by Dr. Angelina Mattijo Bazugba

Abstract

The Gender Equality in Public Administration Study was carried at the National Transformational Leadership Institute (NTLI) of the University of Juba in partnership with the Ministry of Gender Child and Social Welfare and UNDP South Sudan. The Study employed UNDP’s global GEPA initiative framework and UNDP-OECD Toolkit for Mainstreaming and Implementing Gender Equality in Public Life. which consists of four pillars, namely,1) Institutional and governance frameworks for gender equality and mainstreaming; 2) Gender-sensitive practices in parliaments; 3) Gender-sensitive public employment systems; 4) Gender-sensitive practices in the judiciary. Based on South Sudan context and the systems alreadyestablished,some key aspects of the UNDP-OECD tool with particular emphasis on Pillars (1) and (3) were adopted. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection that include surveys, face-to-face interviews, consultation workshops and focus group discussions were used to reach out to gender focal persons from all government institutions (ministries, commissions and parastatal organizations), organized forces, Academia and Civic groups that include Faith Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and Disability Persons Organisations.The collated information was analysed using SPSS and interpretation provided. The studyfound the existence of considerable gender differentials in terms of genderrights, accessto humanrights and access to justice. Gender inequality and Sexual Gender-Based Violence are widespread and mostly intensified by cultural norms and insecurity caused by interstate and intracommunal conflicts. Gender equality and women’s access, involvement and representation in Public Administration are linked to multiple structural and functional constraints which differ across sectors in South Sudan. Analysis from this study, clearly underlines that participation and access to formal political power structures is impeded by inherent gender imbalance in institutionalstructures, unequal power sharing, socio-economic context, culture, ideological and psychologicalfactors, which remain sticky, normalized and increasingly accepted as part of life. From the foregoing, it is imperative that directed policy initiatives and legal framework be established to address the issues. The Government of the Republic of South Sudan should conduct a review of the legislative and policy framework to integrate the minimum of 35% quotas for womenin all public administration (National Gender Policy; National Strategic Plan Framework; LabourAct, Civil Service Act and Public Service Regulations);

Keywords: Gender Equality, Public Administration, Transformative Leadership and Women’s Representation

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