An Evaluation of Oxfams Community Protection Committee Gender Equality Programme in Uvira District, South Kivu Dr-Congo

ABSTRACT 

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Oxfam’s Community Protection Committee gender equality programme in Uvira district DR-Congo. The following objectives guided the study: i) to examine the effects of the gender equality activities implemented by CPC programme in Uvira district, DRC; ii) to examine the successes of the CPC programme in ensuring gender equality in Uvira district DRC; and iii) to explore the challenges of implementing the CPC programme in Uvira district. This study used case study research design. A survey of 75 beneficiaries was conducted using questionnaires as well as 10 key informant interviews. Data analysis was done using manual coding and transcribing recurrent themes in the text. The study found that CPC programmes promoted and formalized women’s participation by having an equal number of men and women on protection committees. The study further found that CPC programme recorded successes in areas such as: increased capacity building on protection, gender and social accountability; improved community members’ confidence and empowerment levels; and easier access to sexual and gender based violence-related services. In addition, the study found that a number of challenges impeded the activities of CPCs, among which included: governance and accountability, difficulty in involving the youths, financial mismanagement and fraud. In conflict areas, the CPCs faced high risks when raising awareness of sensitive issues. The study concludes that CPC programme is a reliable model for promoting and addressing gender equity in conflict affected areas such as Uvira district. The study recommends that there is a need for the Oxfam team, local leaders and members of the community to address issues that men face equally with those affecting women; community leaders, church leaders and the Oxfam staff should provide separate spaces where women can come together and talk about issues that affect them; and Oxfam management and the local leaders and members of the CPC programme should be trained on the code of conduct; and that CPCs and Oxfam staff should sensitize the locals of the activities of the CPCs and their relevance to the security of the area.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION.................................................................................................................ii

APPROVAL .......................................................................................................................iii

DEDICATION....................................................................................................................iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT................................................................................................... v

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS...........................................................................vi

ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................xi

CHAPTER ONE.................................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background.................................................................................................................... 1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective ................................................................................................. 1

1.1.2 Theoretical perspective............................................................................................... 3

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective .............................................................................................. 3

1.1.4 Contextual Perspective ............................................................................................... 4

1.2 Problem Statement......................................................................................................... 6

1.2 Purpose of the Study...................................................................................................... 6

1.3 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................. 6

1.4 Research questions ........................................................................................................ 7

1.5 Scope of the Study......................................................................................................... 7

1.5.1 Geographical Scope.................................................................................................... 7

1.5.2 Theoretical Scope ....................................................................................................... 7

1.6.3 Content scope ............................................................................................................. 7

1.7 Significance of the study ............................................................................................... 8

1.9 Operational Definitions of Key Terms.......................................................................... 9

CHAPTER TWO............................................................................................................... 10

LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................................. 10

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 10

2.1 Theoretical Review...................................................................................................... 10

2.2. Conceptual Framework .............................................................................................. 13

2.3 Related Studies............................................................................................................ 14

2.3.1 Social Effects of Gender Equality Programmes....................................................... 14

2.3.2 Economic Effects of Gender Equality Programmes................................................. 17

2.3.3 Political Effects of Gender Equality Programmes ................................................... 21

2.3.3 The Successes of the CPC Programme in Ensuring Gender Equality ..................... 26

2.3.3 Challenges of Gender Equality Programmes ........................................................... 27

2.3.4 Literature Gap........................................................................................................... 28

CHAPTER THREE........................................................................................................... 29

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 29

3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 29

3.1 Research Design .......................................................................................................... 29

3.2 Study Area ................................................................................................................... 30

3.3 Study Population.......................................................................................................... 31

3.4 Sample Size ................................................................................................................. 31

3.5 Sampling Techniques .................................................................................................. 32

3.6 Data Sources................................................................................................................ 32

3.7 Data Collection Methods............................................................................................. 32

3.8 Data Collection Instruments........................................................................................ 33

3.8.1 Questionnaires.......................................................................................................... 33

3.8.2 Key Informant Interviews......................................................................................... 33

3.9 Validity and Reliability ............................................................................................... 34

3.9.1 Validity ..................................................................................................................... 34

3.9.2 Reliability ................................................................................................................. 34

3.10 Data Gathering Procedures........................................................................................ 35

3.11 Data analysis.............................................................................................................. 35

3.12 Ethical Considerations............................................................................................... 36

3.13 Limitations of the Study ............................................................................................ 37

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 38

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION............................... 38

4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 38

4.2 The Effects of the Gender Equality Activities Implemented By CPC Programme .... 38

4.2.1 Involvement in the Programme ................................................................................ 38

4.2.2 How Involved in the Programme ............................................................................. 39

4.2.3 Positive Changes Brought By the Programme ......................................................... 40

4.3 The Successes of the CPC Programme in Ensuring Gender Equality in Uvira District ...................................................................... 44

4.4 The Challenges of Implement Oxfam’s CPC Programmes in Uvira district .............. 46

4.4.1 Governance and Accountability ............................................................................... 46

4.4.2 Limited Advocacy .................................................................................................... 47

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 50

DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................ 50

5.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 50

5.1 Discussions.................................................................................................................. 50

5.1.1 The Effects of the Gender Equality Activities Implemented By CPC Programme in Uvira District ....................................................... 50

5.1.2 The Successes of the CPC Programme in Ensuring Gender Equality in Uvira District ......................................................................... 52

5.1.3 The Challenges of Implementing Oxfam’s CPC Programmes in Uvira district ...... 54

5.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 55

5.3 Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 56

5.4 Contribution to New Knowledge................................................................................. 57

5.5 Areas for Further Studies............................................................................................. 57

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 58

APPENDIX I: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ........................... 66

APPENDIX II: KEY INTERVIEW INFORMANT ......................................................... 68