Gender Policy Review

Gender Policy Review

Partner: REMIT / FCDO

Timeframe: March – September 2023

Introduction

The recent floods in Pakistan have caused a big loss of lives and livelihoods. There were more adverse impact on women - socially and economically. The devastation caused by the floods opened up the national debate to buil resilience in this regard especially of women, who are even more vulnerable to increased disaster risk. Pre-floods Pakistan had launched a comprehensive National Gender Policy Framework, State Bank launched its financial inclusion strategy, while the Board of Investment has been working on the Asaan Karobar Act 2023 to give a legal structure to Regulatory Modernisation.

All these three policy frameworks focuses the financial empowerment of women at a time when disaster risk was not man made. Thus, the recent floods and its impact on women and increased future risks has made it important to review these policy frameworks to address them from the Disaster Risk Reduction perspective and include recommendations that can lead to improved policy frameworks and implementation vis-a-vis gender.

Objectives: The study aims to:

• assess gaps in three policies/act defined above from a purely gender angle and additionally how these need to be modified to help women become more resilient against future disasters,
• suggest amendments or augmentation to these policies and laws to make them more responsive to gender empowerment and building resilience of women against disasters,
• suggest mechanisms and support incorporation of the gaps into policies and legislations to make them effective to be presented to the government.

Activities: Desk Review, Statistical Analysis, Stakeholders Consultation, Seminars, Final Report.