Gender Analysis

Introduction:

It refers to the method of identifying, analysing and understanding:

1. Gender roles

2. Gender based power relations

3. Pattern's of women's and men's access to control of resources

It is used in policies, programs and projects that have ultimate effect on people. It can be carried out at any time and at any stage of policy cycle such as:

1. During the initial design

2. Before the implementation

3. During the monitoring and evaluation

Elements of Gender Analysis:

1.     Skilled professional with adequate resources.

2.     Use of local expertise.

3.     Findings must be used to actually shape the design of policies, programs and projects

Importance of Gender Analysis:

a)     It provides information on the " gender map" i.e. who performs what activities and at what levels.

b)     It helps to formulate plan and policies which help to identify the different needs of women and men.

c)     It helps to generate sex-disaggregated data.

d)     It encourages gender sensitivity.

e)     It promotes understanding of gender relations.

f)       It makes it possible to understand who is most advantaged and who is disadvantaged.

g)     It provides concrete data for project analysis and design by identifying specific areas of need for different categories of people.

Things to be considered in Gender Analysis:

1. Sex and Gender

2. Gender roles and responsibilities

3. Productive and Reproductive Work

4. Access to and control over resources

Key Steps of Gender Analysis before the inception of the project:

Step 1: Collect sex-disaggregated data.

Step 2: Assess the Gender Division of Labor and Patterns of decision making

Step 3: Assess access to and control over productive resources, assets and benefits.

Step 4: Understand gender needs, priorities and strategies.

Step 5: Understand the complexity of gender relations in the context of social relations

Step 6: Assess barriers to women and men participating and benefiting equally from the project.

Step 7: Develop and include strategy to promote gender equality in project design and implementation.

Step 8: Assess partner capacity for gender sensitive planning, implementation and monitoring.

Step 9: Assess the potential of the program to empower women and address strategic interests.

Step 10: Develop gender sensitive indicators.

Step 11: Apply the information and analysis throughout the program.