Description: Twelve interviews with key informants were conducted to assist with reviewing the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) to mark the 20th year celebration of its existence in 2016. Abstract: The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) celebrated its 20th year of existence in 2016. In order to assist with a review of this period in the life of the Chapter 9 institution, the CGE commissioned the Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery programme of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to conduct research to mark its 20th year.

Based on interviews with key informant stakeholders in government, in the Commission itself, and in civil society organisations with expertise in the area of gender equality and on reviews of various secondary sources of information (annual reports of the CGE, Parliamentary Monitoring Group reports, external reviews of the CGE, academic papers, court cases, and media reports), the report documents the achievements and impact of the Commission in each of the four five-year periods of its existence, highlighting key successes and challenges faced by the organisation and making recommendations for improvements to its work going forward. The achievements for each period are described under a common set of themes:

An Introduction: discussing organisational matters; outlining the strategic focus of the CGE for that five-year period

Legislation, customs and practices: considering submissions made to legislative processes; documenting CGE involvement in court cases

Information and education programmes: reviewing all CGE outreach and advocacy campaigns

Gender initiatives and complaints: considering CGE gender equality initiatives and gender-related complaints received from the public

Liaison with institutions with similar objectives: detailing how the CGE has collaborated with sister Chapter 9 institutions and civil society organisations

Compliance with international conventions and protocols: investigating the CGE's engagement with international law and policy on gender equality

Research, and preparation and submission of reports to Parliament: focusing on all the research-related activities of the Commission; and

Media profile: referencing Times Media Group newspaper reports on CGE activities and statements between 1996 and 2016.

Administrative records

Compilation or synthesis of existing material

Digital audio recording

Face-to-face interview

Telephone interview

Transcription of materials

The CGE identified a number of organisations to be included in the research and asked the HSRC to identify a further set of key informants. These interviewees are drawn from Parliament, NGOs working in the area of gender equality, universities, and the CGE itself.

The key informants were identified in association with the Research Manager at the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE). They included persons in NGOs, Parliament, and the CGE itself who have worked on gender issues.