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Overview of PACS Project Activities in 2007

* A study of rural communities showed a skewed perception of development initiatives in relation to women. The notion of gender and women’s roles were usually almost completely ignored in any initiatives taken at the community level. This study led to the realization that there needed to be empowerment and collaboration amongst CSOs to mainstream the notion of gender into everyday decisions—it was not acceptable to ignore women anymore.

* The PACS project aimed at mainstreaming gender amongst the poorest areas of civil society. Under the PACS project, the Gender Training Institute conducted trainings in three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The intervention focused at three levels: the individual, the project and the organization. Gender sensitization and mainstreaming workshops were held with 271 CSOs and over 500 participants (440 men and 68 women). The trainings first emphasized on individual sensitization and behavior change. Once the individuals were ready for change, necessary skills were imparted for gender mainstreaming at the project and organization levels. The PACS manual, titled “Engendering Change: Restructuring Gender Relations, A Facilitator’s Guide” was developed from May, 2007-September, 2007 and was subsequently used as the training curriculum during the training programs.  

* The project implementation in Kanpur Dehat ended in April, 2007.  

* PACS National Advocacy Workshop was held at Delhi in September, 2007 to discuss the issue of gender and the role of this concept amongst the poorest of the poor.

* A district level advocacy workshop was organized at Kanpur Dehat in October 2007, which examined the enhanced capability of the poorest of the poor. This workshop measured the capacity of the local communities after the PACS project implementation.

* Follow-up assessments have been conducted widely in all of the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. These assessments proved success of the project’s implementation as a notion of gender was transferred to the poorest areas of society.