This guidance note focuses on country gender mainstreaming responses within national programmes and across sectors. Using a technical illustrative approach, it unpacks the types and sequencing of decisions and actions at each level and step of decision-making—when laws, policies, budgets, and statistics for service delivery and programmes are being developed, operationalized and/or assessed. The guidance note discusses major changes in gender mainstreaming norms within the current global development context and provides general principles for implementing gender mainstreaming at the country level
Gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation systems are as important as a gender-responsive project design. Gender-blind design projects can be corrected by formulating gender-inclusive indicators and conducting gender-responsive evaluations, thereafter keeping track of the project’s contribution to the goal of gender equality in the world of work. This guidance note explains why it is important to integrate gender equality systematically into monitoring and evaluation processes.
The manual provides skills and networks that will allow users to: Improve the health of women and girls as set out in several international agreements; promote gender equality and health equity by addressing the broader determinants of health for men and boys, women and girls; strengthen health systems and primary health care approaches; involve women and men in health decisions that directly affect their lives; develop, implement and monitor gender-responsive health policies and programmes; and engage in multisectoral activities and dialogue towards addressing gender and gender inequality as determinants of health.
The toolkit reflects numerous calls to action for equitable representation of women in global health decision-making. The strategies shared in the toolkit’s modules apply an intersectional lens and complement existing leadership curricula, providing tools to health care workers and managers to advance gender equality. The approach is particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it can also be used long-term to spur greater inclusion of women’s voices in global health.