Overview

Started as a project named ‘Gender and Development Programme for Cambodia’ (GAD) in 1997, today’s Gender and Development for Cambodia (GAD/C) has evolved as a leading gender specialist NGO. GAD/C started as a full-fledged local NGO in 2000 with registration under the Ministry of Interior (MoI). With a mission to promote gender equality in social, economic and political processes in Cambodia, GAD/C has been working with government ministries and departments, international development agencies, local NGOs and civil societies, youth groups, and other stakeholders to promote gender equality through building gender awareness, adoption of gender-responsive laws, policies, plans and programmes, capacity building in relation to gender mainstreaming, transforming traditional gender ideologies of men and women, and facilitating an enforcement of laws that exist to protect women’s rights. Three programme units–Training and Internship, Advocacy and Networking, and Community Outreach–carry out a variety of programmes throughout the country. The Human Resources and Finance Unit provides programme support.

Background

In 1995 a gender-focused project sponsored by The Royal Netherlands Government revealed the lack of gender fairness, equality and sensitivity in the projects and the internal organizational structures and processes of NGOs in Cambodia. Consequently, with the financial support of The Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Gender and Development Programme for Cambodia (GAD/C) was established on 1 March 1997 as a semi-autonomous unit within the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC), the umbrella co-ordinating council for local and international non-government organizations working in Cambodia. The specific aims of this programme during its initial phase to 29 February 2000 were to increase understanding of the importance of incorporating gender into development planning, to build capacity for achieving that aim, to heighten gender sensitivity, to identify critical areas of gender research, and to liaise with the Cambodian Ministry of Women’s and Veterans’ Affairs in strengthening the local women’s movement through a capacity-building programme. During May and June 1999, GAD/C conducted a four-week evaluation of its organizational and programme competence to determine its ability to continue to respond to its mandate, especially in view of the imminent phase-over of the expatriate team leader and adviser to local management and direction. In compliance with the major recommendations of this evaluation, in 2000, GAD/C applied for official registration as an independent, local, non-government organization and redefined its main objectives. This redefinition has resulted in a diffusion of GAD/C’s previous function as a gender trainer, either in trainer's training or in raising awareness. As the level of gender awareness within the development community and among government agencies has risen, GAD/C can now expand its activities into the essential roles of advocacy and related research and information-sharing. With a mission to promote gender equality in social, economic and political processes in Cambodia, GAD/C has been working with government ministries and departments, international development agencies, local NGOs and civil societies, youth groups, and other stakeholders to promote gender equality through building gender awareness, adoption of gender-responsive laws, policies, plans and programmes, capacity building in relation to gender mainstreaming, transforming traditional gender ideologies of men and women, and facilitating an enforcement of laws that exist to protect women’s rights.

Value

N/A

Mission

GAD/C's mission is to promote gender equality by: 1.promoting mutual respect between men and women 2.enabling policy makers and institutions to develop and carry out plans and programmes that address gender inequalities. 3.strengthening support structures at the national and local levels, in order to eliminate gender inequalities

Vision

A Cambodian society where all people are equally empowered to use their potential to participate in national development with full dignity and justice, thereby creating a fair, just and stable living environment.

Goal

N/A