Gender equality is not just a moral imperative; it’s a critical component of effective development programming. Addressing gender disparities can transform societal norms, break cycles of inequality, and ensure every individual—regardless of gender—can achieve their full potential.
Recognising this, UNICEF South Asia developed the Gender Toolkit: Integrating Gender in Programming for Every Child. This practical resource equips development practitioners with the tools and strategies needed to mainstream gender effectively.
Why Integrating Gender Matters
Integrating gender into programming means more than achieving numerical parity. It involves understanding the unique needs, roles, and barriers faced by women, men, girls, and boys. By embedding a gender perspective in all stages of the programme cycle, we can create equitable outcomes and drive lasting societal change.
What This Toolkit Offers
- Conceptual Clarity: Key definitions, such as gender equity, gender norms, and gender analysis, to help practitioners understand the nuances of gender integration.
- Practical Steps: A step-by-step guide to incorporating gender at every stage—from planning and design to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Sector-Specific Insights: Strategies for gender integration in areas like health, education, child protection, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and Early Childhood Development.
- Tools and Frameworks: Resources to conduct gender analysis, design gender-responsive programmes, and measure progress using gender-sensitive indicators.
Key Highlights from the Toolkit
- Gender Analysis Framework
- Understand the roles, responsibilities, and needs of women, men, girls, and boys in your target community.
- Use participatory approaches to gather insights and identify gender-based barriers.
- Mainstreaming Gender in Programmes
- Ensure gender concerns crosscut all sectors.
- Incorporate both targeted gender actions and gender integration strategies.
- Engaging Men and Boys
- Gender equality is not solely a women’s issue. Involving men and boys as allies is critical for sustainable change.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Use sex- and age-disaggregated data to track progress and ensure gender equity is achieved in programme outcomes.
Who Can Use This Toolkit?
This resource is designed for:
- Development professionals in UNICEF and other organisations.
- Gender specialists and focal points.
- Government stakeholders and implementing partners committed to advancing gender equality.
