UN-HABITAT has developed this Sourcebook in response to the difficulties encountered by many local government trainers when addressing gender relations in local governance. Many of the training tools, such as the Local Elected Leadership Series, the Local Economic Development Series, the Financial Management for Local Government Series and others address Gender equity, gender equality and women’s rights. However, not enough guidance may have been provided for local government trainers to mainstream gender into their training programmes.

Human settlement development cannot be gender-neutral and the equitable participation of women is essential at all levels of decision-making in towns and cities. It is therefore important to strengthen local government training in this regard. This Sourcebook provides local government trainers with the tools to highlight the importance of gender in the decision-making process and to reach better solutions for local communities.

This publication covers the following key gender related issues:

• Participation in local government,
• Land rights,
• Urban planning,
• Service provision,
• Socal government financing,
• Violence against women and
• Local economic development.

Each of these issues is introduced by a brief gender analysis. Numerous case studies illustrate what local governments can do. Reflection questions and training exercises help trainers to develop successful training events.

Many local government trainers are not experienced gender trainers; therefore, the Sourcebook provides an extensive overview of gender concepts and tools. This Sourcebook can be used as a stand-alone tool to design gender training for local governments. However, it is primarily designed as a companion to existing UN-HABITAT training tools. A vast annotated bibliography provides guidance to further explore ‘gender’ in human settlements development and local governance.

For further information please contact. Bernhard Barth (Bernhard.Barth@unhabitat.org

The publication can be downloaded from here