Unit 2:

Gender
Mainstreaming
Gender equality as the goal; gender mainstreaming as the strategy
Gender Mainstreaming or Gender and Development (GAD) mainstreaming is the
major global strategy for ensuring that the government pursues gender equality in all aspects
of the development process to achieve the vision of a gender-responsive society.
 What is the Mainstream?
It is an inter-related set of dominant
ideas, values, practices, institutions and
organizations that determine "who gets
what" within a society.
 Becoming part of the mainstream means

women and men have equitable access to resources,

including opportunities and rewards

sharing equitably in the benefits of development

offers the opportunity to influence who does what

in a society
 Entry Points of Gender Mainstreaming

PROGRAMS AND
01 POLICIES 03 PROJECTS

ENABLING
02 PEOPLE 04 MECHANISMS
 Policies
These refer to the official statements and pronouncements of
support for gender mainstreaming issued by the
organization.
 People
These refer to the relevant stakeholders who assume the task of
gender mainstreaming.
 Four Complementary and Distinct Roles of
People
• The Sponsor - who has the power to sanction or legitimize change
• The Change Agent- responsible for making the change
• The Target - who must actually change
• The Advocate - who wants to achieve change
Programs and Projects (PAPs)
These refer to the flagship programs or activities and
projects that serve as a strategic entry point to gender
mainstreaming in an organization.
 Enabling Mechanisms
The systems and mechanisms installed in the
organization and the funds allocated for GAD activities
such as the GAD Focal Point System and Knowledge
Management System.
Levels of Gender Mainstreaming
 Level 1: Foundation Formation

The level of gender awareness of an organization is

heightened through raising people’s awareness and
generating support for gender mainstreaming.
 Level 2: Installation of Strategic Mechanisms

Enabling conditions created and established to support GAD

are:
• Putting key people, necessary policies, support structures,
systems and mechanisms
• Initial application of GAD concepts and too
ls
 Level 3: GAD Application

• GAD-related activities are already institutionalized within

the organization.
• Interventions are usually based on a strategic GAD agenda
.
 Level 4: Commitment Enhancement and Institutionalization

The organization has already institutionalized gender

mainstreaming and is focused on sustaining its efforts.
 Level 5: Replication and Innovation

GAD has been fully mainstreamed into its mandate and is

being recognized by others as a model in gender
mainstreaming.