The Gender Unit has two goals. The first is to boost the number of female students and employees in the University. The second is to contribute to the comprehensive education of Sudan’s female population. To attain these goals, the University offers higher education programmes for working women, so that they can subsequently join the labour market and thus use their knowledge to aid the development of the community. The unit also encourages gender-focused initiatives in the university’s faculties to increase women’s employment opportunities in the university.
The Republic of Sudan, the largest country in Africa, gained independence in 1956. Currently, it is governed by the Government of National Unity, formed by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the National Congress Party, which came to power through a military coup in 1989 and holds the majority. The next national elections are planned for 2009.
Sudan, which has a population of more than 40.200.000, has experienced severe economic difficulties alongside the introduction of economic policies and investment in major infrastructure. Despite having implemented the macroeconomic reforms proposed by the International Monetary Fund, the economic problems have persisted. Sudan is ranked 147th in the United Nations Human Development Index, which corresponds to an average level of development. Life expectancy is around 60 years and infant mortality is around 60/1000 births.
The long civil war fought throughout the country, the result of clashes between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south, the severe drought and the global food price crisis have increased the chronic instability that affects Sudan and keeps 40% of the population below the poverty line. Despite these circumstances, the number of people entering university has increased six-fold in recent years: from 6,080 students in 1989 to over 31,000 in 2001. The percentage of women in higher education had increased to around 40% by 2000, and although this increase has continued, very few women go on to join university staff. Male students predominate in the classrooms, and, above all, in academic and executive roles. Men occupy the majority of positions in almost all of the universities in the country.
In this context, the Gender Unit has two goals. The first is to boost the number of female students and employees in the University. The second is to contribute to the comprehensive education of Sudan’s female population. To attain these goals, the University offers higher education programmes for working women, so that they can subsequently join the labour market and thus use their knowledge to aid the development of the community. The Unit also encourages gender-focused initiatives in the University’s faculties to increase women’s employment opportunities in the University.
The general objectives are as follows:
Meet global requirements for gender equality and implement them at the university
Pioneer equal access to employment and study opportunities
Boost women’s access to professional jobs within the university
The Gender Unit is the first of its kind among Sudanese universities. Its foundation in 2004 was affected by the geographic and socioeconomic situation in the White Nile state in which the University is located. This area is one of transition between the warring regions in the north and south. It is also one of the most deprived areas of the Sudan. In this context, it is an absolute priority to promote gender equality.
Since its foundation, the Gender Unit has carried out a series of dissemination and training activities related to the leadership capacity of women in the communities and their role in promoting development. Representative activities are listed below:
An information seminar on gender equality issues, given to 60 people from diverse sectors of civil society in the White Nile. The seminar was a result of collaboration with Afhad University for Women (http://www.ahfad.org/).
A training course on the role of women as leaders of their communities, given to 30 women and carried out with the collaboration of the NGO Fellowship for African Relief (FAR, http://www.farsudan.org/).
The production of four television programmes that provide information on the University’s Gender Unit, its activities and the need for women to participate in the process of community development.
In addition, various training activities have been carried out for women, the aim of which was to increase women’s specialised knowledge and their opportunities for accessing qualified positions. Some of these activities are listed below:
A course on project management that was developed in collaboration with the Gender Unit of the FAR and aimed at a group of 20 women.
A training course for women working in the health sector was held in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Training was given on population health, human rights, public communication skills and team management.
An IT course was carried out in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and Technical Studies. A group of 20 women participated.
In the three years that the Gender Unit has been running, the University has continuously assessed the project. The results show that, since its foundation, the Gender Unit has acquired a reputation and social relevance in the context of the University itself and has become a benchmark in gender equality issues. An atmosphere in which women can participate in the University’s activities has been created. In addition, this good practice has played a role in the process of peace and reconciliation in west Darfur. Contact and mechanisms of collaboration have been established by the Gender Unit with the only other unit of its kind in the country, at the Afhad University for Women, which is situated in the capital.
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