources (material, financial,
overarching and long-term development goal, while human, social, political, etc).

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 Photo: Mariella Furrer

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GENDER EQUALITY AT THE
CORE OF NPA’S WORK
NPA firmly believes that gender equality needs to be at
the core of our work for democratic societies with a just
distribution of resources; action against global inequality;
and to protect civilians from explosive weapons. We recognise
that women and men are still treated differently and given
different tasks, responsibilities, opportunities, and privileges
in most societies. More often than not, men are given
systematically superior positions compared to women.
Most societies practice to different extents discrimination
against women economically, politically, sexually, and
culturally. Discrimination harms individuals, communities, Layers of discrimination
and countries. It hampers development and economic growth. Systematic discrimination is not limited to the rela-
Gender equality is a fundamental feature of a better world tionships between men and women, boys and girls.
for everyone. Gender alone is not the only factor underpinning
power relations and unequal positions. Social class,
NPA recognizes that women, men, girls and boys experience, ethnicity, age, ability, sexual orientation, and gen-
influence and are affected by development processes, armed der identity impact and structure unequal relation-
conflicts, and crises in different ways. This is also the case ships in different ways in different social, cultural,
with explosive weapons, therefore our work to protect and political contexts. Few persons identify with
civilians must take this into account. Equally, humanitarian only one identity marker. Understanding and acting
crises affect women differently from men, and women have upon these different roles and relationships consti-
other barriers than men to gain influence and participation tutes a challenge for any actor working to promote
in democratisation processes. Women have in general less and assist social, political, and economic change.
economic resources than men. NPA will take these differences
into account in our work.

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NPAS WORK Democracy - women’s participation

FOR GENDER
Women constitute 23% of the parliamentarians in the
world, varying between 17% in the Pacific region to
28% in the Americas, and women Heads of State con-

EQUALITY stitute 7% (UN Women & Inter-Parliamentary Union,

June 2017). The global proportion of women elected to
local government is still unknown, which constitutes
a major knowledge gap.
It is impossible to tell the share of women in civil so-
ciety organisations but we know that women are very
NPA will strive to ensure that all persons can fully active, at the same time as they face many barriers to
access and enjoy their rights without discrimination participation. We also know that women’s movements
on the basis of their gender identity including and organisations play a vital role in building power,
women on an equal basis as men, enjoy the rights, in changing attitudes towards women’s roles in soci-
opportunities, and actual possibilities to participate ety, and in increasing their influence on public debate
on their own terms in all fields of society: socially, and policy. Both women and men who defend rights
economically, politically, and culturally. or mobilise for social and political change face risks
To ensure that our international work contributes of harassment and intimidation; however, the risk is
to this, NPA will implement the measures also gendered and women and other individuals on
described below. the basis of their gender identity, face specific threats
because they challenge gender norms.

Violence against women and girls, and other forms of

gender-based violence is one of the most systematic
and widespread human rights violations and impedes
women’s participation in society. 35% of women
worldwide have experienced either physical and/
or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner
sexual violence (UN Women, Global Database on
Violence against women, 2017).

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Photo: Kimberly McCosker

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3.1 IN THE NPA ORGANISATION

NPA aims, through recruitment and training, to develop • Create an inclusive, tolerant, and accepting environment
a staff dedicated and prepared to apply a gender perspective welcoming the expression of individual gender identities
in the work, and represent NPA’s gender sensitive and non-discrimination on a gendered basis for those that
values whether off or on duty. do not conform to a gender binary.
• Secure measures to identify sexual harassment and
NPA has personnel policies and other tools to secure a gender implement clear follow-up routines of whistle blowers.
sensitive staff, e.g. ethical guidelines for our staff members • Eschew silent complicity and create an atmosphere
that include the prohibition of sexual harassment, abuse and conducive to discussion and internal debate on gender
exploitation. NPA will in our own organisation worldwide: based discrimination, including violence.
• Ensure competence and awareness on gender issues
• Keep track of the male/female composition in and violence against women within the organisation.
NPA at all levels. Make a special effort, to involve men in taking increased
• Enhance women in management positions and responsibility for strengthening the gender perspective
promote gender balance. of NPA.
• Provide for working conditions that suit the needs
of women as well as men.
• Promote a working culture of respect; free from sexual
harassment, avoid that power and entitlement create
a culture of abuse.

