BUREAUCRACIES: LEADERS, PROCEDURES, AND GENDER

Bureaucracies: Leaders, Procedures, and Gender



Bureaucracies: Leaders, Procedures, and Gender

Gender mainstreaming is at critical cross-roads right now. Many early supporters are disillusioned with the way it has worked so far and are beginning to feel that it has failed. The internal organizational dimensions, such as staffing, policies, and training of all staff, which are interpreted as preconditions to interventions at the operational level, often play a critical role in mainstreaming gender. The government of Lao PDR is constantly pressing for practice and promotion of gender equilibrium, as it is emphasizing on implementation of a better governance system to provide cost-effective service to the public. As the government realizes the importance of the assessment and development of essential capacities for the management of governance, mainstreaming gender into the process of public administration has been one of their key interests.

Though Gender equality policy is regarded as a national goal in Lao PDR, and it is also implemented in most of the projects, this research examined how effectively it has been translated into practice.

In this paper, the current institutional framework are figured out and analyzed according to the information on gender perception and the real pictures in context regarding with degree or level of participation, in terms of staff member, number and roles and responsibility respectively. More measures and approaches have to be taken to achieve a certain level of gender equality in the context, at the same time the point to be considered is not only awareness raising but the capacity building and movement toward the practice from attitude through knowledge gain is recommended here.

Introduction

The Lao PDR is one of the least developed countries in the world. With a highly agricultural economy, the per capita income of the country was around 300$ in 2002 and has been constantly in focus of the international agencies and donors. Though various programs by different agencies has brought about a visible change in country's economy, 34% of it's population is still under poverty line. (World Fact book, 2005). While comparing the state of economy suggests a visible growth, there is a lot to do further.

In this context, it is been observed that gender equality has not been achieved significantly in Lao PDR and promoting gender could help reaching the wholesome developmental target. The government also recognizes that poverty cannot be reduced substantially without the involvement of women at the local level. (NGPES, 2003).

Problem Analysis

Women's secondary status is ingrained deeply in Lao cultures. The average Lao woman remained poor despite of taking a majority of family responsibility and has often been sabotaged by the family heads, unable to control her own fertility and lacked equal opportunities in education, health and development. Even though, government of Lao PDR has clear laws, policy and strategy to support gender mainstreaming, very few is being practiced.

The government of Lao PDR is constantly pressing for practice and promotion of gender equilibrium, as it is emphasizing on implementation of a better governance system to provide ...