Gender equality in finnish ODA policies

Abstract

Finnish development cooperation applies the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to challenge gender power relations in projects conducted by the NGO, the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland (SASK), in Indonesia. By following this paradigm, SASK expects to achieve tangible results. This case study is based on documentary research, interviews, and observations conducted during a two-week field trip to Indonesia. The documentary research encompasses academic journal articles, government publications, and NGO reports, while interviewees include Indonesian beneficiaries, trade union members, and employers. The findings suggest that the Human Rights-Based Approach is likely to have a positive impact on challenging power relations. This research also analyzes whether the projects align with the Women in Development (WID) or Gender and Development (GAD) paradigms. However, further efforts are required for both recipients and donors to fully understand the HRBA, as it has the potential to effectively challenge gender power relations only when understood and implemented correctly. Consequently, more training on the HRBA should be offered to both the Foreign Ministry's and NGO's staff. Furthermore, a gender-equality-friendly budget should be extended to all projects, rather than being restricted to a single project with exclusively female beneficiaries.