Document Abstract
Published:
2006
Using gender research in development: food security in practice
Gender equality is a basic human right, and closing the gender gap is key to achieving many development objectives. Yet many practitioners and advocates concerned with achieving gender equality are often constrained by the lack of information, resources and support in order to justify this goal.
This practitioners’ guide aims to bridge the gap between research and practice by providing up-to-date, relevant information on why and how gender issues can improve the design, implementation, and effectiveness of development projects and policies. The first section presents International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI) previous work on gender and intra-household issues, and sets out a framework for incorporating gender research into project and policy cycles. Stages within a project cycle include needs assessment and problem identification, project design and appraisal, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Stages within a policy cycle include: agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and assessment.
Section two sets out IFPRI's research findings in relation to these stages, providing clear examples and recommendations. For example, this research has had an important impact on conditional cash transfer schemes in Latin America by contributing to the growing evidence that decision-making within households is a political process. This research has also contributed to a wider acceptance by policymakers that paying attention to decision-making processes within the household is essential to the success of development interventions. For example it is now widely accepted that resources controlled by women lead to improved wellbeing of their children. Section three presents a list of questions that project managers and policymakers may want to consider when planning a new project or policy. Also incorporated throughout are findings from field-testing the guide among practitioners and policymaker, so the guide reflects the insights, comments, and suggestions of the targeted users of this research.
This practitioners’ guide aims to bridge the gap between research and practice by providing up-to-date, relevant information on why and how gender issues can improve the design, implementation, and effectiveness of development projects and policies. The first section presents International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI) previous work on gender and intra-household issues, and sets out a framework for incorporating gender research into project and policy cycles. Stages within a project cycle include needs assessment and problem identification, project design and appraisal, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Stages within a policy cycle include: agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and assessment.
Section two sets out IFPRI's research findings in relation to these stages, providing clear examples and recommendations. For example, this research has had an important impact on conditional cash transfer schemes in Latin America by contributing to the growing evidence that decision-making within households is a political process. This research has also contributed to a wider acceptance by policymakers that paying attention to decision-making processes within the household is essential to the success of development interventions. For example it is now widely accepted that resources controlled by women lead to improved wellbeing of their children. Section three presents a list of questions that project managers and policymakers may want to consider when planning a new project or policy. Also incorporated throughout are findings from field-testing the guide among practitioners and policymaker, so the guide reflects the insights, comments, and suggestions of the targeted users of this research.
