Understanding Practical and Strategic Gender Needs in Development
This informative content delves into the distinction between practical and strategic gender needs in development, focusing on addressing living conditions and causes of inequality. Practical needs relate to immediate necessities like food and shelter, while strategic needs aim to tackle underlying issues such as women's empowerment and societal transformation. By recognizing and addressing both sets of needs, development efforts can effectively uplift women and promote equality.
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Mainstreaming Gender in Development: The Pacific Way Pacific Gender Mainstreaming Training Kit Module 2 Session 9: Practical and strategic needs
Learning outcomes Learning outcomes At the end of this session you will understand: the difference between practical and strategic needs how to plan actions and strategies to address both practical and strategic needs.
Practical needs Practical needs Practical needsrelate to living conditions such as: access to enough food access to drinking water access to education access to healthcare services having shelter having productive assets having income being safe.
Strategic needs Strategic needs Strategic needs relate to addressing the causes of inequality through: participation in decision-making processes recognition of women s contribution having control over resources and knowing one s rights the capacity to express one s views and beliefs and to be heard having self-confidence being respected and protected promoting equality.
Strategic needs Strategic needs Practical gender needs Tend to be short term, to meet immediate needs Unique to particular women Relate to daily needs: food, housing, income, childcare, health Strategic gender needs Tend to be long term Common to almost all women Related to disadvantaged position Subordination, lack of resources and education, vulnerability to poverty and violence Basis of disadvantages and potential for change not always identifiable by women Can be addressed by awareness-raising, increasing self-confidence, education, political and social mobilisation Easily identifiable by women Can be addressed by the provision of specific outputs
Why the distinction? Why the distinction? Addressing practical needs Tends to involve women as beneficiaries and perhaps as participants. Addressing strategic needs Involves women as agents/enables them to become agents. Improves the position of women in society. Can improve the condition of women s lives. Can empower women and transform relationships. Generally, it does not alter traditional roles and relationships.
Related to practical needs Related to strategic needs I cannot go to school because it is too far. I cannot go to school because I am the eldest daughter and must help my mother at home. I am not able to find a job because employment opportunities are very limited in my country. I cannot find a job because employers believe I will take maternity leave since I just got married. I don t participate in the development project in my village because I don t have information about it and don t feel concerned. I don t participate in the development project in my village because women are not invited to the meetings. I was not elected during the last election because the other candidates bought the votes. I was not elected during the last election because people believe women s place is at home.
Why this information is important Why this information is important Because the actions to address the issue are likely to be different or require an approach to address both practical and strategic needs. If only the practical needs are addressed, the root causes of the issue will remain, required additional resources again and again. Remember: if the roots of the problem tree are cut, the tree will not grow back.
Evaluation questions Evaluation questions 1. Explain the difference between practical and strategic needs 2. Give an example of women s practical needs 3. Give an example of women s strategic needs.
Evaluation questions Evaluation questions 1. What is the difference between practical and strategic needs? a)There is no difference. b)Practical needs are short term, and strategic needs are long term. c) Practical needs are related to improving living conditions and strategic needs are related to improving personal status. d)Practical needs are for men, and strategic needs are for women.
Evaluation questions Evaluation questions 2. Women s practical needs could be: a)Learning a new skill. b)Improving their health. c) Accessing a job. d)Claiming their human rights.
Evaluation questions Evaluation questions 3. Women s strategic needs could be: a)Having equal opportunity to be a leader. b)Knowing their rights. c) The application of the law on domestic violence. d)Having the opportunity to drive a truck.
