Conventional gender-sensitive methodologies that tend to focus on treating the symptoms of gender discrimination, such as women’s unequal access to resources and benefits, without addressing the structural determinants of gender inequality, have repeatedly failed to achieve long-standing and transformative impacts.

Discriminatory gender norms and roles, unequal power relations and social structures limit the aspirations and opportunities of women and men. Women are often excluded from participatory and decision-making processes, often times resulting in disempowerment and their particular needs not being considered, whereas men struggle with strict and unrealistic expectations of masculinity that can result in negative behaviours and coping mechanisms.

For gender equality to become a reality, development programmes and initiatives need to adopt a gender transformative approach.