Gender & Development Diploma

Who can apply?

The Gender and Development Diploma is designed to equip students with background theoretical knowledge and practical skills and tools to bring to their work. The course is appropriate for those working in development from front-line grassroots implementers and practitioners to project coordinators and middle-management to senior decision-makers and policy-makers in the government and NGOs.

Entry requirements:

Applicants to the course should fulfill one of the following requirements:

• completion of five above-average "O" levels, one of which must be English;
• completion of grade 12 with above average grades, including English;
• a certificate in integrated rural development from RDI;
• a diploma in integrated rural development from PAID;
• a minimum of 5 years experience working for a government department or a development NGO.
• In all cases, students' written and reading ability in English must be strong. In addition, candidates will

also be required to submit current CVs and complete an application form stating their reasons for wanting admission to the course.

Duration:

The Diploma runs from March to November each year and lectures are held twice a week.

Course descriptions

Gender and Development: Concepts and Issues

Objectives:

This is the first course in the Gender and Development Diploma programme. It is intended to give development practitioners a formal understanding of gender and development concepts and issues, so as to help inform practitioners' analysis of field situations. By completion, participants should have:

• an understanding of the basic theories and analytical frameworks of gender and development;
• an understanding of gender as a cross-cutting issue ranging across agriculture and the environment, informal and formal sector employment, health, education, politics and the state, culture, religion, and family life.
  

Content:

• basic gender and development concepts;
• issues having to do with gender and development.
  

Gender-Responsive Project Cycle Management

Objectives:

This course is intended to give development practitioners an understanding of gender-responsive project cycle management (needs assessment, project design, project implementation, project monitoring, project evaluation). By completion, participants will have an understanding of:

• the importance of gender-responsive needs assessments;
• how to design a gender-sensitive project;
• the necessity of gender-responsive project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation;
• various project management tools and their implications for gender responsiveness.

Content:

• the project cycle;
• mainstreaming gender in the project cycle;
• project cycle management tools.

Gender-Responsive Project Implementation

Objectives:

This course is intended to give development practitioners an understanding of gender-responsive project implementation of both "gender" or "women's" projects and those not designed along gender-responsive principles. By completion, participants will have an understanding of:

• principles of gender-responsive project implementation;
• various gender-responsive implementation techniques for use in the field;
• how to implement a non-gender-responsive project in a gender-responsive way.

Content:

• principles of gender-responsive project implementation;
• methods of gender-responsive project implementation;
• gender-responsive project problem-solving in the field;
• adapting non-gender-responsive project designs for gender-responsive implementation.

Gender Mainstreaming in Programme Planning, Capacity Building and Organisational Change

Objectives:

This course is intended to give an overview of gender mainstreaming in the processes of strategic programme planning, institutional capacity building and organisational change. By completion, participants should have:

• an understanding of the basic processes of strategic planning, capacity building and organisational change, especially how gender relates to these issues.

Content:

• concepts of and tools for strategic programme planning, capacity building and organisational change;
• models of gender mainstreaming.
  

Practicum or Internship

Objectives:

This is a mandatory element of the programme intended to give diploma students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the field or in programme offices. In all cases the practicum should be used an opportunity to implement their learning from the Diploma programme in their work. Those already working in development may do their practicums in their organizations.

Duration:

The practicum report must be submitted and the findings presented within two months of course completion. The exact period, within these parameters is negotiable according to project or organisational needs. All practicums and internships are subject to approval by GMU department.

Supervision:

A work plan will be developed by the participant and her/his workplace supervisor for the purposes of the practicum or internship, and will be subject to faculty approval. Spot checks may be conducted and one mid-term site visit will be scheduled.

Course evaluation

Student activity reports, participant's project evaluation, and supervisor's report.

Cost

NOTE: The Diploma programme has a graduated fee structure in order to accommodate those who are under funded. For this reason, we are asking that international NGOs and the UN system, who are sponsoring their employees, pay higher than cost.