Gender Mainstreaming for Spatial Development Initiatives

This study aims to analyse and establish the ability of Spatial Development Initiatives (IDS's) to develop Small Medium and Micro-Enterprises (SMMEs) locally, and to empower women and the disabled. It also seeks to comment on the consequence of large SDI’s developments on HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) has commissioned this study as a part of the process of developing guidelines for mainstreaming of gender issues in development projects.

This study focuses on the Spatial Development Initiatives (SDI's) in Goega, Richards Bay and Phalaborwa, this study has sought to examine the extent to which these initiative have addressed gender issues in the design and implementation of planned local development initiatives with the following objectives:

• To assess the extent to which gender issues and outcomes have been prioritised by the respective SDI's;
• To monitor the implementation of development and empowerment objectives in the Coega, Richards Bay and Phalaborwa SDI's.
• To assess impacts of HIV/AIDS on local communities especially women and people with disability.
• To develop guidelines that will encourage and support the involvement of women in local development initiatives stemming from SDI's.