The IGAD Gender Strategy and Implementation Plan 2016– 2020 is organized in 2 Volumes. Volume 1: The Framework describes both gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment interventions that will be implemented during the set timeframe. Volume 2: Implementation Plan 2016 – 2020) shows the various timelines, resources allocation and responsibility for delivery of the Strategy. The strategy has as overall goal to support implementation of commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Member States; and at regional and international levels. The specific objectives of the Gender Strategy are to: Promote gender-responsive policies, legislations, administrative systems, processes and decision making at Member States, regional and international levels; Strengthen coordination and coherence among development actors for effective implementation of national, regional and international commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the region; Improve gender mainstreaming practice in IGAD’s sectoral focus areas and priorities/ programmes at regional and Member State levels. The Critical Areas of Focus make recommendations on activities are: 1) Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Security. Activities in this critical area entail: advocate for gender responsive land policies and legal frameworks in agriculture and livestock sectors especially to address access and control of the resources; develop and share knowledge products on women’s participation on agriculture and fisheries value chains; facilitate access to land and property ownership by formalizing land tenure system to ensure women’s equal rights to land; revise land administration laws to guarantee equal rights; improve the integration or mainstreaming of gender in agriculture, livestock and fisheries polices; etc. 2) Natural Resources and Environment Protection. Activities include: building capacity of relevant actors to mainstream gender in provision of weather and climate services, water resources management, energy policies and strategies, disaster risk management, and biodiversity conservation and management; advocate for increased and effective participation of women in governance of natural resources; develop national policies that address equity in the access and benefits to and from natural resources for women; advocate for greater participation of women in the extractive industry, etc. 3) Social Development; this include actions on to address resource and capacity constraints that undermine water, sanitation and hygiene goals; and other health related activities. 4) Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration; activities are related to employment and trade. 5) Peace and Security; 6) Corporate Development Services; 7) Human rights; and 8) Corporate Development Services.
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