The COE concept seeks to ensure that key councils are identified across the region and worked with very closely in their process of getting gender on their council's agenda. The approach also seeks to develop synergy in GL programme work by focusing various projects from our SADC Gender Protocol, governance, media and justice programmes in specific localities.

The councils' progress in South Africa

Council	About the Council	Stages
Capricorn	Capricorn district municipality has managed to draw up a draft gender equity strategy, as well as a gender action plan. These instruments ensure that issues of gender are addressed in a way that holds the council/ municipality accountable for implementation.	Completed stages I, II, III, IV and V
Witzenberg	Witzenberg Local Municipality, acknowledges the existing gender inequalities and imbalances in their council and ultimately what addressing these imbalances would mean, therefore a need was identified for a special focus in assisting to address this issues.	Completed stages I, II and III
West Rand	WestRand District Municipality is one of the councils that has shown a strong indication that shows there is a desire for the municipality to establish a comprehensive plan that can be used to address equity imbalances in an integrated manner.	Completed stages I and II
Nkonkobe	Nkonkobe Municipality is a council committed to encourage meaningful dialogue and communication to ensure the participation of the community especially the poor, vulnerable youth and women in decision making matters affecting them	Completed stage III and IV
Buffalo City	Buffalo City Municipality is one of the councils that has also began to develop and compile an Integrated Transport Plan to guide and direct future planning and investment in public transport in the municipality in a holistic, scientific manner, and which will ensure involvement of all stakeholders and the proper upgrading and control of additional public transport facilities.	Completed stages I and III
eMalahleni	Emalahleni Local Municipality has community consultation meetings at Ward level: meetings were held at different wards to determine the needs of the community. There also seems to be an identified need to entrench gender, and to create an institution where the incorporation of women’s perspectives within decision making at all levels will be encouraged.	Completed stages I, II and III
Emfuleni		Completed stage VI
Umzumbe
Phokwane	Phokwane Municipality is one of the councils that have been identified as one of the progressive councils. The diversity management programme the aim of the programme is to manage, promote and value diversity and create equal opportunities for all in the workplace.	Completed stages I, II, III and IV
Sedibeng		Completed stages I and II

Stages in the process are:

Stage I: Meetings with management teams and political heads of councils
Stage II: Situational Analysis
Stage III: Council level policy and implementation workshops
Stage IV: Community mobilisation village level meetings on the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development
Stage V: Capacity building through on the job training: Modules include: Gender, elections and the media, Making IT and the media work for you, Campaigns, Communication
Stage VI: Application of skills in the running of major campaigns, e.g. 365 Days of Action to End Gender Based Violence