Background

The Directorate provides technical support in the review, development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of gender related policies, programmes and plans. The Directotate also ensures compliance with international, regional and national gender instruments and submission of the relevant reports to the monitoring bodies. These include CSW, CEDAW, AU, COMESA, EAC and IGAD.  Further, the Directorate coordinates research on gender issues to inform policy decisions and programmes.

Functions of the Policy and Research Directorate include:

  1. Facilitate development, formulation, review, interpreting, implementation and monitoring of gender related policies, programmes and plans;
  2. Facilitate drafting of gender related policies and legislation in MDCAs;
  3. Development and maintenance of gender disaggregated data and management information systems;
  4. Designing and facilitating programmes and projects geared towards gender equality and women empowerment;
  5. Undertaking research including baseline surveys on gender and other emerging issues;
  6. Identify emerging gender issues for implementation across sectors;
  7. Undertake policy and programme analysis on gender parameters, make recommendations for review or termination and report appropriately;
  8. Conduct appraisal on policies, programmes and practices across sectors to establish the level of gender responsiveness;
  9. Establishment and implementation of a gender management system;
  10. Engaging with partners and stakeholders on gender related matters;
  11. Disseminating information on treaties, protocols and conventions;
  12. Monitoring and validating impact of gender programmes and projects;
  13. Liaise with research institutions to identify data gaps and carry out gender related research; and,
  14. Negotiations, domestication and reporting on gender related international and regional treaties, protocols and conventions.

Key achievements

  • Development of National Policy for Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence; the National Gender and Development Policy, 2017; the National Equality Policy; and the Policy for the Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation, 2017
  • Provided technical support in the development of gender legislation such as the East African Community Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016; East African Community Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2016; Law of Succession
  • Ensuring compliance with obligations of the Treaties and conventions that the Country has signed and ratified, namely:
  1. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW);
  2. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW);
  3. African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa;
  4. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol);
  5. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
  6. Development of Status of Women in Kenya Report, 2017.The Report provides information on progress made to bridge the gender gap in key sectors covering the period 2013 – 2016. It is intended to guide development interventions where gaps exist in addressing gender inequalities across the sectors. The report was launched in March, 2017 and has been shared with stakeholders.
  7. Commemoration of International Days on Gender to create awareness on gender equality, women and girls empowerment such as International Women’s Day, International Widows Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence and the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM
  8. Endorsed the African Union End Child Marriage Campaign which aims to accelerate efforts toward the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of girls and women in Africa. Kenya was the 19th country to launch the campaign in March 2017. A draft National Action Plan on ending child marriage is in place.
  9. Launched the HeForShe Campaign, which is a global effort to engage men and boys in ending the social and cultural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving their full potential and thus together positively reshaping society. In Kenya, the campaign was launched in November, 2014 by H.E. the President, who is the National Champion of the HeForShe Campaign and was the second President in Africa to launch the campaign.
  10. Establishment of the Gender Research and Documentation Centre.