A series of trainings on the use of the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) was conducted by the University of the Philippines Visayas through its Gender and Development Program (GDP). The goal of the activity was to enhance the knowledge of UPV constituents on the use of the HGDG, a tool developed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and Official Development Assistance Gender and Development Network (ODA-GAD Network) which seeks to ensure that GAD perspectives and concerns are integrated in all programs and projects.
The first training was conducted on June 8-9, 2023 at the GCEB Training Room, UPV Iloilo City campus. It was attended by representatives from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (OVCPD), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA) and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA). The second training was conducted on September 19-20, 2023 at the same venue, and was attended by faculty members and Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS) from the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and College of Management (CM).
Ms. Lorena T. Yunque, Independent GAD Consultant and member of the GAD resource pool of PCW, served as resource speaker in both trainings. In the 2-day activity, Ms. Yunque discussed key concepts and principles on GAD, gender mainstreaming, gender analysis frameworks, application of the HGDG tool, and linking HGDG results to GAD planning and budgeting.
Various infrastructure projects, researches and academic programs of the university were assessed using the HGDG checklists from project design to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. As the HGDG measures the gender-responsiveness of projects and programs in the different stages of the project cycle, the participants were also trained to identify areas that require intervention, and to conceptualize the needed GAD strategies.
The use of the HGDG tool is one of the initiatives of UP Visayas to promote gender mainstreaming in teaching, research, and public service.
