1.1. 1. Overall objective

To strengthen national capacities to produce, analyse, communicate, and use gender statistics for evidence-based policymaking and monitoring of national and international development frameworks.

1.2.  Specific objectives

The training aims to:

-          Strengthen understanding of gender concepts and their application in statistics

-          Build capacity to produce and interpret gender-sensitive indicators, including those aligned with the SDGs

-          Enhance the ability of producers to integrate gender into data collection, analysis, and dissemination processes

-          Improve the capacity of users to interpret and use gender statistics for policy, planning, and monitoring

-          Promote the use of disaggregated data (sex, age, disability, location)

-          Strengthen collaboration between producers and users within the NSS

2.    Target audience and prerequisites

2.1.  Target audience

The training will bring together 25–30 participants from both producers and users of gender statistics:

§  Primary audience (producers)

-          Bureau of Statistics (BOS):  Social Statistics, Demography, Surveys, Methodology, dissemination, and data processing units.

-          Line ministries producing data (e.g. Development Planning, Gender, Labour and Employment, Agriculture, Law and Justice, Education, Health, Home Affairs and Police, Trade, Industry and Small Business.

§  Secondary audience (users)

-          Policy planners and programme officers,

-          Planning, monitoring and evaluation specialists,

-          Civil society organisations and gender advocates, including Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD), and Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) Lesotho

-          Researchers and academia, including the National University of Lesotho (NUL)

2.2.    Prerequisites

Participants should:

-          Have a basic understanding of statistics or data use

-          Be involved in data production, analysis, or policy use

-          Have basic computer skills

-          Bring a laptop for practical exercises

Prior exposure to gender issues or statistical tools is an asset, but not mandatory.

3.    Workshop duration and structure

3.1.  Duration

5 days (35 hours total; 7 hours per day).

3.2.  Training methodology

The training will adopt a participatory and practical approach, combining:

-          Presentations

-          Group discussions

-          Hands-on exercises

-          Case studies based on national data

3.3.  Indicative content

Introduction to gender statistics

-          Gender concepts and frameworks

-          Importance of gender statistics

-          Link with SDGs and national development priorities

Planning gender statistics

-          Identifying gender data needs

-          Integrating gender into surveys and administrative data

-          Overview of international frameworks and indicators

Producing gender statistics

-          Data collection methods

-          Use of existing surveys (e.g. LFS, DHS, administrative data)

-          Calculation of key gender indicators

Analysis and interpretation

-          Gender analysis techniques

-          Identifying inequalities and trends

-          Case studies using national data

Communication and use of gender statistics

-          Presenting gender statistics (tables, charts, dashboards)

-          Communicating findings to policymakers

-          Using data for decision-making and policy formulation

4.    Tasks of the expert 

1.1.  Before the training

-          Review national context and available gender data

-          Develop a detailed training agenda and methodology

-          Adapt training materials to the Lesotho context

-          Prepare practical exercises and datasets

-          Coordinate with BOS and the project team

-          Prepare pre-training and post-training tests for participants

1.2.  During the training

-          Administer pre-training and post-training tests to participants

-          Deliver the training programme

-          Facilitate discussions and group work

-          Provide hands-on support to participants

-          Ensure active participation of both producers and users

1.3.  After the training

-          Submit a comprehensive training report (within 10 working days)

-          Provide recommendations for:

o   Strengthening gender statistics in Lesotho

o   Improving NSS coordination

o   Further capacity-building activities

5.    Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The expert shall deliver:

1.      A detailed and validated training agenda (at least 5 days before the training)

2.      Training materials adapted to the national context

3.      Practical exercises and datasets for hands-on learning

4.      Delivery of the full training programme

5.      A final training report including:

o   Summary of sessions

o   Participant feedback

o   Key challenges and lessons learned

o   Recommendations for follow-up actions

6.      All materials in editable format

Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate of participation.