In July 2008, IFAD’s Programme Management Department issued the Framework for Gender Mainstreaming in IFAD's operation. The framework is intended as a follow-up to IFAD’s earlier Gender Plan of Action. It:

  • outlines IFAD’s guiding principles in mainstreaming gender in IFAD’s operations
  • defines the key features of gender-sensitive design and implementation of its projects and programmes
  • defines the key operational objectives  to mainstream gender concerns into the project/programme cycle
  • defines responsibilities for implementation.

The framework purpose is to guide IFAD’s action in mainstreaming gender concerns in designing projects, managing its portfolio and in undertaking thematic work.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment remain central to IFAD’s poverty reduction mandate and strategy for reasons of both equity and development effectiveness, as recalled in the Targeting Policy and the Strategic Framework

The framework is a follow-up to IFAD’s 2003-06 Gender Plan of Action (GPoA).  The GPoA was a time-bound initiative, and many of the actions envisaged have now become part of our business processes.

IFAD has done a lot – and learned – a great deal on gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment, as demonstrated by the May 2007 gender workshop:

But we need to do more, and implementing this framework is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to move ahead. Retaining attention to gender in the context of the donors harmonisation and alignment with country processes is confronting us with new challenges.  The increasing shift towards value-chain and market-led approaches in our portfolio presents opportunities but also risks of exclusion of women which we need to address and mitigate. Discontinuity between project design and implementation remains a problem, which requires us to develop forward-looking but also realistic gender strategies. All of this requires continued dialogue with our partners – at country-level and in our grants programme - to build a shared understanding of the importance of gender issues and women’s empowerment in poverty reduction, and agreement on the best ways to achieve these goals. It also requires continued efforts to learn, share knowledge and pilot innovative approaches.  

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