Gender mainstreaming
Gender mainstreaming involves the integration of gender equality concerns into the analysis and formulation of all policies, programmes and projects. It includes initiatives to enable women and men to formulate and express their views and participate in decision-making. Moreover, gender mainstreaming requires that development agencies themselves become sensitive to gender issues and strive towards a working environment that not only respects gender equality internally but also produces, externally, engendered programming. Often the process entails a transformation of an organization’s approach, internally and externally, to development overall.
Approach
KIT supports governmental and non-governmental organizations to design and implement engendered policies, programmes and projects. We also assist such organizations to undergo organizational change that promotes gender equality internally as well as supports the achievement of gender equality goals in their programmes.
We provide technical assistance in developing gender policies, planning frameworks, checklists and tools for gender integration and training programmes in gender awareness, analysis and planning. Technical assistance in carrying out monitoring and evaluation is provided as well.
We also undertake research and publishing on gender mainstreaming In order to share KIT’s wealth of experience and knowledge and challenge more technical but less effective approaches to gender mainstreaming.
Focal points
- Gender analysis of sector programmes
- Organizational analysis and change including gender audits and evaluations
- Capacity building in gender analysis, programme planning, monitoring and evaluation
- Research and publishing
Example
Gender performance audit for the Commonwealth Secretariat, January - November 2006
The Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality (2005 – 2015) and other Commonwealth Secretariat documents clearly demonstrate the organization’s commitment to gender mainstreaming. The performance audit will provide the organization with an opportunity to examine and rethink the effectiveness of its policy and practice as well as the principles which guide the organization’s approach to mainstreaming. The objectives echo the two components of the audit:
- Component 1 focuses on the internal structures, mechanisms and procedures
- Component 2 focuses on the external: how the policies and principles play out in the Secretariat’s gender equality programmes and the impact and outcomes of those programmes
Equal Opportunities in the Slovak Republic, 2001-2003
KIT provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and the Family to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of the principle of equal treatment within the country’s transformation and accession process to the European Union. The project included an institutional diagnosis, project design and an implementation strategy. KIT worked with representatives from government structures, civil society organizations and political institutions and provided an institutional and policy framework to promote gender equality.
Projects
- Equal Opportunities in the Slovak Republic
- Development of a Gender Mainstreaming Approach and Strategy for the Health Sector in Yemen
- Gender Impact Study on Confirming the International Role of Community Research
- Rural Women's Development General Directorate (RWDGD) / Business Plan
- Building gender synergy, mechanisms, actions, rights and training
- Gender performance audit for the Commonwealth secretariate
Publications
- Mukhopadhyay, M. - Governing for equity
- Mukhopadhyay, M. - Creating citizens who demand just governance
- Mukhopadhyay, M. - Creating voice and carving space
- Mukhopadhyay, M. - Mainstreaming gender or 'streaming' gender away: feminists marooned in the development business
- Mukhopadhyay, M. - Decentralisation and gender equity in South Asia
- Mukhopadhyay, M. - Politics of the possible
Team members
Contact