IOM & Gender

The Gender Coordination function is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and programmes on gender issues, and for promoting gender awareness and sensitivity throughout the Organization. It acts to mainstream the Organization’s gender policy throughout IOM activities and programmes, and supports the development of initiatives to address the specific gender-related needs of migrants.

Working Group on Gender Issues  

Established in 1995 to evaluate and assist in institutionalizing IOM's efforts to mainstream gender into IOM's planning and actions, the Working Group on Gender Issues (WGGI) has been instrumental in formulating IOM's gender policy, its mainstreaming strategy and a five-year plan of action.

In August 1999, the responsibility for and supervision over the work of the WGGI was elevated to the office of the current Deputy Director General, Ndioro Ndiaye.

Gender Focal Points  

A network of Gender Focal Points was set up throughout the IOM Missions and HQs who currently number over 102 persons (20 in HQs and 82 in the Missions). These staff members volunteered to devote between 5 and 10% of their time to further the understanding of gender issues in IOM. This goes beyond being a simple post-box for information dissemination. The Terms of Reference inter alia involve:

  • Contributing to the formulation of gender-sensitive programming (for example, identifying relevant gender information, liaising with the field Missions on gender issues, promoting migrant gender issues in public administration programmes of countries).
  • Advocating for the inclusion of migrant gender issues in project/programme formulation (such as identifying and updating gender issues relevant to programmes, participating in project design, ensuring that all background information is disaggregated by age, sex and ethnic origin, raising gender issues in project meetings).
  • Supporting the inclusion of gender issues in all migration project/programme implementation activities (for example, promoting gender balance among staff, training and meetings, including gender knowledge and experience as a requirement in Terms of Reference, ensuring that final project reports specifically identify gender gaps).
  • Supporting migrant gender-sensitive project or programme evaluation (such as providing Missions with documentation on relevant gender issues, understanding and applying indicators of success).
  • Contributing gender migration information and analysis to general policy (for example: preparing documentation reflecting IOM's policy on gender issues, ensuring that both migrant women and men have information on IOM services, programmes and projects).
  • Contributing gender information at HQs, Regional Offices and Field Offices in resource mobilization activities (such as sharing information on gender policies with donors and governments).
  • Introducing relevant gender dimensions in meetings at HQs, Regional and Field Offices (for example, ensuring gender balance in all committees or supporting colleagues when gender issues are raised).
  • Preparing and conducting gender training and briefing sessions for HQs, Regional and Field office staff.
  • Increasing gender balance and supporting the advancement of women within IOM (for example, promoting positive awareness among women in the recruitment of candidates, identify training and skills development activities to support women in career development).