In December 2012, the programme on “Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume cropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa” (SIMLESA) commissioned a study to compile case studies of good practices in gender mainstreaming in the areas covered by the programme. This study was a result of an action point agreed on by participants at a Gender Mainstreaming Training Workshop held in July 2011 in Morogoro, Tanzania. The compilation of the case studies of good practices was intended to take stock and showcase the efforts of gender mainstreaming in the SIMLESA programme that had started three years earlier.

The case studies document the good practices and lessons learnt during the SIMLESA programme, which SIMLESA or any other programme could consider in future programmes or during programme review. While many of these lessons are important at the programme design stage, several are applicable even at the implementation and up-scaling stages.