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'We must reinvent ourselves to follow the geography of poverty' Oxfam chief on the global problem of gender equality
(35 minutes later)
You started your political career in 1989 as a Ugandan diplomat in France. What made you decide to return to Uganda in 1994? You started your political career in 1989 as a Ugandan diplomat in France. What made you decide to return to Uganda in 1994?
I decided to return to my country to play a different role from the one I had been playing in France. Having represented Uganda in France and at Unesco for 5 years, I wanted to compete in politics and represent my community in a parliament that was going to debate and enact the constitution.I decided to return to my country to play a different role from the one I had been playing in France. Having represented Uganda in France and at Unesco for 5 years, I wanted to compete in politics and represent my community in a parliament that was going to debate and enact the constitution.
You set up a unit for gender and development at the African Union Commission to improve its governance and equality. How do you feel that women's involvement in politics has progressed in Africa?You set up a unit for gender and development at the African Union Commission to improve its governance and equality. How do you feel that women's involvement in politics has progressed in Africa?
There has been some relatively good progress in Africa when you compare it to the rest of the world. The number of women in parliaments and local governments in some countries like Rwanda, South Africa and Mozambique has been increasing, especially through the use of quotas. But many other countries are lagging behind, and we are still very far away from reaching the target that was set in Beijing at the fourth world conference on women in 1995, for women to have full participation in decision-making processes and access to power.There has been some relatively good progress in Africa when you compare it to the rest of the world. The number of women in parliaments and local governments in some countries like Rwanda, South Africa and Mozambique has been increasing, especially through the use of quotas. But many other countries are lagging behind, and we are still very far away from reaching the target that was set in Beijing at the fourth world conference on women in 1995, for women to have full participation in decision-making processes and access to power.
Across the world there are some regions where women's political empowerment is worse than Africa, which reflects a broad lack of commitment to bring gender equality forward in the global development agenda.Across the world there are some regions where women's political empowerment is worse than Africa, which reflects a broad lack of commitment to bring gender equality forward in the global development agenda.
"Mainstreaming" gender into different wider policies and programmes is being promoted a lot in development talks. How well do you think this approach works?"Mainstreaming" gender into different wider policies and programmes is being promoted a lot in development talks. How well do you think this approach works?
Mainstreaming has had mixed results since is was adopted as a concept at the fourth world conference on women. It's often discussed at a level of rhetoric, and it's sometimes written into policies, but the more it is the harder it gets to implement and capture complete results. In a sense it becomes engulfed into wider policies – everyone agrees on it but it doesn't get put into practice.Mainstreaming has had mixed results since is was adopted as a concept at the fourth world conference on women. It's often discussed at a level of rhetoric, and it's sometimes written into policies, but the more it is the harder it gets to implement and capture complete results. In a sense it becomes engulfed into wider policies – everyone agrees on it but it doesn't get put into practice.
To reduce gaps between men and women, we will need to change the way people think, behave and relate to each other. Part of the problem is a lack of political commitment and drivers to reaching the gender goal itself. On a strategic level we often fail to invest in resources and bring in people with the skills to drive gender initiatives across departments. On a practical level, sometimes groups promoting gender equality simply lack the tools to plan and monitor how change happens.To reduce gaps between men and women, we will need to change the way people think, behave and relate to each other. Part of the problem is a lack of political commitment and drivers to reaching the gender goal itself. On a strategic level we often fail to invest in resources and bring in people with the skills to drive gender initiatives across departments. On a practical level, sometimes groups promoting gender equality simply lack the tools to plan and monitor how change happens.
What is your vision for Oxfam? As Oxfam International's executive director, what is your vision for Oxfam?
Oxfam is part of a global movement for social justice. We mainly work to fight for economic and social rights for people without a voice or people who are oppressed. My vision for Oxfam is that we reinvent ourselves to follow the geography of poverty. Poverty has shifted over the past 20 years. It used to be confined to the poorest, fragile, low-income countries, but now many more poor people live in countries that are rich, like China, India and so on. We need to move and shift our attention to where these poor people are.Oxfam is part of a global movement for social justice. We mainly work to fight for economic and social rights for people without a voice or people who are oppressed. My vision for Oxfam is that we reinvent ourselves to follow the geography of poverty. Poverty has shifted over the past 20 years. It used to be confined to the poorest, fragile, low-income countries, but now many more poor people live in countries that are rich, like China, India and so on. We need to move and shift our attention to where these poor people are.
To stay relevant and legitimate, Oxfam will also have to move beyond looking for resources in the north. We will have to help poor people to claim their own resources in their countries, and target their businesses and governments to make them responsive to the goal of social justice.To stay relevant and legitimate, Oxfam will also have to move beyond looking for resources in the north. We will have to help poor people to claim their own resources in their countries, and target their businesses and governments to make them responsive to the goal of social justice.
What, in your opinion, makes a good leader?What, in your opinion, makes a good leader?
A good leader in my view should have a clear vision of the future they want, and the society they need to build. They must also have a connection with the people who work for them, and be able to mobilise their best energies to create teams where people can be most creative and happy. It's happy and secure people who the are most creative.A good leader in my view should have a clear vision of the future they want, and the society they need to build. They must also have a connection with the people who work for them, and be able to mobilise their best energies to create teams where people can be most creative and happy. It's happy and secure people who the are most creative.
While it's important to have a "big vision", it's just as important to have the emotional intelligence to create a happy environment where your team can find the solutions to realise that vision. Solutions come from people; a leader is an enabler.While it's important to have a "big vision", it's just as important to have the emotional intelligence to create a happy environment where your team can find the solutions to realise that vision. Solutions come from people; a leader is an enabler.
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