“How could we improve the efficiency of projects at the country level?” “How can we make a meaningful impact on rural communities?” Questions like these are the focus of continuous discussion – at FAO and in many other development organizations. One of the most promising answers to emerge in recent years:   “Invest in gender mainstreaming.”

But what exactly is “gender mainstreaming” and why is it important?

As defined by the United Nations, it is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action – from project design all the way up to national and regional policy formulation.  

“The evidence is there,” said Dono Abdurazakova, FAO gender and social protection expert. “If we fail to analyse gender roles, needs and issues, we will not achieve what we could have, and we do a disservice to the people we aim to help. But when we do our homework, when we look carefully at how each project, programme or policy is going to affect women and men, then we can achieve so much more.”

Over the past decade, FAO has integrated gender considerations in all areas of its work. The current corporate policy on gender equality – adopted on 8 March 2012 – serves as a guide. It specifies roles and responsibilities, objectives and minimum standards. The overall goal is equality between men and women in sustainable food production and rural development, for the elimination of hunger and poverty.

To make sure all FAO staff are equipped to apply gender principles in their work, a worldwide training programme is under way. A recent survey indicated a need for still more training and other measures to ensure rigorous application of gender analysis and mainstreaming.

A designated staff member at every FAO office has responsibility for promoting and monitoring progress in this area. Last week in Budapest, the Organization’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia hosted a workshop for those “gender focal points” based in the region, to develop plans for improving FAO’s capacity to build gender equality objectives into its work. Officers from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Turkey attended, with others connected remotely. Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative Vladimir Rakhmanin and other regional office staff joined the workshop as well.

2 April 2015, Budapest, Hungary