EVALUATING THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING ON DOWNWARD ACCOUNTABILITY IN MATERNAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY– A CASE STUDY OF ZOMBA CITY (2018-2023)

Abstract

The government of Malawi adopted the National Gender Policy, 2000, and Malawi Implementation Plan 1 (MIP-1) and the Malawi Vision 2063 to among other things promote gender mainstreaming principles in order to strengthen downward accountability for the purpose of efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery like maternal health. The study was aimed at evaluating the influence of gender mainstreaming on downward accountability in maternal health services – a case study of Zomba city (2018-2023). The specific objectives of the study were to assess and analyse the practice of gender mainstreaming in maternal health services at Zomba City Council, to identify the existing opportunities and challenges for gender mainstreaming in ensuring downward accountability in maternal health services and to examine key stakeholders‘ perceptions on the influence of gender mainstreaming on downward accountability in maternal health services at Zomba City Council. The study employed the qualitative approach where Zomba City Council was used as a case study. In-depth interviews and Focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to collect data by targeting relevant individuals, both Council Officials and local people within the Councils‘ jurisdiction and also desk research was used to collect complementary data on how gender mainstreaming influence downward accountability in maternal health services. The findings of the study show that to a larger extent, lack of gender mainstreaming negatively affects downward accountability in maternal health service delivery. This was evidenced by inability of boys, girls and women to voice out on the quality of maternal health services because of lack of a platform for decision making. Due to this, boys, girls and women fail to hold duty bearers accountable. In additional to that, this tendency attest key stakeholders to perceive lack of boys, girls and women involvement in decision making to poor downward accountability at the Council