Gender Mainstreaming   The Challenge - The Benefits - Definitions

In 1995 every Government committed itself to advancing women’s interests and achieving gender equality through “an active and visible policy of gender mainstreaming”. Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA).

See BPFA summary or Complete BPFA Document (pdf format)

Since 1995 many organizations engaged in development, humanitarian and peace-keeping work have sought to develop understanding of what this implies.  Based on this collective experience, The Capacity Development Group sees gender mainstreaming as:

“The facilitation of change and learning in an organization and its programme so that it is more able to contribute in measurable ways to greater equality between women and men in the community it serves, and also achieves stronger and more sustainable results overall”

Seen in this light, a central aspect of gender mainstreaming is strategic planning that identifies which changes and what learning are necessary to achieve desired gender equality goals.  These changes and learning are likely to take place at three linked levels:

-in an organization’s structures and processes

-in the substantive activity that it undertakes - its programme, and

-in the impact of this work on increased gender equality in the community it serves

Gender mainstreaming is also a form of organizational change, in which communities of practice, effective knowledge sharing and facilitative leadership are critical.

The Capacity Development Group will help you develop: