1.0 Introduction.

1.1 Background

The centrality of addressing gender issues in poverty reduction and development in Africa is being increasingly recognized. A recently published World Bank policy research report confirms that gender-based inequality limits economic growth in Africa, and that it is essential for Africa to unleash the enormous productive potential of its women if it is to make impressive strides toward pro-poor growth (1). The findings of both macro- and microeconomic analysis of the links between growth and gender inequality have shown that large gender disparities in basic human rights, resources, economic opportunity, and in political voice is directly and indirectly limiting growth in sub-Saharan Africa, and that women and girls are bearing the largest and most direct costs of these inequalities. In addition to being a major constraint to growth, gender inequality reduces the effectiveness of poverty reduction efforts. Therefore, understanding the nature of gender disparities and taking the necessary actions to redress them will not only promote higher growth rates but will also make a substantial contribution to the reduction of poverty.

Developing country evidence shows that the nature, causes and impacts of poverty are different for men and for women. Gender inequality persists in access to and control of a range of productive, human, and social capital assets--consequently, the core components of poverty--capability, opportunity, security, and empowerment--differ along gender lines. Poverty reduction strategies, therefore, need to address these differences in understanding the constituent elements and dynamics poverty and vulnerability, in prioritising actions, including setting and monitoring performance indicators, and in monitoring implementation.

The major concern of Governments in Egypt, Mali, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia today, is the issue of poverty reduction among their citizenry. The achievement of growth with equity in both the economic and social sectors is not possible without a significant reduction in poverty incidence for middle-income Egypt, as well as the less developed Mall, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.

Gender inequality and poverty are the result of distinct though interlocking, social relations and processes. Social relations of gender mediate women's experience of poverty. On the other hand, gender affects critical factors contributing to poverty risks: income, opportunity, security and empowerment.

The explicit gender dimensions of poverty defined by the PRSPs (2) include:

* Unequal power relations within the household arising out of gender disparities in security of access to capital assets which affect consumption and production decisions

* Powerlessness related to weak property rights, inability to enforce legal rights and lack of ability to access social services

* Inequitable gender division of labour

Gender equality is not just a question of justice that women and men should have equal opportunities in all aspects of life; it is a question of good economics and is essential for development. Cross-country experiences have shown that in situations where technology or other economic conditions change rapidly, human capital will have a key impact on growth (3). Women and men both play substantial though different roles in our economies. One of the key lessons of development experience is that development activities function much more effectively if all people are empowered. The three country studies indicate that stark gender inequalities (4) have persisted, despite various policies and programmes aimed at enhancing equity in general or gender mainstreaming in particular. This report seeks to enhance the understanding of the extent of the gender inequalities as illustrated by the social economic indicators for the sectors covered by the PRSPs. Focus is put on the macroeconomic framework as this greatly determines the national budgetary operations, and therefore the "real" government intentions.

1.2 Methodology

This report is a merger of five country study reports. The country reports used information from literature review; statistical analysis from various national survey data; as well as key informant interviews (5). The major limitation of the study was the availability of gender-disaggregated data to desired specified levels; say by income and/or geographical location. It is also a problem as data has differing timeframes too, which limits country comparisons.

1.3 Structure of the Report

The report has seven chapters. Chapter 2 gives the Egypt case study; Chapter 3 is Mali; Chapter 4 is Rwanda; Chapter five is Uganda while Chapter 6 is the Zambia study. Chapter 7 draws out lessons learnt and advocacy messages for enhanced gender mainstreaming within the PRSPs in general and the macro-economic frameworks in particular.

(1) See: Engendering Development, 2001. A World Bank Policy Research Report: New York, Oxford University Press.

See also: Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?, 2000 Report prepared jointly by the African Development Bank, African Economic Research Consortium, Global Coalition for Africa, Economic Commission for Africa, and the World Bank. Washington, D.C.

(2) The five country PRSPs experiences are of differing duration as Uganda had the first PRSP in 1997, Mali, Rwanda and Zambia in 2002 while Egypt it was 2004.

(3) Growth is a necessary though not sufficient condition for poverty reduction.

(4) Country Gender Profiles are attached as Annex II

(5) The list of individuals consulted in each country is attached as Annex III.