The Platform for Action identifies the necessary conditions for effective functioning of national machineries as follows:

• Location in the highest level of government;
• Sufficient resources in terms of budget and professional capacity;
• Opportunity to influence development of all government policies; and
• Institutional mechanisms or processes to facilitate decentralised planning, implementation and monitoring involving NGOs and CBOs.

The Cabinet Memorandum of 1996 (number 3 of 1996, dated 27 June 1996, file number 13/1/1/1) provided for the establishment of the Office on the Status of Women (OSW) in The Presidency. Additionally, it provided for the establishment of Gender Focal Points (GFPs)in national departments

In 1998 the OSW completed an audit of systems in place in national departments to facilitate effective gender mainstreaming. Based on the findings of the Audit, the National Gender Policy Framework on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment made specific recommendations on the requisite status and location of Gender Focal Points in national departments.

Based on the recommendations of the Gender Policy Framework the National OSW of women conducted a survey on the status of GFPs in National Departments. In each department the questionnaire was sent to the office of the Director General.

The questionnaire was sent to thirty six (36) departments. (Attachment two: List of departments that were sent questionnaire). Twenty five (25) departments responded to the questionnaire. (Attachment three: List of departments that completed the questionnaire).

The National Gender Policy Framework on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality and the Institutional Mechanisms for Gender Equality

Paragraph 4.4.2.4.2 of the National Policy states that the responsibility for gender in national departments rests with the Directors General of the department.

Paragraph 4.4. 2.4.2 further makes provision for the placement of the GFP in the office of the director general to enable effective gender mainstreaming of the department’s programmes

Paragraph 4.4.2.4.3 asserts that the GFP should be appointed at director level, and draws attention to chapter five, table five which identifies the skills requirements consumerate with the recommended level for the post of the GFP in national departments

The purpose of the survey was to access the extent to which government departments are complying with the provisions of the National Policy Framework and thereby Strategic Objective H of the BPFA

The survey did not assess the skills levels of GFP’s since the focus at this stage is on the systems in place and the premise is that the National GFP is very clear about the requisite skills and expected outputs. (Attachment one: Questionnaire on the status of GFPs in national departments.)

• The OSW found that of the twenty five (25) responding departments, twenty four (24) reported that they had GFPs.
• Only 8% of the responding departments had a GFP at the level recommended by the National Policy Framework.
• The majority of the GFPs and their supervisors are below entry point managerial level, this means that they are not in a position to perform the gender mainstreaming functions in their departments.
• There are unclear or no reporting lines in most departments on progress with regard to the gender issues, and gender is addressed on an adhoc basis.
• Eighty five (84%) of GFP reported that they performed functions other than their GFP work.
• South Africa is not in apposition to report on progress with regard with regard to Strategic Objective H of the BPFA eight years after signing the document, and after eight years of Democracy.

Twenty five (25) out of thirty six (36) departments responded to the questionnaire. Twenty four (24) of the responding departments reported having a gender focal point. (Attachment four: Appointment and assessment of GFPs.)

Eleven (11) of these reported that their GFPs were units whilst thirteen (13) reported that an individual constituted their gender focal point.

Thirteen (13) departments reported that the gender focal points were formally appointed in the position of GFP. Therefore the GFP position in (11) responding departments was informal or adhoc.

Eleven (11) reported that GFPs are assessed only on GFP work, however, only three (3) departments reported that their GFP performs only gender work (Graph 5).

That is, of the twenty five (25) departments who responded, 44% were assessed on work outside the functions identified in the Policy Framework as the functions of GFPs. Thus there was no compulsion or incentive for the GFPs in 44% of the responding departments to perform GFP functions.

Based on the above, less than fifty percent of the responding departments could claim to have formally appointed GFPs.

In most departments the term gender focal point refers to an individual (13 departments), six (6) departments have three people or less in the unit. Two (2) departments reported having more than five people in their gender unit.

Most units are headed by a Deputy Directors (eleven departments). One department is headed by a Chief Director and six (6) departments are headed by Assistant Directors.

Graph 2 illustrates that of the eleven (11) departments which reported to have units dedicated to gender work:

• Six (6) reported to have three (3) persons or less in the unit.
• Three (3) have five (5) persons or less.
• Two (2) reported that they have more than five (5) persons in the unit.

1. Rank of Gender Focal Points: Departments which have Gender Units

Graph 3A illustrates that:

• Eleven (11) departments reported that a Deputy Director heads the unit.
• One department is headed by a Chief Director (the SANDF).
• Six (6) departments are headed by Assistant Directors.

1. Rank of Gender Focal Points: Departments with an Individual as the GFP

Of the thirteen (13) departments that reported that their GFP was an individual, four (4) of these GFPs were Deputy Directors and two (2) were Directors. The rest were Special Programme Officers whose ranks were Assistant Director or lower.

Graph 3B illustrates that of the departments which have an individual as the GFP:

• Two (2) were Directors.
• Four (4) were Deputy Directors.

1. Rank of GFP Supervisors

For eleven (11) out of twenty five (25) departments, their gender focal points were below the Director level, and indeed nine (9) GFPs were supervised (or reported to) a person at director level.

That is, they reported to a person at entry point managerial level who in turn had other responsibilities beyond the supervision of the person allocated gender work. Only in three (3) departments (12%) did the GFP occupy the level proposed in the Policy Framework. Only in three (3) departments did the GFP report directly to the accounting officer. Only sixteen (16) departments (64%) reported that the supervisor for the GFP had gender identified as one of their key performance areas

The reporting lines are unclear. The person that the gender focal points report to range from Assistant Director to Directors General. One department reported that the gender focal point does not generate reports at all.

The OSW received conflicting responses in this regard. Eleven (11) departments report that the GFP units are headed a Deputy Director (Graph 3A) and four (4) departments report that the GFPs (where these are not units) are Deputy Directors (Graph 3B). However, most departments (nine) reported that the GFP report to Deputy Directors, effectively saying that the GFPs report to themselves or to officials of the same rank.

In spite of this, eleven (16) departments reported that the people they report to have gender as a key performance area.

Graph 4 illustrates that:

• Three (3) departments reported that the GFP report/s to the Director General.
• Nine (9) report to Directors.
• Two (2) report to Deputy Directors.

2. Other Functions Performed by GFPs

When asked what functions were performed by the GFP only 3 (12%) departments responded that the functions performed by GFP functions were those identified in the National Gender Policy Framework. For twenty one (21) departments (84%) the classical fruit-basket of tasks prevailed.

Only three GFPs reported performing gender work exclusively. Yet thirteen (13) departments reported having formally employed gender focal points and eleven (11) departments reported that these gender focal points are assessed exclusively on their gender work.

Graph 5 illustrates that:

• Nine (9) departments reported that they were responsible for three or less functions including gender work.
• Twelve (12) departments reported that they were responsible for four functions including gender work.

1. Is there a Gender Focal Point (GFP) in your Department?

2. Is the GFP a unit or is the Focal Point a person?

2.1 If it is a unit:

i. How many persons are in the unit?

ii. What are the ranks of the persons employed in the unit?

2.2 If it is a person:

i. What rank is the person?

5. What other functions are performed by your GFP? Please tick.

HIV/AIDS Programmes ………

Chilterns Rights ……….

Youth ……….

Disability ……….

Other……………………………………………………………………..

6. Who does the GFP reports go to? (What is their rank and designation).

1. Agriculture
2. Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
3. Communications
4. Correctional Services
5. Education
6. Environmental Affairs
7. Foreign Affairs
8. Government Communications and Information Systems
9. Health
10. Home Affairs
11. Housing
12. Independent Complaints Directorate
13. Justice and Constitutional Development
14. Labour
15. Land Affairs
16. Minerals and Energy
17. National Intelligence Agency
18. National Treasury
19. NICOC
20. Office of the Public Service Commission
21. Provincial and Local Government
22. Public Enterprises
23. Public Service and Administration
24. Public Works
25. Safety and Security
26. Social Development
27. South Africa Management Development Institute
28. South African National Defence Force
29. South African Police Service
30. South African Revenue Services
31. South African Secrete Services
32. Sport and Recreation
33. Statistics South Africa
34. Trade and Industry
35. Transport
36. Water Affairs and Forestry

1. Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
2. South African National Defence Force
3. Education
4. Environmental Affairs
5. Government Communications and Information Systems
6. Home Affairs
7. Independent Complaints Directorate
8. Labour
9. Land Affairs
10. Minerals and Energy
11. National Intelligence Agency
12. Provincial and Local Government
13. Public Enterprise
14. Office of the Public Service and Administration
15. Public Service Commission
16. Public Works
17. South African Police Service
18. South African Secret Service
19. SA Management Development Institute
20. Social Development
21. Statistics SA
22. Trade and Industry
23. Treasury
24. Water Affairs
25. South African Revenue Services