Gender Community Annual Report 2013

Dear Members,

I am pleased to share with you the Gender Community’s Annual Report 2013. This is our third consecutive Annual Report. Members can access the report at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange-un.net.in/public/gen/resource/res_info_31121301.pdf (PDF; Size: 959KB).  If you can, please share the report within your networks; it may inspire and encourage many others to make use of the knowledge based services of the Gender Community.

As a Resource Person and Moderator of the Community since last five and a half years, I am highly appreciative of our now nearly 5000 members i.e. development practitioners spread across India and abroad, for their affirmative actions, initiatives, and active participation in the multifarious knowledge based activities of the Community. It has enabled the Community to reach far and wide; and promote knowledge management. Also, I remain - thankful to UNICEF and UNWOMEN  - the facilitating agencies of the Gender Community, for their support and encouragement. It has allowed us to innovate and be effective in promoting knowledge management among development practitioners, primarily in India (also in South Asia). As in 2012 - in 2013, the Gender Community did its own resource mobilization to promote its knowledge based activities. In this regard, the Community extends special gratitude to various United Nations (UN) agencies and non-UN organizations including the government departments/agencies as well as national and international donors and NGOs for their timely support, encouragement and appreciation of the activities and services offered by us.

The Gender Community’s profile is fast changing. It is no longer restricted to ‘e-queries-consolidated reply’ mode of knowledge sharing or knowledge management. The Community’s work goes much beyond its online discussions/services. Our Annual Report 2013 is yet again a testimony to that.

The year - 2013 - was a special year for us. First, in April 2013, Ms. Lise Grande, United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC), launched the Gender Community’s Blog with her welcome message. Second, the year saw the Community making use of various social mediums (Webinar/webcast, Facebook, You Tube, etc.) besides its regular e-platform to foster knowledge sharing, and provide an effective platform for practitioners to collaborate and share their innovations, knowledge-skills, and best practices. Third, the Community in collaboration with non-UN organizations like the PACS (Poorest Areas Civil Society) and CBM India Office initiated two projects on ‘Gender and NREGA’, and an Action Group on Persons with Disabilities respectively with assigned knowledge based deliverables. Finally, this year, a significant part of our online discussions were dedicated to policy discussions, with Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Rural Development, Government of India, also hosting a discussion with our members on the National Land Reforms Policy from a gender perspective. The Minister’s acknowledgement to our work encouraged us tremendously.

I hope the year 2014 will be far more engaging, with us continuing to undertake knowledge management for development practitioners with full vigour and in the process, help facilitate in finding the right answer or solutions for even the most complex issues.

Any feedback that helps us to promote, strengthen and improve our Knowledge Management work and services is most welcome. You can address your mails to me at malika.basu@one.un.org  or send to se-gen@solutionexchange-un.net.in 

Peace and Solidarity

Malika Basu
Resource Person & Moderator
Gender Community