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Southeast Asia Refreshers Training and Annual Network meeting | 1-5 Aug 2016 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Name: Southeast Asia Refreshers Training and Annual Network meeting | 1-5 Aug 2016 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Start: 2016-08-01T08:00:00+07:00
End: 2016-08-05T17:00:00+07:00

1 August , 2016 8:00 am - 5 August , 2016 5:00 pm UTC+7

National Societies have been increasingly working to ensure gender and diversity is mainstreamed and fully integrated within their programming, plans, policies, tools, branch and volunteering development and is approached in a more systematic and strategic way. A number of significant developments have taken place in the region. National Societies have been actively engaged in the development of gender and diversity policies, organizational self-assessments, training, the development of tools based on the Minimum Standard Commitments togender and diversity in emergency programming, as well as integrating gender and diversity into longer term planning. The refreshers training is combined with the annual network meeting, 1-5 August 2016 in Kuala Lumpur.

Southeast Asia regional gender and diversity network

The network became active in 2015 with endorsement from National Society leadership. National Society representatives (including 10 endorsed focal points) were identified. The first teleconference was held in September 2015 and the first face-to-face annual meeting and training of trainers in October 2015. As per the endorsed Terms of Reference of the Southeast Asia Regional Gender and Diversity Network, the members should convene once a year for a face-to-face meeting.

On 4-5^th August, a second meeting for the Southeast Asia Regional gender and diversity network was held and chaired by Malaysian Red Crescent. This was attended by all 11 National Society focal points/representatives (3M, 8F) in the region. During the 1.5 day meeting, Focal Points reflected on their personal and collective achievements and successes, since the first annual meeting in October 2015.

Objectives of the network meeting:

To provide a space for peer to peer learning and exchange between members and identify ways to increase peer to peer support within the network.
To provide support on the regional action plan and to build on this for 2016-17.
Identify ways to measure the impact of our gender and diversity work within National Societies.

Common challenges to integration of gender and diversity were also discussed and solutions were identified going forward. The meeting was an excellent opportunity to bring all the focal points together to better get to know one another and to share experiences and lessons learnt. A key outcome from the meeting was an updated regional action plan outlining ways to: better share information and resources among members; increase dissemination of the Minimum Standard Commitments to Gender and Diversity in Emergency Programming; and raise awareness within the National Society among staff and volunteers to Governance and Senior Leadership.

‘7 Moves’ Training (1-3 August 2016)

The meeting was preceded by a 2-day ‘ 7 Moves ’ Training, co-hosted by Malaysian Red Crescent and held at their headquarters. Norwina Eclarinal, gender and diversity focal point from Philippines Red Cross co-facilitated the training with IFRC. The training was attended by 32 participants (9m:23f) from Southeast Asia National Societies, Partner National Societies, ICRC and IFRC. The training was based on the IFRC Minimum Standard Commitments to Gender and Diversity in Emergency Practice, highlighting the importance of taking a gender and diversity approach and practical ways to operationalize the guidelines in disasters.

The objectives are to:

Build on the understanding gained from the regional training of trainers, in 2015. Increase knowledge on gender and diversity concepts and how our approach is linked with the 7 Fundamental Principles of the Movement.
Increase capacity of the participants in the practical application of gender and diversity and how we can ensure the dignity, access, participation and safety of the communities we work with through the use of the Minimum Standard Commitments to gender and diversity in emergency programming.

This was followed by a one-day field visit which aimed to promote the importance of partnership and collaboration within the Movement, as well as with external agencies and government, on issues related to gender and diversity. The field visit comprised presentations from the Department of Welfare: Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development on their social inclusion initiatives in Malaysia, including in times of disaster. ICRC representatives then presented on sexual violence in conflict and other situations of violence, and ICRC’s response. Participants then visited a project site of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, which provides vocational training skills to people with disabilities. This provided the opportunity to come out of the training room and experience first-hand the importance of gender, diversity and social inclusion as an approach in all our work.