Canadian Social Science
Civil Society Organisations, the Devolution Agenda and the Quest for Gender Sensitive Social Service Delivery in Bindura District
Abstract
The study endeavoured to examine the contributions of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in promoting gender-sensitive social services in the context of a devolved governance system in Zimbabwe. The study used Bindura District as a case study. The study used qualitative methodology and a case study to examine the strategies being used by the CSOs. A total of 54 participants participated in the study and the sample represented a cross-section of CSOs, local council representatives, central government representatives and ordinary citizens. Data were collected using interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Key findings were that the CSOs are doing a lot through advocacy and lobbying to raise awareness of the need for gender-sensitive social services and to use the opportunities presented by devolution. The other finding was that the CSOs have been using a collaborative than confrontational approach and this has tended to enhance cooperation with key government stakeholders. The study also found out that the initiatives have been hamstrung by the polarised political environment prevailing in the country and that the sustainability of the campaigns is likely to be affected by lack of long term funding. The study concluded that the work of CSOs in Bindura District has illuminated the need for service accountability and more importantly gender-sensitive social services in local councils. The study recommended the need for policies providing gender-sensitive local governance indicators so that it becomes easy to track the performance of councils.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/12878
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