The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Gender and Development Program (GDP) organized a Training-Workshop on Formulating the Gender and Development Agenda last September 23 and 30, 2024 at the District 21 Hotel, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The activity was attended by ninety one members of the GAD Focal Point System representing the different colleges and units in the university.
The training-workshop is the continuation of the recently concluded “Orientation on the Formulation of the UPV GAD Agenda” held last 17 May 2024. The major output of the activity is the development of UPV’s GAD Agenda for FY 2025-2030. Ms. Lorena T. Yunque, an Independent GAD Consultant and member of the National GAD Resource Pool of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), served as resource speaker during the training-workshop.
The training-workshop started with a review of the steps in formulating the GAD Agenda. This was followed by a presentation of the collated results from various gender analysis tools, including the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework, Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines, GAD Focal Point System Functionality Assessment Tool, gender issues and GAD mandates in the GAD Plan and Budget and Accomplishment Report, and Commission on Audit Observations from 2021-2023. Participants then engaged in a workshop to identify gender issues in the university by entry point. Also discussed were the key elements of the GAD Strategic Plan, such as the GAD outcomes, indicators, baselines, and targets per gender issue. The training-workshop highlighted the importance of grounding the UPV GAD Agenda on the findings of comprehensive gender analysis and the need to align it with national and sectoral GAD mandates.
Ms. Kezzie Lyn B. Hilado, Acting Director of the Gender and Development Program, also shared the results of the Gender and Development (GAD) Survey for UPV employees conducted by the Committee on Professional Development and General Welfare under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE). The purpose of the survey is to identify gender issues in UP Visayas which will be used in the formulation of the GAD Agenda. It will also serve as reference of the committee in identifying, designing, and formulating future activities and programs for the university’s staff development plans to ensure that they are employee-centered, gender-responsive, and inclusive.
The activity included various workshops where GFPS members crafted UPV's GAD mission, vision, and goals, as well as completed the GAD strategic plan. Towards the end of the activity, the participants also formulated an action plan for the finalization of the 2025-2030 GAD Agenda, which shall involve a series of sessions to harmonize the GAD strategic framework and strategic plan.
The training-workshop is one of the many gender-related capacity building activities that the UPV GDP organizes for GFPS members. The goal is to ensure they can effectively carry out their mandated functions and tasks to accelerate gender mainstreaming across the university.
