The document discusses the importance of gender audits as a tool for organizations to assess gender integration in their operations and policies. It emphasizes that gender mainstreaming should be an integral part of all development efforts to achieve gender equality. The audit process aims to provide both objective and subjective insights on how gender issues are currently addressed and suggests methods for improving gender equity in diplomatic work.

1. The elusive
gender audit
3 November 2016
Associate Professor Susan Harris Rimmer,
Graduate Institute Visiting Fellow
@femint

2. Business case
“I believe effective gender integration is often the difference between
success and failure of a broad variety of development investments. I've
had a history…of making sure that gender integration is done well...A lot
of times there's a fair amount of language about gender integration, but
there are less specific strategies to make it happen…”
— Rajiv Shah, 2009, USAID Administrator

3. Definitions
“Gender mainstreaming is the process of assessing the implications for
women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies and
programmes, in all areas and at all levels, and as a strategy for making
women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension
of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and
programmes in all political, economic and social spheres so that women and
men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal is to
achieve gender equality.” (ECOSOC 1997/2)

4. Not a pass/fail scenario
The Gender Audit is an assessment tool and process for organizations to
use in identifying staff perceptions of how gender issues are addressed
in their programming/advice portfolio (external) and internal
organizational processes.
The Audit is designed to garner both objective and subjective information
on the progress of gender mainstreaming.

5. Gender Audits - why
Troubleshooting – reveals structural issues
Transitional moments – establish baseline
Navigate gender issues with curiosity and safety
Move beyond anecdote
Public diplomacy (evidence of awesomeness)

6. Gender Audits - what
 Must be linked to strategic mission of foreign ministry, or
explicit gender strategy for all aspects of diplomatic work
 Must fuse gender analysis of the ministry itself with ability
to influence gender equity issues in foreign policy
 Should be cognisant of the history of gender in diplomacy
 Should understand intersectionality

8. Frameworks
ILO 3 ‘S’ approach
 Staffing
 Substance
 Structural issues

9. Gender audits - how
 Aim for a rigorous process, with emphasis on data and
evidence. Iterations.
 Audit results show a slice of time in an organisation: What
do we look like, what do we say in public and private, how
do we act, where do resources go, what are our values?
 Interaction framework – now your turn.

10. Challenges
Perceptions!
Plausible deniability
Decorative only

11. Thank you
Comments welcome
s.harris-rimmer@griffith.edu.au
@femint