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Section 3: Reflections and future actions Conclusions n
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work with women or sexual minorities – 79% with men who have sex with men and 36% with transgender people, for example. However, there was little detail about whether the community-level actions by NGOs and CBOs involve working within such groups and, critically, bringing groups together to actually change gender norms and address issues of inequality. Also, the comparatively low number of partners involved in policy and societylevel advocacy could mean that efforts do not always respond to the wider political and legislative environment; to make gender transformation a reality they will need to.
Action at all levels on gender and sexuality The survey confirmed that Alliance partners are focusing significant efforts on gender and sexuality. Assessed against the Alliance’s own Good Practice Standard for a gender-transformative approach, a high proportion of partners are taking actions at an organisational and programming level (82%), at individual, family and peer level (86%), and at community and service provider level (75%). Over half (57%) are also carrying out actions at the policy and society level. Twelve partners (43%) are taking action at all four levels. The results of the survey show that the work of partners is broadly in line with the Alliance’s standards for this area, with the strategies promoted by agencies setting global norms (see Annex 4), and with the good practice of other organisations (see Box 1 and Annex 1). However, as noted in the Introduction to this report, the survey has a number of limitations. While giving an indication of the work being undertaken, the responses provide little systematic detail or analysis of exactly what approaches they have taken, and how work is being done. As such, it is not possible to assess the quality, effectiveness or impact of work.
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Gender-transformative or gender sensitive approaches? It is challenging to assess the extent to which Alliance partners are carrying out approaches that are gender-transformative (as defined in HIV and Healthy Communities: Strategy for 2010-12, see Box 2) as opposed to gender ‘sensitive’ or ‘responsive’. Many partners confirmed that they
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The survey also provided some indications that, in some circumstances, partners may be less actively engaged in some of the more sensitive or complex aspects of comprehensive gender-transformative approaches. For example, relatively few partners noted efforts to address gender-based violence or to involve heterosexual men and boys.
Clarity on theoretical and practical approaches Partners were asked what they understood by a gender and sexuality approach. Taken together, their responses reflect a good understanding, with particularly clear and passionate explanations of how gender and sexuality impact on people’s vulnerability, and why they are critical to action on HIV. However, individual responses indicate that some partners need greater clarity about what such an approach encompasses – especially in practice, rather than theory.
Perceptions of capacity A gender-transformative approach involves consciously and systematically addressing
Approaches to gender and sexuality: responding to HIV