Starting up cooperation

Gender equality is a right and an obligation throughout the world: Four pillars of justification

Everything starts from cultural understanding 

New development cooperation projects start off in various ways. Sometimes the idea comes from a community or an organisation in the developing partner country, sometimes it is an organisation in a donor country that takes the initiative in a country or area in which it is interested. In any case, when cooperation starts up with regard to some development cooperation project you and your cooperation partner must get to know each other and each other’s cultures. 

Understanding a society’s culture helps you see how the different aspects of that society, from political and economic decision-making to moral and ethical norms, fit together and influence each other. It is also good to be aware of the significance and impact of gender in these areas. The prevailing gender system is part of the society’s culture and reflects the division of social tasks between women and men. In many countries it is more difficult for women than for men to take part in the society’s activities and decision-making. This may lead to direct discrimination against women or, indirectly, to the result that the community’s division of labour does not allow women to use their time for other things than, for example, household duties. 

You can start to develop a gender perspective by generally considering and finding out about the society where you intend to start work:

We must be aware of our own culture

 When you think about the above questions remember that, as well as requiring knowledge about the local culture, successful development cooperation requires all the cooperation partners to be aware of their own cultures. Being Finnish, for example, is an integral part of a Finnish person’s identity. That fact often unconsciously guides Finnish people in their actions, choices, feelings, interpretations and behaviour both in Finland and abroad. Being aware of one’s own cultural background is just as important as understanding a foreign culture.

The importance of gender in the social environment

When your organisation starts to plan cooperation with a partner there are many cultural and behavioural matters that have to be learned. As well as looking at the different cultures, languages, customs and values of different countries and regions, you should examine the internal working culture of each organisation. Both partners should consider at least the following questions: 

Gender equality issues within the organisations can also be obstacles to reducing gender inequality in the project itself. It might be that men and women take part in the project but the women are not in decision-making posts or that their suggestions are ignored when decisions are made. This sort of inequality can appear both in Finnish organisations and in their partner organisations in developing countries. When starting cooperation it is important to clarify how decision-making and the division of tasks is to be implemented, both in your own organisation and in the partner organisation, and how gender might be of significance in these procedures. Remember that gender equality is not just a question of the relative numbers of men and women. You must also pay attention to the less visible aspects and influence of gender. Who decides? Who carries out the decisions?

Does your organisation need to know more about gender equality?

 When starting up development cooperation it is important to check the ability of both your own organisation and the partner organisation to deal with the project, and the extent to which outside assistance may be required. Just as bookkeeping, for example, requires an understanding of the basics of finance, so too the issues involved in gender equality have to be learned in order for them to be taken into account in projects.

In Finland training in gender equality issues for development cooperation is arranged by the Service Centre for Development Cooperation (KEPA) 

Key challenges in starting up cooperation: Get to know the culture, history, and social and political systems of your partner country as well as the operating culture of your partner organisation. Be aware that since you have grown up in your own particular culture, you may understand some things differently from your cooperation partner from another culture. Try to analyse the challenges to promoting gender equality that may exist within your own organisation and the partner organisation. Together with your partner, consider whether you and your partner have adequate skills with regard to gender equality or whether you need further training. >>> Pre-planning the project