Gender equality is central to economic and human development in a country. Removing inequalities gives societies a better chance to develop. When women and men have relative equality, economies grow faster, children’s health improves and there is less corruption. Gender equality is an important human right. One of SRSO’s key roles is promoting gender equality both internally, within its organization, and externally, through its programs and projects. This is particularly necessary because, in rural areas, many women are deprived of their basic entitlements as a result of patriarchal systems that exclude them from decision-making, asset ownership, and the ability to engage in activities outside their households. This exclusion often results in economic poverty, illiteracy, scarce opportunities, and lack of access to healthcare. When women are disempowered, their families and communities also suffer. When women are empowered through social mobilization, awareness-raising, and access to health, education, sanitation, and livelihood opportunities, their families and communities also benefit. SRSO therefore believes that unless gender-related inequalities are not addressed, its mission of poverty reduction cannot be successfully undertaken. Accordingly, SRSO places its gender policy within the framework of gender mainstreaming, where gender is a cross-cutting issue informing all SRSO activities.

SRSO realizes the vital importance of Gender and Development. Hence its interventions ranging from social mobilization to community physical infrastructures have been open for both, men and women. We understand that men and women would participate in the development initiatives and can benefit from the outcome equally.

SRSO has a strong Section called Gender and Development working towards mainstreaming the women hitherto ignored in decision-making. The sector does this by lobbying at the community and organizational level for the implementation of gender equality in SRSO program interventions, policies, and strategies. To this end, SRSO constantly undertakes internal gender analysis of each sector to ensure any program deficiencies in gender mainstreaming are identified and addressed quickly and exhaustively. The Section is alive to the sensitivities about men’s, and women’s relationships and persisting inequalities. The section has been made responsible for achieving the following: