The Gender Equality and African Regional Institution Project (GEARI) Undertakers Second Mission to ATPC

A team from the Gender Equality and African Regional Institution Project (GEARI) visited the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) in Addis Ababa from 7-16 October 2008. The GEARI team, composed of Nancy Spence and Constance Kunaka, was received by Mr. Abdoulahi Mahamat, the Officer-in –Charge of the Trade, Finance and Economic Development Division (TFED) and also had several working sessions with ATPC staff members.

The same delegation from GEARI visited ATPC in October 2007. During that mission, the GEARI team focussed on introducing the GEARI Project and on preparing a Gender Audit as well as setting up a Gender Working Group (GWG) at ATPC. The team also gathered initial information about ATPC’s structure, staff, policies and programs to gain a clear understanding of its nature and scope in order to select the most appropriate approaches for gender mainstreaming in the Centre.

The main objectives of the second GEARI mission were to share the gender audit report’s findings with ATPC staff so as to achieve consensus on priorities for action and to validate the findings of the audit report. The mission also focused on working with ATPC staff members to finalize recommendations for a gender mainstreaming action plan and a capacity building plan for the Centre. The third GEARI mission, planned for 2009 will focus on providing training to ATPC staff members, based on the capacity building plan. GEARI mission II was a success as all its objectives were achieved. The contribution of the GEARI team was well received and appreciated by ATPC.