Evaluating gender mainstreaming vs evaluating gender transformative change

[Ranjani K.Murthy]

Posted from Evaluating gender mainstreaming vs. evaluating gender-transformativ...

Gender mainstreaming means integrating a gender equality perspective at all stages and levels of policies, programmes, and projects. Women and men have different needs and living conditions and circumstances, including unequal access to and control over power, resources, human rights, and institutions, including the justice system. The situations of women and men also differ according to country, region, age, ethnic or social origin, or other factors. The aim of gender mainstreaming is to take into account these differences when designing, implementing and evaluating policies, programmes and projects, so that they benefit both women and men and do not increase inequality but enhance gender equality." (COE, 2024)

Gender-transformative change is broader than mainstreaming. As per the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the gender-transformative change/approach seeks to:

"...actively examine, challenge and transform the underlying causes of gender inequality rooted in inequitable social structures and institutions. As such the gender transformative approach aims at addressing imbalanced power dynamics and relations, rigid gender norms and roles, harmful practices, unequal formal and informal rules as well as gender-blind or discriminatory legislative and policy frameworks that create and perpetuate gender inequality. By doing so, it seeks to eradicate the systemic forms of gender-based discrimination by creating or strengthening equitable gender norms, dynamics and systems that support gender equality. The gender transformative approach challenges unequal gender relations and discriminatory norms and practices, which are typically biased in favour of men. It also aims to change those norms and practices that discriminate against men and by which men can feel overburdened." (FAO, 2024)

The difference between gender mainstreaming and gender-transformative change lies in the latter's emphasis on addressing root causes and power relations, making legislative and policy changes that lead to inequalities, and addressing norms of masculinities that oppress men and women. More recently, agencies like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have clarified that gender-transformative change also entails: (i) bridging gender gaps, (ii) addressing intersectional gaps (like between Dalit women and dominant caste men in India); and (iii) looking at gender beyond binary (LGBTIQ+) issues. (ADB, 2024a, ADB, 2024b)

Many evaluations focus on evaluating gender mainstreaming rather than on assessing progress towards gender-transformative change. For example, an FAO project on animal health and food systems in Mongolia is an example of evaluation of gender mainstreaming, in that the main question is: "to what extent gender and inclusion issues been taken into account in project design leading to strengthening inclusion?" The sub-questions were: Which relevant gender and social inclusion issues were addressed by the project? Did the project identify any vulnerable/marginal groups through its implementation, and did it address their participation? Were sex and other relevant disaggregated data collected relating to project activities and outcomes? Was there an appropriate gender balance in participation in project activities and results? (FAO, 2024) Questions on gender composition of staff of the implementing agency and evaluation team were other aspects investigated. Mixed methods are called for, with equal reliance on quantitative and qualitative methods.

The few evaluations that assess progress on gender-transformative change often look at gender mainstreaming and transformative change together. For example, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)'s country programme review of Ethiopia, 2023, looks at: women’s access to and ownership of assets, resources, and services vis-à-vis men; participation in decision making vis-à-vis men; and workload balance across gender and impact on women’s incomes, nutrition, and livelihoods vis-à-vis that of men. (IFAD, 2023) Evaluations that gauge progress on gender- transformative change assess to what extent interventions and strategies have been gender transformational, relative to the context, by: (i) addressing root causes of gender inequality and discrimination; (ii) acting upon gender roles, norms, and power relations; and (iii) promoting broader processes of social change (beyond the immediate intervention). Evaluators consider differential impacts by gender and the way they interact with other forms of discrimination (such as age, race, ethnicity, social status, and disability). ADB also prioritises how the interventions have addressed the rights and welfare of LGBTIQ+ people. Expertise on assessing gender-transformative change may be called for within the evaluation team. Mixed methods are essential and should include qualitative approaches such as mapping of changes in power, decision making, attitudes, norms, legislation, and policies. Frameworks that clarify at gender and social gaps, gender at work, social relations, and power and empowerment, as well as social equity assessment tools and social movement analysis, can be used to analyse findings. Evaluation of gender-transformative change will analyse contributions by including counterfactuals but not randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Communication tools may be used in both assessment of gender mainstreaming and gender-transformative change. Examples include mobile-phone-based applications, computer applications, remote sensitive, or artificial intelligence - the first two of which were used widely in evaluations during COVID-19. Communication tools may also be used for validation and dissemination of findings and recommendations. Apps like Skype, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams are often used for validation and dissemination. The gender-transformative aspects are sensitivity to the user of these communication tools, questions raised, and analysis and conclusions/recommendations drawn. Further, ensuring that marginalised women have access to mobile phones and the power to answer questions posed by evaluators is a must.

References

Asian Development Bank, 2024, "Evaluation of ADB's Support for Accelerating Progress in Gender Equality", Asian Development Bank, Manila

Asian Development Bank, 2024, Evaluation Team's Definitions for the Purpose of Analysis, ADB (mimeo)

Council of Europe, 2024, What Is Gender Mainstreaming? - Gender Equality (coe.int)

Food and Agriculture Organization, 2024, "Evaluation of the Project 'Strengthening Animal Health and Food Safety Systems’ in Mongolia", FAO, Rome

Hillenbrand E, Karim N, Mohanraj P, and Wu D., 2015, "Measuring Gender Transformative Change: A Review of Literature and Promising Practices". CARE USA. Working Paper

International Fund for Agricultural Development, 2023, "Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation", IFAD, Rome

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