On 15 November a team of two consultants and 8 newly trained gender experts presented the findings of a gender study in forest-based communities to governmental, private sector and non-governmental stakeholders and researchers in Samarinda.

Key findings from the study include: (1) Gender mainstreaming in the forestry sector is still perceived as “women issues”; (2) Laws and guidelines concerning gender mainstreaming exist on paper, however, are yet to be implemented; (3) Indicators for gender empowerment are of inferior quality compared to the indicators of the Human Development Index in East-Kalimantan; (4) Lack of coordination among sectors for cross-cutting issues.

The Indonesian-German Forests and Climate Change Programme (FORCLIME) has conducted a study on gender issues in the forestry sector in general and how to integrate gender issues into the activities of FORCLIME, particularly in its implementation of field activities in East and West Kalimantan. The study is also expected to provide input into the gender activities of GTZ in Indonesia. The study will result in a gender concept for FORCLIME which is aligned with GTZ’s overall gender strategy, the Indonesian country gender policies and will contribute to the achievement of FORCLIME’s overall objectives and results.

As part of this study a training course on gender issues and participatory appraisal methods has been conducted and the new skills gained have been applied in a rapid appraisal of gender-specific roles and needs in a forest based community in Kapuas Hulu.

The final report is expected by mid-December.