Gender issues, particularly with respectto women's status and rights, have for a considerableperiod, been in the forefront of donors' dialogue onsocial issues with Africa. While Africa countries have fullyacknowledged the seriousness of the issues and the urgentneed for action, the dialogue has been largely donor-drivenand issues and priorities been donor-set. Recognizing theneed for a new approach in this important area forAfrica's progress, the Bank, in collaboration with theEconomic Commission for Africa, initiated a Gender and LawProgram, in October 1997, at a Conference held in AddisAbaba, Ethiopia. The Program shifts responsibility foridentification and implementation of themes, issues, andpriorities to in-country stakeholders rather than withdonors. During the Conference, each country delegationvoiced its priorities for change. The issues includedland-related challenges, family law, violence against women,employment and labor, and decentralized governanceframeworks. Land and the division of household property areprime areas where gender-based disparities marginalize anddisenfranchise women of Eastern Africa. In an effort toimprove women's social and economic life, two mainthemes emerged: the impact of customary laws and practicesand the need for effective implementation. The delegatesemphasized the need to initiate action for change atgrassroots, institutional, and policy making levels.
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