INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING GENDER MAINSTREAMING: THE CASE OF BASKETO SPECIAL WOREDA SECTOR OFFICES, ETHIOPIA

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of practices and determine institutional factors affecting gender mainstreaming practices (GMSP) in Basketo Special Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. The study adopted a mixed research approach. Quantitative data are collected through crosssectional descriptive survey with the help of structured questionnaire, whereas interview and focus group discussion are used to collect qualitative data. A total of 119 respondents participated in the study. A sample of 16 respondents are used for 2 FGDs each comprising 8 participants. Six leaders from different government offices are interviewed, and 1 proper person from SNNPRs Women, Youth and Children Affairs Bureau is also interviewed. Furthermore, 96 randomly selected officers from government institutions of Basketo Special Woreda filled the structured questionnaire. Quantitative data are presented and analyzed by using STATA version 14 software. OLRA is employed to determine the significant factors affecting GMSP in the study area, while qualitative data are analyzed thematically. The results indicated that absence of private offices for GM officers, non-proportional inclusiveness of women in leadership position, lack of awareness of leaders about GM, unfair distribution of responsibility between both sexes, and limited budget allocation for gender related issues significantly affected GMP in the study area. To alleviate these problems, concerned governmental and non-governmental organizations should work together to raise leaders’ awareness regarding gender mainstreaming and women empowerment in leadership positions. Also, gender officers should be assigned, made to act independently, and provided with their own offices. Moreover, mechanisms should be considered to promote women’s potential. Keywords: government sector offices, gender mainstreaming, Basketo Special Woreda, ordinal logistic regression, women empowerment