Best Practices in Gender and Health Contest

The Best Practices in Gender and Health Contest aims to recognize best practices in the Region that incorporate a gender equality perspective. Since 2008, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has awarded experiences that better address the differential needs and opportunities of men and women in the sphere of health.

Best Practices in Gender and Health Contest

Every year, the Office of Gender, Diversity, and Human Rights Office of the Pan American Health Organization (GDR) organizes the Best Practice Contest that incorporate a gender equality perspective in health. The objective of this contest is the identification of those Best Practices addressing men and women needs and opportunities in health, and, in particular, those practices making efforts to transform the attitudes of health care providers, men and women to improve their opportunities to enjoy an optimal health. Since 2008, an average of 50 entries from 19 countries have been received.

Best Practices are examples of processes and/or initiatives, such as services, campaigns or innovative experiences which have yielded positive results and demonstrated effectiveness. A best practice can be a referent, an example, or a standard that makes it possible to improve the lives of men and women.

Specific criteria

A best practice with a gender equality perspective in health fulfills the following criteria:

It leads to a real change in inequalities, relations between men and women, as well as in the attitudes of the people and institutions involved.
The practice generates sustainable processes in the medium and long-term capacity building, leadership abilities, and equitable distribution of opportunities and benefits for women and men.
It demonstrates a capacity to respond to the differential needs and interests identified by women and men.
It is based on evidence that demonstrates inequalities between men and women in their health status, contributions and access to resources.
It has an evident and measurable impact on public policies, existing legislation, allocation of resources, public opinion, and accountability.
It has an innovative approach in addressing health issues.
It has a multiplier effect; showing evidence that key actors have been trained in other contexts on the incorporation of gender perspectives in health.
It is relevant to the extend that it contributes directly or indirectly to the incorporation of a gender equality perspective into health prevention and promotion as well as into conflict resolution.

Rules for the Best Practice Contest

Submit the complete application within the announced date (2012 dates to be announced soon).

Public or private sector organizations; health ministries, education, national women’s organizations, civil society or academia groups can participate in the competition.

The best practice must be submitted by the organization, group or association that have designed and/or implemented them for at least 2 years.

Best practices implemented in any Latin American and the Caribbean country will be accepted.

The documentation of the best practice can be presented in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish.

Selection and Awards

The Best Practice Competition aims to distinguish and promote the best experience that includes a gender equality perspective in health in the context of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The selection process will apply available assessment protocols involving the participation of a jury comprised of a minimum of 5 people, including the Director of the Pan American Health Organization.
The winning best practice will receive a of $5,000 dollar award, which must be used exclusively for drafting, editing, and publishing the best practice. PAHO will provide assistance with this process and will include the publication in a database.

Key gender concepts

Gender equity in health: Gender equity in health is manifested in the effort to eliminate every avoidable, unjust, and remediable inequality between women and men, in different populations or groups (indigenous, afro, migrants, displaced persons), in the state of health, health care, and participation in health sector work.

Integration of a gender perspective (mainstreaming): “The mainstreaming of a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies and programs, in any area and at all levels. It is a strategy for making women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs in all the political, economic, and social spheres, such that inequality between men and women is not perpetuated. The ultimate objective is to obtain gender equality.”

Gender Sensitive → Gender Transformative: A key criterion is that health programs and projects specifically address the differential needs and opportunities for women and men in health (gender sensitive). Preference will be given to those programs and projects that try to change the attitudes and patterns of providers, and of women and men, and results in their optimal health (gender transformative).

Contact information

http://www.paho.org/gdr/bestpractices

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