MenEngage Alliance Accountability Training Toolkit

MenEngage Alliance Developed by the MenEngage Alliance Global Secretari...+4 more

MenEngage Alliance

Developed by the MenEngage Alliance Global Secretariat including contributions from Oswaldo Montoya, Joni van de Sand, Laxman Belbase, Jennifer Rodriguez and Sinéad Nolan. Jane Kato- Wallace from Promundo-US was the lead writer of the original version published in 2014.

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https://www.genderhealthhub.org/articles/menengage-alliance-accountability-training-toolkit/

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25 mins

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Who it's for

What you'll learn

Key Takeaways

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Who it's for

A training toolkit with practical resources and support

Individuals, organisations and networks belonging to MenEngage Alliance.
Will also be useful for others working in the field of engaging men and boys for women’s rights and gender justice

What you'll learn

What's in this toolkit?

The training toolkit contains practical sessions, supporting tools, and case studies that can be used by members of the MenEngage Alliance to facilitate dialogue on what it means to be accountable to women’s rights, and to guide organisations in developing concrete strategies for the prevention of, and responses to, individual and institutional breaches of good conduct. It is underpinned by the MenEngage Code of Conduct and the values and principles of the Alliance - which are centred on advancing gender equality, human rights, and social justice.

The MenEngage Code of Conduct

Outlines how global, regional, national, organisational, and individual members should conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the values and principles of the Alliance:

1. Create peaceful and equal professional environments
2. Promote gender equality and social justice outside the workplace
3. Do not discriminate against others
4. Be violence free
5. Prioritize ethical standards and the safety and well-being of all — including women and children
6. Avoid conflicts of interest
7. Hold one another accountable
8. Ensure transparency at all levels

An elder smiles brightly in Tambon Mae La, Kayin State, Myanmar (Burma)

Accountability is understood by MenEngage Alliance as ‘the commitment and appropriate conduct that individuals and organisations working in the engaging boys and men field must have toward women’s rights groups and other social justice movements. It involves the responsibility to listen to, consult, and partner equally with such groups, making sure that the work of engaging men and boys makes a real contribution to social justice and gender equality.

Key Takeaways

Methods of accountability at the network level

MenEngage Networks should hold regular meetings (at least bi-annual) with women’s rights groups; invite key stakeholders, especially members of women’s rights organisations, to be steering committee members or technical advisors when planning new initiatives; and dialogue and seek to increase the capacity of other organisations around accountability. MenEngage National steering committees should include at least two women’s rights organisations.

Methods of accountability at the organisational level

Holding regular accountability trainings; promoting critical reflection on work with men and boys; signing on to the MenEngage Code of Conduct or creating its own Code of Conduct/Ethics in alignment with MenEngage and ensuring its dissemination among staff members; having policies on a) promoting women’s leadership; b) sexual harassment; c) child protection; and d) parental or family leave; and ensuring staff members understand these policies.

Methods of accountability at the individual level

Signing on to a Code of Conduct; taking part in the MenEngage accountability training; setting aside time in staff meeting agendas to discuss staff’s personal experiences with accountability, ethics, and power-related issues; and carrying out periodic values clarification activities with staff.

Being accountable to the Code Of Conduct

Being 'accountable' to the Code of Conduct means building gender equality into all work and ensuring that it contributes to the empowerment, and upholds the rights of, women and people of other oppressed genders; being critically aware of and regularly reflecting upon one’s own power and privilege, and being open to constructive criticism; and taking action to address individual and institutional practices violate the principles of gender equality and human rights, and acknowledging any harm. It’s important to have strategies in place to ensure accountability in all of its forms.