Audit report assesses the Secretariat’s strategy for gender equality and gender mainstreaming

It represents the first in-depth review of the Secretariat’s work in the area of gender mainstreaming since the adoption of the 1995 Plan of Action on Gender and Development.

The audit focuses on two objectives. Firstly, how well the Secretariat’s strategy for gender equality and gender mainstreaming was understood by Secretariat staff and its consultants, incorporated into management practices and integrated into project design and implementation. Secondly, the study examined the quality and impact of the Secretariat’s gender equality projects and programmes in Commonwealth countries.

The audit found that the commitment of the Secretariat to gender equality was strong, and that many initiatives had been undertaken through the programme to improve gender equality in member countries.

However, it noted that the Secretariat did not place sufficient emphasis on ensuring that internal systems and structures reinforce the principles and practices of gender mainstreaming across all projects and programmes. The audit also noted that a greater effort should be given to staff training and in developing in-house advisory support for gender analysis, particularly at project design and during monitoring.

As follow-up action, some of the measures that the Gender Section of the Secretariat is working towards include:

· The development of a draft gender policy.

· Enhanced accountability for gender mainstreaming in the Secretariat’s Draft Strategic Plan 2008/09 – 2011/12.

· Reconstitution of the High Level Steering Committee to overview effective gender mainstreaming.

· Introduction of gender training programmes through the Human Resources Section for all staff.

Secretariat Links:

• Gender