Management Response

Recommendation:

Allocate adequate resources in future for (1) establishing baseline, (2) identifying control groups (for comparative review), (3) at least an annual comparative computation of results against outcome indicators, (4) establishing a harmonized Monitoring Framework for all partners, (5) making project budget lines result-oriented; this will make budget monitoring, tracking and reporting on performance of expected results more efficient, (6) devising different strategies for empowerment of women with disabilities through appropriate economic route.

Management Response:

UN Women is in agreement with the overall recommendations. 1) Adequate allocation of resources is important; concept notes have been developed and the process of sharing them with donors is underway. 2) Establishing baselines at the start of any project has always proved difficult due to lack of data, however efforts with be made to capture sufficient baseline date at the beginning of new projects 3) By hiring relevant expertise increased efforts will be made in future to ensure an annual comparative computation of results against outcome indicators 4) UNW will devise a harmonized Monitoring Framework which will be rolled out for all partners 5) Project budget lines in future will be more focused on reflecting result-oriented outcomes making budget monitoring, tracking and reporting on performance of expected results more efficient 6) UNW will embark on developing alternative strategies promoting the empowerment of women with disabilities through suitable and fitting economic route.

Key Actions Responsible Deadline Status Comments 1. Ensuring provision is set out to secure adequate resources for future projects; This will be achieved by developing concept notes which reflect adequate budgets and then initiate the process of sharing them with donors in a timely manner. UN Women with the leadership of the WEE Unit 2021/07 Completed The proposal submitted to Norway for a new project has been approved, and agreement signed effective from 1st October 2021. 2. Establishing baselines at the start of any project has always proved difficult due to lack of data, however efforts will be made to capture sufficient baseline data at the beginning of new projects. This can be achieved by allocating resources for commissioning surveys through the implementing partner of the target audience. UN Women and responsible party 2021/09 Ongoing Efforts initiated and allocations made in the new project for establishing benchmarks at the start. Dec 22 Update: Responsible parties are onboard for conducting baseline studies across target districts. Currently, these are ongoing and will be complete by Q1-2023. 3. UNW will devise a Monitoring Framework for any new project with the support and feedback from staff and implementing partners. UN Women and responsible party 2021/07 Completed A Country level Monitoring Framework has been developed. 4. UNW will embark on developing alternative strategies promoting the empowerment of women with disabilities through suitable and fitting economic route. These strategies will be deliberated through focus group discussions, amongst CO and provincial staff members and including feedback directly from our beneficiaries. UN Women, beneficiaries and responsible party 2021/07 Completed Training sessions on the needs identified by the women with disabilities have been delivered, which will be the basis for supporting the women with disabilities and related organizations in future.

Recommendation:

Commission a study to understand and analyse socio-economic impact of HBW, both positive and adverse, on women engaged in it and on their families, particularly on their young daughters who take up caring role for their younger siblings. Such a study will also help to explore any risks of inter-generational transfer of poverty to daughters and devise a strategy to counter this. Similarly, another study on peculiarities of the WWDs can help strategizing for a different set of actions focused on needs of WWDs.

Management Response:

The management is in partial agreement with the recommendation. WEE/SL unit will include the element of community hearings in all future project funding proposals.

Key Actions Responsible Deadline Status Comments 1. UNW agrees that commissioning a study to understand and analyse socio-economic impact of HBW, both positive and adverse, on women engaged in it and on their families, particularly on their young daughters who take up caring role for their younger siblings would be beneficial, as well as a study on peculiarities of the WWDs can help strategizing for a different set of actions focused on needs of WWDs. Such a study would indeed help to explore any risks of inter-generational transfer of poverty to daughters and devise a strategy to counter this, however this would be subject to funding. UN Women 2021/09 Ongoing A study on the identified research topics will be initiated during the year under the new project. Dec 2022: These will form part of the baselines, which are ongoing.

Recommendation:

Continue nurturing following actions by building on results achieved under this project: i. Strengthen engagement with related women development department to advance work with WEE Council in Balochistan. ii. Foster exchange between provincial government’s relevant Departments for mutual learning to institutionalize issues pertaining WHBWs, especially WWDs, and in their respective province. iii. Provide dedicated support to women HBWs in Sindh to register them with LHRD and to gain legal entitlements and benefits. iv. Strengthen partnership with the federal and provincial MoF on gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) and include, inter alia, TA to engender Chart of Accounts, budget preparation and execution and monitoring of public sector finances. v. Invest in building capacity and giving access of women HBWs and entrepreneurs to E-Commerce and digital marketing (e.g. shops on VCEELA). vi. Channel implementation of WWDs related project funding through civil society and organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to develop organisational technical expertise in new thematic areas, such as working with WWDs on their economic independence.

Management Response:

UN Women is in agreement with the overall recommendations. It identifies the need to nurture relations with various stakeholders to increase and strengthen work and activities.

