The Maldives has made significant progress in promoting gender equality over the past decade, enshrining equal rights in the 2008 Constitution, passing the Gender Equality Act in 2016, and setting quotas for women’s representation in local councils. Despite these efforts, gender disparities remain in various sectors, from economic participation to political representation. The recently published report, The Role of Gender Data in Policy Making, highlights the importance of gender data in driving policy changes that can bridge these gaps.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of gender data use in the Maldives, identifying both the barriers and opportunities for using data to advance gender equality. It also outlines key recommendations for improving the collection, dissemination, and use of gender data in the policy-making process.
The Importance of Gender Data in Policy Making
Gender data refers to statistics that are disaggregated by sex and often by other factors such as age, geographic location, and socioeconomic status. This data is critical for understanding the different challenges faced by men and women, identifying where disparities exist, and designing policies that directly address these gaps.
In the Maldives, gender data has been instrumental in shedding light on key issues, such as the low labour force participation of women despite their high educational attainment. This data has helped policymakers understand that while women are excelling academically, they are not translating their success into the workforce, especially in sectors such as tourism and politics.
Barriers to Effective Use of Gender Data
One of the key findings of the report is that while gender data is being collected, several barriers prevent its effective use in policy making. These barriers include:
- Limited availability of granular data: In many cases, gender data is not detailed enough to provide the necessary insights for policy interventions. For example, while data may show how many women own assets or hold bank accounts, it often does not reveal whether these women have actual control over their resources.
- Lack of data sharing between government institutions: The report highlights that data sharing between ministries and government agencies is often slow and inefficient. This makes it difficult to develop comprehensive policies based on gender data from different sectors.
- Underutilisation of qualitative data: While quantitative data provides important insights, qualitative data, such as interviews and case studies, is equally crucial for understanding the root causes of gender disparities. The report notes that there is a general lack of qualitative analysis in the use of gender data, which limits policymakers’ ability to address complex issues like social norms and power dynamics.
- Insufficient capacity and resources: There is a need for more investment in training government officials and data producers on how to collect, analyse, and use gender data effectively. In addition, many government agencies face budgetary constraints, making it difficult to allocate resources to gender data collection and analysis.
Key Recommendations from the Report
The report outlines several recommendations to overcome these barriers and improve the use of gender data in policy making in the Maldives. These include:
1. Investing in Gender Data Infrastructure
A major challenge highlighted in the report is the lack of up-to-date and digitised data, particularly at the local level. The report recommends investing in modern data collection and storage systems that can make gender data more accessible and reliable. This includes digitising local council data on women’s ownership of land and financial assets, which is currently not fully integrated into national databases.
2. Enhancing Data Sharing and Collaboration
The report calls for improved data sharing across government institutions to ensure that gender data is used in a coordinated manner. Ministries and agencies should work together to standardise data formats and establish protocols for sharing information efficiently. This would help policymakers develop more informed and cohesive strategies for addressing gender disparities.
3. Incorporating Qualitative Data
To truly understand and address gender inequalities, policymakers need to look beyond the numbers. The report emphasises the importance of integrating qualitative data into policy development, such as case studies that explain the underlying social and cultural factors contributing to gender disparities. For example, qualitative insights could explain why women may own assets on paper but have limited control over them due to traditional power structures.
4. Building Capacity for Gender Data Analysis
Training is essential for making sure that gender data is not only collected but also interpreted and used effectively. The report recommends capacity-building initiatives for civil servants and data producers to enhance their understanding of gender statistics and how to apply them to policy making. This would involve technical training on data analysis as well as education on the importance of gender equality in policy development.
5. Aligning Data with Policy Priorities
One of the report’s key recommendations is to ensure that gender data collection and dissemination are aligned with the country’s political and policy-making timelines. This would involve timing the release of gender data to coincide with key events, such as budget discussions or the drafting of national development plans, to ensure that the data is readily available when policymakers are making critical decisions.
The Future of Gender Data in the Maldives
The Maldives has made commendable progress in promoting gender equality, but there is still a long way to go. The findings of this report demonstrate that gender data can play a pivotal role in shaping policies that address gender disparities and empower women across all sectors of society.
By implementing the report’s recommendations—such as investing in data infrastructure, enhancing collaboration between government agencies, and building capacity for data analysis—the Maldives can make significant strides towards achieving gender equality. Gender data is not just a tool for measuring progress; it is a powerful instrument for creating a more equitable society.
As the Maldives continues to develop its national gender strategies, the importance of reliable and actionable gender data cannot be overstated. It is only by understanding the specific challenges women face, and addressing them through evidence-based policies, that true gender equality can be achieved in the Maldives.
