Web-based GAD Monitoring and Evaluation Checklist System

2019

This is an Entry to the Government Best Practice Recognition Awards

Title

Web-based GAD Monitoring and Evaluation Checklist System

Organization

DOTr-MRT3

Best practice Focus Area(s)

Knowledge management and information technology, Innovation

Year Implemented

2017

Summary

The Web-based GAD Monitoring and Evaluation Checklist System is a tool to measure the gender responsiveness and sensitivity of the Railway Infrastructure, its related Facilities, and its Organization. To further hasten the assessment of the rail sector agencies’ gender responsiveness, the MRT3 initiated the automation of this Checklist System and because of the systematized checklist, the rail agency’s final overall assessment on GAD responsiveness, complete with graphical representation can already be collected. The System was pre-tested in 2017 and was also used in the same year by other rail agencies to integrate gender perspectives in their development programs and projects.

Background and Problem

The objective of the System is to measure the strengths in terms of gender responsiveness of a Rail agency as well as areas that need improvement, whether client-focused or organization-focused. There is no standard designed specifically for the rail sector making it difficult to gauge the gender responsiveness of the rail agencies. A series of workshops led to the creation of the Web-based GAD Monitoring and Evaluation Checklist System.

Also, doing the inspection is a tiring activity as it involves checking of facilities from commuter set-down, ticketing booths, comfort rooms, platforms, trains, signages, Wi-Fi as well as the Agencies’ policies. After inspection, scores need to be tallied manually which is exhausting, prone to errors, and difficult to analyze. Because of this, the MRT3 initiated the development of an online system that can process information that can be used for data analysis to gauge the gender responsiveness of an Agency.

Solution and Impact

For 15 years now, the Government has been using the HGDG in Project Development, Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation. Since the formulation of the HGDG in 2004 by the NEDA in collaboration with the PCW and the ODA – GAD Network, 20 sectoral checklists have been developed but none for the Transportation Sector specifically for the Rail Sector.

Since mass transportation provides mobility and access to employment, community resources, medical care, and recreational facilities, the Government needs to up its services by integrating gender perspectives in their programs, projects, and activities. This paved the way into the creation of the railway standards – the first ever created GAD Checklist for the Transportation Sector that would set the standards towards achieving a gender-responsive railway facility.

It all started in November 2014 when the DOTr, railway agency heads, and the Quezon City Council of Sectoral Representatives signed an MOU to institutionalize, integrate, and mainstream gender in the programs, projects and activities. The MOU contains the rights and obligations of the parties in guaranteeing that gender issues and concerns of external stakeholders are properly responded to.

The Checklist was further enhanced thru the development of a Web-based GAD Monitoring and Evaluation Checklist System aimed at streamlining the process of evaluation thus, information derived from the system can be readily used as a means of assessing the gender efforts of an agency looking at the areas where there is still room for improvement.

 

Through the System, Rail Agencies were able to identify what areas to focus on where gender issues are prevalent much so because data analysis can already be performed.  Data analysis is the most important aspect of the system because it helps the agencies optimize their performances, make better business decisions, and help analyze customer satisfaction, which can lead to new and better services.

Milestones

Through the System, rail agencies were able to identify the gaps in their services and were able to address these gaps through the implementation of projects. Other agencies who came to know the features and functionalities of the Web-based GAD Monitoring and Evaluation Checklist System used it as a model in crafting their Checklist System.

Since the System is already the standard for railways, future rail lines will already adopt these standards. One perfect example is the ADB-funded Malolos-Clark Railway Project where gender is mainstreamed from the design, in all stages of construction, project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.