Monthly Corner
Evaluation of UN Women’s Work on the Care Economy in East and Southern Africa
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Evaluation of UN Women's work on the Care Economy in East and Southern Africa - Evaluation Report
- Evaluation of UN Women's work on the Care Economy in East and Southern Africa - IN BRIEF
- Evaluation of UN Women's work on the Care Economy in East and Southern Africa - Annexes
A regional study of gender equality observatories in West and Central Africa, carried out by Claudy Vouhé for UN Women
Sources: UN Women
This regional study offers an inventory and analysis of the legal framework of gender observatories, their attributions, functions and missions. It is based on exchanges with 21 countries, in particular the eleven countries that have created observatories. It compares the internal organisation and budgets of the observatories between countries, looks at operational practices, in particular the degree of involvement in the collection and use of data, and identifies obstacles and good practices in terms of influencing pro-gender equality public policies. Finally, the study draws up a list of strategic recommendations intended for observatories, supervisory bodies and technical and financial partners.
MSSRF Publication - November 2025 - Shared by Rajalakshmi
Ritu Dewan - EPW editorial comment on Labour Codes
Eniola Adeyemi Articles on Medium Journal, 2025
An analysis of the “soft life” conversation as it emerges on social media, unpacking how aspirations for ease and rest intersect with broader socio-economic structures, gendered labour expectations, and notions of dignity and justice
Tara Prasad Gnyawali Article - 2025
This article focused on the story of community living in a wildlife corridor that links India and Nepal, namely the Khata Corridor, which bridges Bardiya National Park of Nepal and Katarnia Wildlife Sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh, India.
This article revealed how the wildlife mobility in the corridor affects community livelihoods, mobility, and social inclusion, with a sense of differential impacts on farming and marginalised communities.
Lesedi Senamele Matlala - Recent Article in Evaluation Journal, 2025
Events
Vacancies
- Ladysmith seeks a Philippines-based consultant to work on a child marriage project. Strong technical skills in micro-simulation and cost-benefit analysis are needed. Please see the attached ToRs for more details.25039%20Philippines%20National%20Consultant%20.doc
UN Women has announced an opportunity for experienced creatives to join its global mission to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The organization is recruiting a Multimedia Producer (Retainer Consultant) to support communication and advocacy under the EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies Programme.
This home-based, part-time consultancy is ideal for a seasoned multimedia professional who can translate complex ideas into visually compelling storytelling aligned with UN Women’s values.
Application Deadline: 28 November 2025
Job ID: 30286
Contract Duration: 1 year (approximately 200 working days)
Consultancy Type: Individual, home-based
Gender, Evaluation, Ratings and Raters
Sometimes, while evaluation progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE), I am asked to give a rating on a scale of 1 to 5 or 1 to 6 on criteria used by the commissioning organisation. Normally, sub-criterias are listed for women's access to and ownership of resources, reduction in violence against women, increase in decision making of women etc. Sounds simple?
On the surface yes, but there are three challenges
Challenge of Interpretation: Each of these sub criteria could mean different things. For example the sub criteria increase in women's decision making could mean decision making inside the house or at village level or at group level or at local government level or project level? Vis a vis husband/partner or mother in law? Of which women? Vis a vis upper caste man or Dalit man? etc
Challenge of subjectivity: Every evaluator, however exposed to gender issues, comes with a different history and lens, and may interpret the same situation differently and give different rating when compared to another one. Dilemma then comes whose perspective counts. To further complicate, due to fund constraint, there may be no gender expert in the team!
Challenge of Context: In difficult contexts where there is a right wing armed conflict, the rating may be 2 on 6 in women's ownership of assets, while in another - a more conductive environment- the rating 3. Do we conclude that the programme has fared better in the latter? Or look at trends. It is well possible that the in the first case rating has moved from 1 to 2, while in the latter it has remained constant
So, ratings on GEWE are complex. It is important to have a guide to meet challenge of interpretation, make potential gender/other evaluators take online institutional specific courses on gender and evaluation to bring them on the same page, and interpret changes in rating- not just rating to assess progress.
However, nothing is foolproof.
Do share your experience
Ranjani K Murthy (r.krishnamurthy@ialumni.ids.ac.uk)
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