MC 2017-04 | Tool for Assessing Progress of Gender Equality in Primary Cooperatives as Supplemental to Memorandum Circular 2013-22

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2017 – 04
Series of 2017

SUBJECT : TOOL FOR ASSESSING PROGRESS OF GENDER EQUALITY IN PRIMARY COOPERATIVES AS SUPPLEMENTAL TO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR 2013-22

Section 1. Title

This Circular shall be known as the Tool for Assessing Progress of Gender Equality (GE) in Cooperatives as Supplemental to Memorandum Circular 2013-22.

Section 2. Purpose

This Circular aims to disseminate to the cooperative sector the tool for assessing gender equality in cooperatives. This TOOL shall assess the cooperative’s progress in mainstreaming gender and development (GAD) toward achieving GE.

Section 3. Scope

This Circular shall be applicable to all primary cooperatives duly registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

Section 4. About the Tool

The Tool for Assessing Progress of GE in Cooperatives, attached as Annex A, will assess the cooperative’s progress in implementing gender equality (GE). The Tool determine the extent to which the cooperative lives the universal Cooperative Principles of equality, equity, social responsibility, and caring for others as outlined in the “Statement on the Cooperative Identity (SCI)” of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). The results of this Tool can be used as basis for crafting the cooperative’s gender and development (GAD) plan.

The Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) developed this Tool during its GAD mainstreaming project for Philippine cooperatives in 2010-2012, funded by the Swedish Cooperative Centre (later known as We Effect). AWCF enhanced the Tool in its GAD project for Philippine cooperatives in 2013, also supported by We Effect. In March 2016, the Tool was improved by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), the Gender Equality Resource Center (GERC), and the partner cooperatives.

The Tool for Assessing GE in Cooperatives was developed in response to the implementation of CDA Memorandum Circular 2013-22 or the Guidelines in Mainstreaming Gender and Development (GAD) in Cooperatives, and Baguio GAD Summit 2016 Declaration and Call for Action.

4.1. Purpose of the Tool

  • Rates the extent to which the cooperative lives the universal cooperative principles of equality, equity, social responsibility, and caring for others as outlined in the “Statement on the Co-operative Identity (SCI)” of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA); and
  • Basis for crafting gender-responsive cooperative development plan.

4.2. Components of the Tool

  1. Cooperative Information – basic and general information about the cooperative including the number of members, officers, staff and members’ contribution to share capital;
  2. Level of Gender Equality in the Cooperative – the main component of the tool where the status and levels of implementation of cooperative vis-a-vis gender equality will be rated accordingly. These include determining the level of gender awareness by the key players of cooperative, presence of the different aspects of GAD mainstreaming, presence of GAD mainstreaming mechanisms and instruments and status of implementation thereof, and other areas of concerns indicated in CDA MC 2013-22;
  3. Scoring Instruction – summary of scores and the corresponding qualitative values for the overall scores including the scores for each area of improvement and for improvement (people, policy, programs and enabling mechanisms) and the qualitative interpretation of each; and
  4. Interpretation of Scores – identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and the needed actions.

Section 5. Adoption of the Tool

All cooperatives must adopt the Tools for Assessing GE in Cooperatives herein attached and shall come up with their respective gender-responsive cooperative development plan in accordance with the result of the assessment. The cooperative shall be guided by CDA Memorandum Circular 2013-22.

Section 6. Effectivity

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect upon the approval of the Board of Administrators of the Cooperative Development Authority and fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Office of the National Administrative Registry (ONAR).

Approved by the CDA Board of Administrators under Resolution No. 34, S-2017 dated March 21, 2017.

FOR THE CDA BOARD OF ADMINISTRATORS

By:

(Sgd) ORLANDO R. RAVANERA
Chairperson

RESOURCE/S: