Building a fair, equitable and sustainable future? Make gender equality the new normal.

Q&A with Elaine Conkievich, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia

June 10, 2020

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1.     What one issue do you think will make the most change for the future of development?

Gender equality - plain and simple.  While gender equality is not plain or simple, actively including women, who represent half of the population, in all aspects of development, is plain and simple and should be the no-brainer solution to development.  Without women participating in discussions, in decision making and in implementing solutions, I am afraid our endeavors for people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships, will never be attained.  COVID-19 and the impact it has made on the lives of people around the world – men, women, girls, boys, young and old - has clearly, and regrettably resulted in particularly negative aspects for women. From reduced income, increased care burden, being on the front lines of health care provision, service delivery and suffering from increased domestic violence – women are being affected in many ways.  While dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic, we now also have significant regression in the limited gains toward gender equality achieved over the last years, compounding the regression in peaceful, sustainable development.  Until we recognize, involve and appreciate women as equal, meaningful, and valuable partners in development, we will fail to achieve the SDGs, and to live on a green, safe planet, and to have healthy, happy, and prosperous lives.

2.     How can Mongolia (and possibly the world) achieve that ambitious result?

We need to do more to have more women present and participating in the decisions that affect their lives and the lives of those around them.  The answer lies in doing more than just inviting or including more women in development activities.  It is to see what we can all do to ensure that women are being educated, encouraged and given the space to meaningfully contribute to discussions and solutions around development, no matter which sector, question, or problem is being addressed.

In the case of Mongolia, now is the time. As Mongolia is having parliamentary elections on 24 June 2020, a major step would be to have more women elected.  Currently, Mongolia has only 17% women in parliament. The election law requires that only 20% of candidates in party lists should be women. The bar can be raised. And yet, the larger parties that have registered for the election have barely met even that minimal threshold.  There are several smaller parties, as well as over 100 independent candidates running, some of whom are women.  Nevertheless, we already know that parity is unlikely to be achieved and thus the playing field would not be leveled, but let us hope that the new parliament moves beyond the current 17% female representation, and that at least 40% of ministerial positions are filled with women.  Mongolia has local elections in October this year and presidential elections next year.  Both are opportunities to increase the number of women in decision making.

3.     What can we do as UNDP to help countries make it happen, in very concrete ways?

UNDP, as an impartial convener and a trusted partner, can help with the evidence and practice of what countries stand to gain by looking to options outside of the usual comfort zones.  Asking those difficult questions, as to why there are not more women parliamentarians, why there are no female governors in the country, why a pay gap exists, why gender violence remains an issue? These are uncomfortable questions to raise in any country, and immediately raises awareness, even with discomfort, and helps with the groundswell for change.  

At my first formal meeting in Mongolia, upon presenting my credentials to the Foreign Minister, I raised the issue of gender equality and domestic violence as being a universal concern, and one we should also address in Mongolia.  This was last November.  Just a week ago when I met the Deputy Prime Minister, he noted that he believes that what I raised with the Foreign Minister is important and that we need to do more for the empowerment of women in Mongolia.  I was struck by the fact that what I had said upon my arrival in the country had resonated half a year later. 

So, what have we done at UNDP in Mongolia?  We have had team discussions on how to ensure that gender equality will be a major priority in our work.  All that we do would be considered through a gender lens – so we understand the different impacts on men and women, girls and boys, and work different aspects of women’s empowerment into what we say and do. 

Specifically, to the COVID-19 situation, UNDP leads the Early Recovery Cluster of the Humanitarian Country Team.  As part of this work, we developed a vulnerability matrix which made sure that the distinct vulnerabilities faced by women across all clusters – health, nutrition, education, protection, etc. – were specifically and separately addressed.  When addressing vulnerabilities, disaggregating the data, design and intended impact to look at the specific needs of women has been key to ensuring that the assistance provided is fully effective in this time of need.

At UNDP Mongolia, we are keenly involved in SDG Financing.  When National Budgets are planned and delivered, we take special care in providing advice and support in a gender sensitive way. In the communities where we work and in the surveys we undertake, we listen to the voices of both women and men, on how plans and budgets affect them and if they address their needs. So, while there is a long way to go, we hope that this intentionality across all we do, helps move the needle each time.

4.     What one lesson or experience do you wish to share related to the above? 

We are living in a new unprecedented time, which calls for new and unprecedented responses.  We need to shift the paradigm and actively seek out, engage, and listen to women, and open more spaces where they can engage and lead.  More women in senior decision-making positions – heads of government ministries, territorial administration, and even countries - will make a difference. It has been well-written in the global press that those countries have best dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, are those that are led by women.  And while some might be surprised by this, I am not.  Women innately remain calm when panic strikes, are proactive to solve solutions, balance risks, are empathetic and look out for people around them, and work to save and protect lives. The balance is important with all women and men in leadership to work toward solutions not only for the here and now, but to build a world which is a better future for everyone.