Program Overview
The Masters program in Gender and Project Management is designed to enhance the capacity of students to develop skills and strategies on integrating and applying new knowledge and techniques acquired from the course into promoting sustainable development action in their economy. The focus of the courses is on analyzing the extent of genders sensitivity of development interventions, conduct gender analysis, critically analyze gender differentials in selected development Projects, identify research designs and methodologies, discuss positive affirmative action in development planning and practice to promote gender equity and equality. This training will help them to be pro-active in problem solving, and guide them towards effective and efficient decisions on Gender and Projects development. It will meet the need for qualified gender experts to run the proposed institutional machinery for the promotion of Gender and development in the developing countries.
Main Objective
The overall goal of the MA program is to empower students with little or no background in sustainable development issues with the skills and techniques of mainstreaming gender in development projects. In the long run the training aims at creating a gender responsive constituency within developing areas with a capacity to incorporate gender concern at all levels of planning, implementation and evaluation of development projects.
Specific Objectives
- Strengthens participants understanding of gender concepts, gender focus approach in development
- Empower students with the fundamentals as well as the core strategic tools to handle development projects related to the practice of public and private development administration.
- Strengthens theoretical and practical skills of participants in mainstreaming gender in management, policy analysis, project planning, implementation and evaluation
Target Population
The program targets qualified candidates with Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies, Bachelor’s Degree and other relevant qualifications in development. The course is also designed for men and women project planners and management staff/Trainers from government and private sector who are involved in planning and managing projects.
Duration of the Course
The MA programs are designed to cover a period of 18 months within two academic years. However, candidates with Post Graduate Diploma in specific specialized areas will be admitted into the second year of the MA program. This program will cover a period of one calendar year (12 months) for them with the following breakdown:
- Core courses
- Internship
- Thesis research and writing
Program Structure
The curriculum of this program focuses on providing students with in-depth knowledge of gender concepts and how to plan and control projects. It teaches students the life cycle of a project and how to maintain project quality and manage procurement issues. The coursework develops and enhances various skills students need to become efficient Gender Experts and Project Managers. These skills include analytical skills, innovative drive, communication, writing, technical skills, business, time management, decision making skills and others. Students then choose from a range of options with strong relevance for gender and development projects, covering socio-economic movements, international social policy and other knowledge in related areas.
Internship and field placement are the prerogative of the program. PAID-WA’s objective is to expose students with the fundamentals as well as the core strategic tools in handling issues related to the practice of public and private development administration. The course culminates in writing a Research Thesis chosen by the student and mutually agreed upon by the Supervisory Post-Graduate Committee. Contributions in research journals and other academic international periodicals are highly encouraged to create the necessary scholarly visibility that is seen in their strategies for new policy formulations in project development planning, management, monitoring and evaluation.
Methodology
The program will comprise of formal lectures, tutorials, field visits, practical field work, internship training, seminar presentations, report and project writing. Lectures will emphasize as much as possible on interactive and participatory learning.
Learning Outcome
At the end of the course, graduates and certificate holders should have among other skills gained knowledge of how to:
- Mainstream gender in the socio-economic and political development processes as they manage and handle development issues efficiently.
- Understand the concept of women’s development, the relationship between women’s empowerments and gender inequality and be able to influence development policy and programs to be gender responsive.
- Determine and plan gender sensitive projects and program through innovative and entrepreneurship skills.
Employment Opportunities Graduates may open their own business organizations, or team up with others of like mind to operate special-focus enterprises. They may also find employment in the private or public sector institutions. Other opportunities are available in international organizations and NGOs, LSOs, CIGs, financial institutions, and energy companies.