Key Actions Responsible Deadline Status Comments 1. Strengthen work with WEE Council in Balochistan through our Head of sub office In Balochitan. This can be achieved through dialogues and regular meetings UN Women (WEE/SL Unit, Balochistan Sub Office) 2021/06 Completed Meeting has been organized in collaboration with the Women's Development Department, Balochistan to agree on the scope of work and membership of the council. 2. Reaching out to provincial government’s relevant Departments for exchange on mutual learning to institutionalize issues pertaining WHBWs, especially WWDs, and increased collaboration with Ministry of Human Rights to work on issues concerning WWD UN Women 2021/08 Ongoing Advocacy efforts planned with the provincial labour departments during the year 2022. Dec 2022 Update: To be completed in first half of 2023. 3.Through our Provincial office in Sindh, UN Women will initiate the discussion with LHRD to support in providing dedicated support to women HBWs, to register them and to gain legal entitlements and benefits. UN Women and LHRD Sindh 2021/09 Completed The setting up of registration desk for WHBW’s at LHRD Sindh offices have been completed. 4. Strengthen partnership with the federal and provincial Ministry of Finance (MoF) on gender-responsive budgeting (GRB). UN Women 2021/09 Ongoing In-house discussions have been initiated on Gender Financing in which MoF will be one of the institutions, with whom the engagement will be planned. The collaboration on gender finance is also under discussion with SBP. Dec 2022 Update: To be completed in 2023. 5. UN Women will try to mobilize resources to invest in capacity building and giving access of women HBWs and entrepreneurs to E-Commerce and digital marketing will require resources. UN Women 2021/12 Completed The resources were mobilized and the activity completed. 6. UN Women will hold a small consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to develop and discuss organizational technical expertise in new thematic areas, such as working with WWDs on their economic independence. UN Women 2021/06 Completed The discussions with OPD’s have been initiated and a few OPDs will be supported in next year.

Recommendation:

Consider provision of TA to government of Sindh to support following actions: i. To sensitise the office of Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries and Finance Ministers to make additional budgetary allocations to support registration process of the HBWs. A good communication strategy to sensitise all relevant decision-makers at centre and in provinces on HBWs and WWDs issues and potential contribution on national economy and GDP will be very helpful. ii. To explore possibility to form a partnership between Sindh and National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) for HBWs registration to ensure data integrity and for linking database management with the National Registry of Citizens. iii. To mitigate likely pressure from provincial/national civil society and HBWs federation on Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) for extending Social Security Coverage to HBWs resulting from passage of Sindh 2018 HBWs Act and registration of HBWs. Also, continue and sustain support for WWDs related legislation at sub-national level. iv. To support preparation of a budgeted Provincial Plan of Action for HBWs in line with the 2018 Act and present this to donor community for financial assistance in addition to including elements of it in Sindh Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2020-21. The Plan should have special provisions for WWDs.

Management Response:

UN Women finds it critical to engage with the provincial government in Sindh to advance the priorities and actions related to WHBWs. Continued advocacy, planning and support will be required by the respective department.

Key Actions Responsible Deadline Status Comments 1. Advocacy to sensitize the office of Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries and Finance Ministers to make additional budgetary allocations to support registration process of the HBWs. Develop a communication plan sensitize most relevant decision-makers at centre and in provinces on HBWs and WWDs issues and potential contribution on national economy and GDP. UN Women 2021/12 Completed A consultation was organized in 2021 and all the concerned stakeholders were invited to discuss the status of HBWs policy and legislations in respective provinces. KP government was supported and as a result, it has formulated Rules of Business for HBWs law. 2. Meeting will be planned to explore the possibility to form a partnership between Sindh and National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) for HBWs registration. UN Women 2021/12 Ongoing Registration of HBW's is the responsibility of Provincial government, however the partnership with Sindh government is important and is being explored through consultative process. Dec 2022 Update: HBWs are facilitated to acquire CNICs. The process is supported in two districts of Sindh in addition to initiating registrationin 3 districts of flood affected districts in Sindh. 3. Advocacy with provincial government to allocate resources for social security coverage. Also aim to continue and sustain support for WWDs related legislation at sub-national level. UN Women 2021/12 Ongoing The process to engage with the provincial governments on the issue of WHBWs and WWDs has been initiated and will continue in 2022. Dec 2022 Update: WWDs are a focus in the new WEE project. Resources are allocated for their skill development. 4. Concept note to be prepared for developing Provincial Plan of Action for HBWs in line with the 2018 Act and this will be presented to donor community for financial assistance in addition to including elements of it in Sindh Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2020-21. The concept note will include special provisions for WWDs UN Women 2021/12 Ongoing Engagement with provincial governments on translating the priorities for HBWs Act is integral part of plans under the new project. Dec 2022 Update: Discussions have been initiated and written proposal is awaited from the Labor dept.