Gender analysis, gender mainstreaming and the project cycle

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Policy on Gender Equality 2020–2030 recommends that “all projects and programmes integrate gender-related results and indicators, based on the findings of a gender analysis”. The formulation and implementation of these projects and programmes are guided by specific gender requirements established by the FAO project cycle (minimum standard 8 from the Policy).

Gender mainstreaming in the project is a strategy for making women’s and men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the project cycle. It involves engaging them in the design and planning of project activities, so that they can benefit equally and inequalities are not perpetuated and exacerbated.

Addressing gender issues in the project is essential for providing equal access to productive resources, services and technologies, as well as equal opportunities to participate in planning and decision-making, so that both men and women can benefit from the expected outputs and/or outcomes. It aims at providing robust evidence of women’s and men’s specific priorities and responsibilities, thereby reducing the risk of designing a project based on incorrect assumptions and stereotypes. Additionally, it is imperative to consider intersectionality, recognizing how gender intersects with other social identities, leading to distinct experiences of discrimination or privilege. Moreover, it provides insights on how men and women are affected by the problem identified, so that solutions are informed by this information.

Conducting a gender analysis during project formulation means considering the roles of men and women and understanding:

• What roles they play in and outside of the household.
• What resources they have access to.
• What their needs and priorities are.
• What the power relations are and how decisions are taken.

Gender analysis provides the basis to address gender inequalities in projects and can be conducted at the household, community and national levels across different life stages.

The seven steps required to formulate a gender-responsive project are the  following:

1. Conduct a comprehensive gender analysis, engage with stakeholders, and identify potential gender-based challenges that might affect participation and benefits from the project. 

2. Incorporate gender analysis findings into the project strategy, develop actions to address gender-based challenges, and aim for clear gender-related outcomes in the project's framework. 

3. Design and implement a gender-sensitive monitoring framework with indicators that track project engagement and benefits across all genders, ensuring gender objectives are consistently met. 

4. Allocate and prioritize a budget that supports gender-related activities and initiatives promoting gender equality. 

5. Clearly define gender-related responsibilities for project staff and ensure the availability of gender expertise to guide and support the project's direction. 

6. Assign a gender marker and integrate gender-responsive goals, indicators, and actions into the project's overarching framework, ensuring gender considerations are central. 

7. Execute the project with a consistent focus on gender-related outcomes, periodically reviewing and adjusting activities based on feedback and monitoring insights.