Standard Project Report 2016
implementation and community participation while ownership of the programme is still emerging . The overall National Capacity Index , measured through an assessment during a joint government and WFP stakeholder meeting , increased just slightly from 2015 .
Progress Towards Gender Equality
Beneficiaries of the nutrition component were primarily young women and children aged 6-59 months . WFP recognised that in a typical beneficiary household , women were not usually the decision-makers and therefore might not be in a position to influence positive nutrition behaviours . Therefore , in addition to clinic-based nutrition education and courtyard sessions with a mix of family members including adolescent girls who can be targeted earlier and mothers-in-law who have power in the family , WFP facilitated male peer group behaviour change communication ( BCC ) meetings . This approach aimed to create an enabling environment to support women ’ s empowerment , gender equality and household adoption of positive nutrition behaviours . To mitigate defaulting and support women in the advanced stages of pregnancy and mothers with very young babies , follow-up anthropometric measurements were made during household visits , and the women could nominate an alternate to collect supplementary food from the distribution centres .
The proportion of households where men and women took decisions together on how to use cash , vouchers and food , declined from 52 percent in 2015 to 37 percent in 2016 . Follow-up with staff in sub-offices confirmed that more women were autonomously taking these decisions within their households . This increase was likely related to the number of men who migrated for work opportunities , leaving more women in charge of their households .
School feeding continued to promote gender equality at the community level through the essential learning package , which included discussions on pertinent gender issues , such as the importance of girls ' education , girls ’ mobility , consequences of girl child marriage ( e . g ., negative impact of dowry and early pregnancy ). School feeding directly advocated for an end to child marriage through awareness raising among students , teachers and community members as an integral part of its essential learning package .
In order to enhance the impact of women ’ s leadership in school management committees ( SMCs ), 1,250 male and 2,500 female SMC members received leadership training that included gender sensitisation , education and advocacy , which was expected to increase female committee members ’ participation in decision-making . Female leadership in the committees increased to 45 percent in 2016 , closer to the 50 percent or higher target .
In 2016 , the 80:20 male to female ratio in school feeding capacity strengthening trainings for the Government and non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ) remained concerning . The number of available female participants from the Government is still a major challenge , related to embedded social barriers against women adopting leadership positions .
The school meals initiative promoted women ’ s empowerment by providing regular income to female cultivators from whom the vegetables for the hot meals were purchased . The 570 women received skills training through a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Agriculture , the Department of Agricultural Extension , the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO ) and cooperating partner BRAC . Mothers ’ clubs were formed in communities with the school meals initiative . Approximately 13,780 mothers were oriented on nutrition , health and hygiene behaviour , and on the importance of education through these clubs to enhance their role as change agents in their communities .
Under Enhancing Resilience to Natural Disasters and the Effects of Climate Change ( ER ), 317 participant-led management committees were formed , of which 81 percent were led by women . All committee members were trained in cash and food payment modalities . Leaders organized group tasks and conducted cash distribution for the group members . The increase in women holding leadership positions contributed to their empowerment , and is expected to improve their confidence , mobility and social dignity . In more than 80 percent of households , female and male members jointly made the decision on the utilisation of cash . These figures are encouraging . Recognising that women are typically vulnerable in the public domain and , unlike men , face difficulties in being socially permitted to migrate in search of work , the programme provided a supportive environment for the participation of female workers , with the provision of childcare , tents , access to drinking water and gender-segregated toilets . As a result of their involvement , the female participants showed more assertiveness , willingness to speak in group events , and reported their increasing involvement in decision-making at the household level . The ER ’ s Saemaul Zero Hunger Community Project outcome study noted appreciable positive changes in six important determinants of women ’ s empowerment : possessing domestic animals ( increased from 31 percent to 56 percent ), possessing productive assets ( from 21 to 53 percent ), contributing to the expenditure of the household ( from 65 to 74 percent ), active participation in the decision-making of the family ( from 83 to 93 percent ), having a strong opinion on reproduction / using contraceptives ( from 46 to 93 percent ), and participation in community decision-making ( from 2 to 59 percent ).
Bangladesh , People ' s Republic of ( BD ) 22 Country Programme - 200243