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Social Accountability on Gender Project

To tackle GBV issues in the community is essential to work together, not only with the community but also with the service providers.  

We decided to incorporate a social accountability approach in the gender project activities.

Social accountability or citizen-led accountability refers to how key duty bearers (service providers and policy-makers) can be held accountable for the delivery of quality services to citizens/service users through the engagement of the latter with the service delivery system.

In the gender project, we selected the Community Scorecard Approach (CSC), this approach aims to build the capacities of service users and providers to analyze and monitor service delivery, and to create spaces for constructive engagement to improve basic service provision.

We adapted the approach to the project capacity, so we are applying it on a small scale. In the Wefoco gender project CSC the community is represented by the GBVA. So the GBVA were supported to identify the main issues regarding the local response service systems to GBV and score the local services. 

For the input tracking matrix the Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines (2019) on GBV for each service were shared and displayed and the roles of each stakeholder according to the National Policy on Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence (2014). 

For the community scorecard, the GBVA were divided into men and women; each sub-group engaged in a conversation about the issues they face accessing GBV services, and what constitutes a quality service.

The sub-group discussions reveal themes that are then translated into a series of qualitative indicators (e.g. attitudes of service providers, free service delivery, knowledge of service providers,  confidentiality, etc.) against which each sub-group will score based on their experiences and perceptions of the service. Community members use the following five-level qualitative scale to score each indicator: Very bad, Bad, OK (average), Good, Very good.  Adding remarks to justify their choice.

Once each sub-group has scored their indicators, they come together as one large group. The average score across subgroups is reported in the overall community scorecard. 

The same process was done with the representatives from the response services to GBV, Wefoco invited the Police, Health, Gender, Social Services, Child Protection and Education Offices. From these services, all were present except the child protection and gender office. Together they discussed the main issues the services face and scored the service's response using the same method.   

Later the community representatives (GBVA) presented and the services presented each of their scorecards in a joint meeting. The main issues presented in the booth scorecards were gathered, and a joint action plan was elaborated to address these issues in the next 3 months.  

Some examples of actions included in the action plan were:  advocacy on CBOs forum meetings, training of police staff, chiefs/assistant chiefs, community, social service volunteers, persons with disabilities and school counsellors. 

We are already in the field working to implement the plan. We will keep you posted! :)

Want to know how you can support the activities of the Gender-Based Violence Ambassadors in Kenya visit: Mondo Womens-Fund .

. Andreia Silva, Senior Gender and Education EU AID Volunteer with Mondo in Kenya

Maandumine Keenia digipädevuse programmi

Igat algust võib otsida ideest, mida kogedes märkad selle sündi või olemasolu harva. Kokkusattumus, juhus, õigel ajal õiges kohas olek või äpardus – nimetusest hoolimata võib see sind viia Keeniasse vabatahtlikuks. Või võib see sind viia peaaegu Ugandasse ja viimasel hetkel käänata mõned pikkuskraadid itta ja maandada sind Lääne-Keenias Shianda külas. Umbes midagi täpselt sellist juhtus minu ning Margitiga koroonahulluse jätkuepisoodina sellel suvel. Ugandast sai Keenia, suvest Aafrikas sai pool suve ning Kampala suurlinnamelust sai vaikne külakulgemine kaunis kogukonnas.
Tere, mina olen Marten ja mina olen Margit. Geograaf ja matemaatik, koondavalt MTÜ Mondo digipädevuste programmi hariduseksperdid/vabatahtlikud, kes töötavad juulis ning augustis Shianda 

piirkonna koolides panustades kohalikku kooliharidusse peamiselt läbi digitehnoloogiate rakendamise võimalikkuse hindamise, koolituste ning nii noorte kui vanemate kohalike personaalsete konsultatsioonide.
Hirm tundmatuse ees on enamasti inimlik ent irratsionaalne. Ette valmistades ning saabudes vallanud kõhedus asendus kiirelt rõõmu ning täiendava kiindumusega varem tehtud valikutesse. Kogukonna soe vastuvõtt, organisatsiooni toetus ning teised kohapeal olevad vabatahtlikud ei jätnud ruumi muremõteteks. Hommikuse äratuse eest kannavad hoolt kuked ja tõusev päike, hea une tagab sügavale ekvaatori taha vajunud päikesest jäänud pilkane pimedus.
Meie kohalik koostööpartner on People Against Poverty (PAPO) eesotsas Jose Chibataga, kes veab kohalikku keskust ning püüab panustada kohalike oskuste arengusse.

Kuna huvi meie tegevuse ning eie isikute vastu on jäägitu, siis võimaldab kindlalt jätta jälje ka esmalt planeeritust lühema aja jooksul. Koheselt kohalikku ellu sukeldudes oleme jõudnud St. Patrick´s Ebubere Secondary School´i, kus pärast fookusintervjuu ning küsimustiku läbiviimist planeerime koolituspäevi. Kooli viieteistkümnest õpetajast omab nutitelefoni kolmteist. Kahjuks ei kasuta neist telefoni õpetamisse panustamiseks keegi.

 On selge, et Covid-19st tingitud koolide sulgemine Keenias on jätnud tugeva lünga terve generatsiooni haridusteesse. Iga uus teadmine või oskus on teretulnud ja iga abikäsi ülimalt vajalik.

Greetings from Kenya

 Last year same time I was living in Costa Rica and working in the most amazing School community (United World Colleges),  but life had different plans for our family, and we moved back to Estonia. I started with PhD studies, which has been on my to-do list for some time, and dived into the field of academic research.  Due to coronavirus, all the work was done in distant mode, and for a people`s person,  who loves the interaction and change of scenery, this was the most challenging year by far.  So when I saw the ad that MONDO is looking for volunteers for the summer period, I knew that this could be an adventure my heart has been craving for. Now it was just a matter of convincing my family that it would be a great way to spend the summer holidays. My husband is a passionate naturalist and wildlife photographer, so it was not difficult to convince him. After all, there is so much to see and do. In August, the time I will finish the project is exactly the time of wildebeest migration in Masai Mara national park, and I guess that was the selling argument. My 4-year old has seen many travel shows, and he has an obsession with seeing local tribes,  so he was happy to go for an adventure. Our 4th member is almost two, and he feels great anywhere as long as he has his family around. So that was set!   

We have been here for almost three weeks now and starting to get used to the daily routine and language. Both kids have learned the basic greetings and know the difference between Jambo, mambo and Habari.  We live in a nice2-bedroom complex with a beautiful garden, where there is plenty of space to run and play. Every morning we wake up around seven, and I start work  around 9.  I am working with the organization People Against Poverty and training digital competence workshop leaders. We started with the training last week, and so far everything (except getting the internet) has been going smoothly. The group has great energy, and they are eager to learn (more about it in my next post). When I am working, kids usually play in the garden with neighbours kids and invent all sorts of fun games as we did not take many toys with us.

 

In the evenings we usually go for strolls near the cornfields and enjoy the beautiful sunsets. It is completely dark at seven, and at this time, it is also a curfew, so all the pubs are closed. There are two more volunteers in the village, and Mondo organized a visit to Estonian teachers, so we have had our share of social events. Hopefully, the cosy cooking- and movie nights will continue. Kenya has been welcoming, and despite the pandemics, the daily life in the village continues. I am grateful that I can be part of this life and looking forward to the sunny days and cosy evenings under the African skies! 

First day of the workshop

Celebrating Midsummer evening.

Evening walks near the cornfields.

Backyard selfie...the boys are ready for adventure.