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The Legal and Normative
Framework
NPA’s gender policy rests on inter-
national law and practice, as articu-
lated in treaties and resolutions
of the United Nations General As-
sembly and Security Council. These
include, but are not limited to:
– United Nations Universal Dec-
laration of Human Rights, and the
Covenants on Human Rights
– The 1979 Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women
and its General Recommendation
19 on Violence against Women
– UN Security Council Resolution
1325 (2000) on Women, Peace, and
Security and its subsequent resolu-
tions 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106,
2122, and 2242 (until Nov 2017)
– The Conventions on the Rights
of the Child (1989)
– Beijing Declaration & Platform
of Action (1995)

To facilitate the implementation

of these norms and initiatives, NPA
benefits from the broad range of
analyses and recommendations
developed by international human
rights organisations and institu-
tions, women’s organisations,
and humanitarian organisations.
Photo: NTB Scanpix - AFP PHOTO / STEFANIE GLINSKI

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3.2 IN PROGRAMME WORK

With a good understanding of gender relations we are better • Demining activities shall not be implemented in a manner
equipped to contribute to closing the gender gap in power and that discriminates on the basis of the sex or gender of people
resources. Gender equality is instrumental in reaching our living in or close to a contaminated area.
goal of contributing to the development of resilient socie- • In countries with armed conflict and post- conflict NPA will
ties before, during, and after armed conflict. In mine action, promote implementation of the UN Security Council
gender equality contributes to equality and inclusion in the Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security and its
communities where we work. subsequent resolutions.

1) Analysis and practice:

• Programmes shall be based on strong gender sensitive
contextual analysis, including a power analysis. The analysis
Understanding context
should seek to understand gender roles and relations in each
NPA recognises the importance of understanding
specific context relevant to the programme.
local conditions and cultures and respect for local
• Gender analyses will influence every stage of programme
organisation. However, cultures are not static, but
work: baselines and surveys, programme planning,
continuously changing. Within one society there
monitoring, reporting, and evaluation.
often exist many cultures, where the dominating
• All programmes shall secure sex- and age-specific
is the culture of the groups holding power. Often
information and performance indicators are in place,
oppressive customs, expressions, and behaviours,
in qualitative as well as quantitative terms.
including forcing a binary view of gender, are
• We will strive to uncover power relations and advocate for
explained and accepted as “culture”. NPA will never
change in unequal power relations that, intentionally
accept culture as an excuse for abuse and will support
or unintentionally, harm women, men, boys, or girls or any
people and organisations who struggle for changes
persons on the basis of their gender identity.
in traditions and practices that oppress and harm
• NPA will ensure that programmes to protect civilians against
women, men, boys, or girls.
explosive weapons are gender sensitive and contribute to
gender equality through all phases of programme work.

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Women, Peace and Security
The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was the first UN resolution
to address the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict
on women. The resolution was a milestone and has put women’s rights
on the agenda in relation to armed conflict, as well as the need for
women’s participation to achieve sustainable peace.

Research has found robust support for a relationship between gender

inequality and internal armed conflict. Countries that display higher
levels of gender inequality are more likely to become involved in civil
conflict, the violence is likely to be more severe, and post conflict
peace appears to be more fragile compared to countries where women
have a higher status.

NPA’s strategy for the implementation of Resolution 1325 is anchored

in our partnership with local organisations in the country during or
after an armed conflict. We support broader and more inclusive peace
processes, encompassing civil society organisations, grass-root organ-
isations, labour unions, and academia. These processes aim at making
the peace process more inclusive, promote people-to-people under-
standing, and advocate for the inclusion of broader societal issues on
the peace process agenda, including gender equality. It is crucial to
respect the local interpretations, strategies, and priorities of our part-
ner organisations to allow them to have the ownership of the process.
NPA’s task is to enable women to appropriate the spirit of 1325 in ways
they see fit. Resolution 1325 also directly mentions mine action in
“Emphasizing the need for all parties to ensure that mine clearance
and mine awareness programmes take into account the special needs
of women and girls” (UNSCR 1325, 2000). In order to optimise our
results and be efficient and professional, it is key to understand how
gender relations impact the particular risk, loss of opportunities, and
hampering of development that might occur in mine-affected contexts
due to gender inequalities.

