Monthly Corner

 IDH Publication, 2026

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is not just a social issue, it’s a systemic challenge that undermines agricultural value chains.

In rural and isolated areas, GBV threatens women’s safety, limits their economic participation, and weakens food security. When women cannot work safely, entire communities lose resilience, and businesses lose productivity. Climate resilience strategies that overlook gendered risks leave communities exposed and women vulnerable.

Ending GBV is essential for building equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient agri-food systems; and it’s not only a human rights imperative, but also central to climate adaptation and economic stability.

The good news? Solutions work. Programs like the Women’s Safety Accelerator Fund (WSAF) demonstrate that addressing GBV can enhance productivity and strengthen workforce morale and brand reputation. Safe, inclusive workplaces aren’t just good ethics, they’re smart business.

Gurmeet Kaur Articles

Luc Barriere-Constantin Article

 This article draws on the experience gained by The Constellation over the past 20 years. It is also a proposal for a new M&E and Learning framework to be adopted and adapted in future projects of all community-focused organisations.

Devaka K.C. Article

Sudeshna Sengupta Chapter in the book "Dialogues on Development edited by Prof Arash Faizli and Prof Amitabh Kundu."

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!

Dear all,

I am looking for examples of recent good/bad practice for women's economic empowerment. If anyone has any practical examples of what works and what works less well - especially through the fora of vocational and skills training, I'd love to hear from you.

It is to support project design of women's centres for vocational training and skills development for vulnerable women in conflict affected rural areas of the Caucuses.

Many thanks in advance, Rachel

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Dear Rachel

Thank you for this ...  The UN-FAO just share a new book with 15 ''good practices'' on gender and economic empowerment of women (see link below).... On the top of these 15 good practices is the Gender Action Learning System (GALS)

With Oxfam-Novib and IFAD we have been implementing 'GALS, originally in Uganda and other African countries ... I have delivered various trainings on GALS in Africa (Rwanda, Zambia), and did an evaluation for Oxfam Novib in Uganda,  .... Using ''ruralfinance'' (esp. groups) as an entry point, the proposed approach is not only to facilitate discussion between men-women on gender (e.g why do you like, or dislike of being a particular sex, and why, etc possibly leading to a consensus on better practices at household level), but also to include ''indicators'' in selecting proposals for micro-loans, prioirity being attached for tjhose with ''improved practices'' at household-community level .... 
I did a summary of the GALS approach for a UN-Women ''expert group meeting'' in Ghana (link below, paper also attached)
As I indicated above, the GALS tool is now selected as one of the 15 ''good practices'' by UN-FAO in their recent book:
 
GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACHES FOR FOOD SECURITY, IMPROVED NUTRITION AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
I hope this would be helpful ... and I am happy to get your feed backs...
Getaneh (getanehg2002@yahoo.com)

Dear Getaneh,

This looks super useful. Many thanks indeed. I will contact you by email as well.

Warm regards, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

You may want to check SADA Women's Cooperative in Gaziantep, Turkey. Here is their web site > https://sadacoop.com/

This is a women's coop that extends beyond the promise of economic empowerment - it also operates as a center of social work through which women can access information on public goods and services.

all the best,

Sevinc

Dear Sevinc

Thank you so much this is very useful to see this model.

Rachel

Hi Rachel,

This comes from my experience of implementation and evaluation. Thanks for making me reflect.

What does not work- lone focus on economic empowerment

What works- start from helping the women realise their own strengths, others realising the strengths of women, a common dream of the community. When this environment is created economic empowerment will flourish. So in a nutshell use a ecological lens, strength-based approach and start from social to economic empowerment. eg domestic workers in India they did not value themselves, they said that their families did not value the work they do, so could we expect them to negotiate salaries with their employers. See a blog I wrote https://aidscompetence.ning.com/profiles/blogs/community-life-compe...

Am happy to have a call if the above strikes a chord. All the best!

Dear Rituu

Many thanks for your reflections and also for the link below from the UNW Webinar. 

Maybe we can schedule a call next week - if we can do it towards the end of the week then we will have our initial field research information in which can contribute to our conversation.

Warm regards, Rachel

UN Women Webinar on 25 Feb 2021 “Evaluation Lessons on Women Economic Empowerment (WEE)” to discuss lessons from our 2nd series of UN Women ESA Evaluation Knowledge Products produced in 2020.

We are pleased to share the recording from our recent webinar “Evaluation Lessons on Women Economic Empowerment (WEE)”. A Big Thank You to the panelists and the 30+ participants! The webinar recording is available here.

Best regards,

Caspar

 

Caspar Merkle

Regional Evaluation Specialist

UN Women Regional Office for Eastern and

Southern Africa

Thank you Caspar this is very useful.

Warm regards, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

 

I have been working on poverty alleviation program since last ten years especially women based community institutions such as SHGs and it federation. We have several livelihood interventions.

 

I would love to provide help if you clarify some sub sectors as well.  

 http://www.brlps.in/

With Regards!  

Prakash Kumar,

Senior Manager- Institutional Capacity building,

Bihar State rural livelihood Promotion Society, Jeevika

East Champaran, Bihar , India  

 

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