Monthly Corner

Evaluation of UN Women’s Work on the Care Economy in East and Southern Africa 

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

Vacancy | GxD hub, LEAD/IFMR | Research Manager

Hiring a Research Manager to join us at the Gender x Digital (GxD) Hub at LEAD at Krea University, Delhi.

As a Research Manager, you will lead and shape rigorous evidence generation at the intersection of gender, AI, and digital systems, informing more inclusive digital policies and platforms in India. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys geeking out over measurement challenges, causal questions, and the nuances of designing evaluations that answer what works, for whom, and why. We welcome applications from researchers with strong mixed-methods expertise, experience designing theory or experiment based evaluations, and a deep commitment to gender equality and digital inclusion.

Must-haves:
 • 4+ years of experience in evaluation and applied research
 • Ability to manage data quality, lead statistical analysis, and translate findings into clear, compelling reports and briefs
 • Strong interest in gender equality, livelihoods, and digital inclusion
 • Comfort with ambiguity and a fast-paced environment, as the ecosystem evolves and pivots to new areas of inquiry
📍 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gcBpjtHy

📆 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
So sooner you apply the better!

Members

THE MAINSTREAMING CONUNDRUM

Dear Colleagues,


 I would like to share a poem to stimulate a reflection and possibly a discussion about gender mainstreaming, particularly the challenges that confront those who work at the coalface of gender policy implementation. As everyone is aware, the world governments as well as members of Civil Society Organizations ies and Non-Governmental Organizations are gathered in New York to review progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA) that was adopted 20 years ago. An authoritative global review reveals that while there has been some progress, advancement in the status of women has been unacceptably slow with areas of stagnation and even regression. This situation has been attributed to world leaders who are said not to have done as expected in operationalizing the commitments made in the visionary BDPfA.

As a person who attended the Beijing Conference and witnessed the adoption of the gender mainstreaming strategy and then went on to pioneer its implementation in two multi-lateral organizations, namely UNDP (1993-1998) and the African Development Bank (1998-2010), I have an insider’s view regarding some of the factors that have stymied effective action. My poem, provides a humorous insight regarding some of the barriers. Some of those that I refer to include the inappropriate positioning and lack of power and authority on the part of Gender Specialists and Gender Focal Points; the practical problems of integrating women/gender in development project documents; the hypocrisy employed in some organizations to impress donors in order to access funds which ultimately fail to trickle to women; and, the attitudes, beliefs and mental struggles of men who are supposed to implement equality policies. The poem ends with a note of caution to those who do gender work who may at times be misunderstood given that they seek to promote a redistributive issue that deals with access to and control over power and resources.

 

The%20Mainstreaming%20Conundrum.pdf

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Comment by Kathy Selvaggio on March 17, 2015 at 19:10

Well put and very sharp.  But awfully cynical, perhaps deservedly so.  Perhaps it is best to give up on lip service and rhetoric and posturing of these large institutions, and stick with the international and local NGOS that really mean it when they talk about gender equality. 

Comment by Kristy Kelly on March 17, 2015 at 18:57

Wonderful - thank you for finding new creative venues for sharing the challenges we face!  I will share this with my students and colleagues - thank you!  

Comment by NUTAN PRABHA JAIN on March 17, 2015 at 12:40

So true. Beautifully you have put feelings of many of us in lovely words. It is a continuous journey till we achieve gender equality and equity. Hope for the best!

Comment by Nite Tanzarn on March 17, 2015 at 12:15

Thanks a lot Laeticia. Reading through the 11 poems made me relive some of my gender mainstreaming efforts...the question is: "In light of what has been done [the thinking, the strategizing, the lobbying, the commitment to the cause, etc.] how do we move forward?"

Comment by KIMES on March 17, 2015 at 12:14

Great work from our neighboring Country, lets steer this discussion forward

Comment by Barbara Rosenstein on March 17, 2015 at 11:48

Thank you for sharing that. So true. I never understood why gender is a separate issue that had to be added on and why some countries are proud that they devote 9%of their budget to gender and why they talk about gender when what they mean is "women". Hey, we are 50% of the population if not more. I suppose when gender is no longer an issue, it will be a sign that we no longer divide the population into "regular=men" and "gender=women". In the meantime, we are moving in the right direction slowly.

Comment by KALYANI MENON-SEN on March 17, 2015 at 8:25

This is lovely, Laetitia - speaks to the experience of so many of us!

Thanks - am going to share this widely :)

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