Concerns raised by women during local governance engagements in Beitbridge were taken further during a Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Audit activity conducted by the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) in March 2024, giving women and local stakeholders an opportunity to examine how gender considerations are reflected in local planning and service delivery.
The activity focused on practical questions around how public services and local development respond to the different needs of women and men. Participants examined issues affecting women in their communities, including access to public services, safety, infrastructure and participation in local decision-making.
Building on concerns previously raised through the Local Governance Indaba, the Gender Mainstreaming and Audit activity provided a more structured way of looking at these issues. Participants were able to consider not only what services were available, but also whether planning and resource allocation adequately considered the experiences and needs of women.
The process also strengthened women’s ability to engage local authorities on gender-related concerns. Rather than presenting these issues as isolated problems, participants were encouraged to view them as matters that can be addressed through local planning, budgeting and service delivery.
For CYDT, the activity formed part of its effort to strengthen community participation in local governance by ensuring that women are able to identify gaps, engage decision-makers and contribute to discussions about how local services are planned and delivered.
The Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Audit activity therefore built on the dialogue already established between women and local authorities, moving the conversation from raising concerns to examining how gender can be considered within local systems and decisions.
The engagement reinforced the importance of involving women in local governance processes—not only when problems arise, but also when priorities are identified, resources are planned and services are reviewed.