The objective of the TA is to strengthen the implementation and integration of gender policy commitments in poverty reduction and governance reform programs and projects. This TA shall mainstream gender in the 11 thematic areas identified in the TA1. As there are huge capacity development gaps in the decentralization system there is a great demand from the provincial and local governments to increase resources. The resources of TA2 shall be well utilized if they are spent on gender sensitive initiatives under the same thematic areas. The ultimate goal of gender integration into decentralization initiatives is to make sure that such considerations are met within the existing framework. As a result, instead of adding gender as a new thematic area, each area is expected to incorporate gender sensitive and specific initiatives. Such initiatives will feed into the gender reforms planned under GRAPS. This TA shall also support GRAPS implementation initiatives.

The TA2 has been designed for a specific purpose:
Nature of support:
Capacity building and supporting gender sensitive initiatives.

Area of support:
11 thematic areas of TA1 and GRAPS

Eligibility for support:
Relevant government departments at the federal, provincial and local level.

TA2 will support implementation of four central policy themes in gender and governance:

• Provide technical support for the implementation of GRAPS and for incorporating gender in the 11 thematic areas of TA 1 through consultants.
• Set up GRAPS implementation units (GIUs) in the four Women Development Departments (WDDs) in the provinces.
• Support the federal and provincial governments in identifying their needs and providing support to them.
• Assisting the Federal and provincial governments to implement GRAPS.
• Provide technical support to the PSOs for incorporating gender in the thematic areas through TIPS.

The following outputs are under Support to Implementation of GRAPS (SIG)

• GRAPS shall be integrated into devolution, judicial and province public resource management reform programs
• Supporting the implementation agencies to implement GRAPS.
• Manage the Gender and Governance Resource Pool (GGRP) to provide special purpose targeted activities of limited duration to support GRAPS implementation.
• Effective policy dialogue on gender reforms informed b y analysis of governance program's performance monitoring and evaluation results.
• Ensuring the governance reform program's M & E systems are appropriately engendered.
• Facilitating policy dialogue through conferences and workshops of stakeholders on GRAPS.

TA2 will be executed by the Ministry of Finance and implemented by the Ministry of Women's Development at the federal level, and by corresponding women's development departments at the provincial level. At the provincial level GRAPS implementing Units will be formed in the WDDs and shall have the primary responsibility of implementing GRAPS. Like TA1, TA2 implementation is also phased into four years and the modalities for this are in line with the GRAPS implementation.

Under SIG two Gender and Governance specialists have been hired to provide support in implementing TA2. Hiring of staff for the GIUs and PSOs as well as Gender and Governance specialists for the provinces is underway.
In collaboration with the PSOs and the WDDs in the provinces the team is identifying the priority areas of work and building an understanding of GRAPS and TA2.

The key objective of SIG is to strengthen the implementation and integration of gender policy commitments in poverty reduction and governance reform programs and projects.

Through SIG one gender and governance specialist at the federal and 4 at the provincial level will be provided to support intergovernmental linkages and provide overall coherence in implementing GRAPS.

SIG includes a GGRP which is designed to provide flexible financing facility to mobilize technical assistance. GGRP funds will be provided for:

• Selected activities under GRAPS
• Activities complementing the strategic objectives of GRAPS
• Technical support to key GRAPS implementing agencies.