Photo: Charles Lomodong

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2) Participation:
• All programmes must identify gendered barriers to of NPA’s partners are highly qualified in gender
participation, decision-making, and control of resources equality work. NPA will seek to utilise this competence
and identify measures to address these. to improve our own efforts and facilitate useful
• All programmes must ensure that women and any individual cooperation among partners, where feasible.
facing gendered discrimination have real influence and • When evaluating programme work, NPA will include
meaningful participation. In order to achieve this, questions with respect to gender differences in
we will find ways to secure dialogue with women and participation as well as gender differences in the
affected individuals as well as with men. impacts of our programme work.
• All programmes must analyse and take into account time
constraints which may be placed on women’s time, due to
their traditional domestic and caring responsibilities. «Dialogue and Organizational Development»:
• NPA will find ways to engage men and women in the work In organisational development, NPA’s support to
for gender equality, starting from women’s and men’s own partners may include organisational capacities
definition of problems, and their analysis and strategies. that may enhance gender equality, such as:
• NPA will strive to ensure a gender balance in survey and – knowledge and understanding of gender relations as
mine clearance teams. power relations;
• NPA will support women’s organising, as it is often key to – capacity to analyse the different powers, and roles
change gender relations. and responsibilities of men and women in society;
– capacity to formulate gender sensitive policies,
3) Dialogue and Organisational Development: planning, and monitoring capacity that differentiates
• NPA will engage in dialogue with all partners on needs and interests between women and men;
gender equality policy and practice, respecting – capacity to mobilise women for their own interests
each partner’s capacity, pace, and strategy for change. or influence in society;
• Gender equality will be included in organisational – capacity to recruit and include female members in
development support to partners based on the male dominated organisations;
priorities and needs of each partner organisation. – capacity to identify measures needed to achieve
gender equality in the organisation;
4) Learning: – capacity to recruit, develop and maintain female
• NPA will seek to learn from partner’s experience, personnel;
knowledge, and ideas concerning political context, – and leadership capacities of women
organisation, political influence, and gender. Many

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Photo: Charles Obel

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3.3 IN POLICY, ADVOCACY AND
COMMUNICATION WORK

NPA will always strive to enhance our work for gender

equality in our policy, advocacy, and communication work.

• We will use experiences and examples of gender equality

to advocate for change of laws, policies, and practices with
the aim to create change that reaches beyond our programme
work.
• We will contribute to participation of women and girls,
and use dignified and gender-sensitive language when
we advocate for change.
• We will use sex-disaggregated data whenever possible,
including to show:
o how the humanitarian consequences of explosive
weapons may be different for women, men, girls
and boys
o how armed conflict and humanitarian crises
affect and involve women and men, girls and boys
differently
o differences in women and men’s participation
and influence in democratisation processes
o differences in women and men’s access to resources.

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Photo: Colin Bent

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 Photo: Norwegian People’s Aid

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4
IMPLEMENTATION

This policy guides NPA’s work for gender equality. Our vision,
commitments, and principles should be guiding for all NPA
staff. We will work to implement this policy through:

• Committed resources to improve our work for gender

equality and to fulfil the ambitions of this policy
• Incorporation in annual plans in Head Office (HO)
and each country office
• Identification of needs, development of tools,
and training of staff
• Dedicated time in HO to follow up on commitments
and ensure sufficient support for implementation.

This is a living document and will be updated and revised

based on our experience and external and internal changes.

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 Norwegian People’s Aid
P.O Box 8844 Youngstorget
NO-0028 Oslo
Phone: +47 22 03 77 00

www.npaid.org

This document was approved February 2018