The document discusses gender analysis as a vital method for understanding gender relations, resource access, and empowerment challenges, particularly in rural planning. It outlines recommended practices for conducting gender analysis throughout project processes, various frameworks and tools available for analysis, and the importance of diverse participation and continuous commitment in planning. Additionally, it highlights the need for adapting tools to include a broader understanding of gender beyond the binary, taking into account various intersecting identities.

1. GENDER ANALYSIS
Tips and Tools for Rural Planners
Pallak Arora
EDRD*6000: Qualitative Analysis: Rural Development
March 07, 2016

2. Introduction
◦ Gender analysis refers to the variety of methods and tools used to understand the
relationships between different genders in an area, their access to resources, their
activities, and challenges to empowerment (Global Affairs Canada [GAC], 2016).
◦ It aims to reveal the interrelationships between gender and race, ethnicity, culture,
class, age, disability recognising that it transects multiple facets of one’s
identity (GAC, 2016).
◦ Gender analysis is used by policy makers, analysts, and program managers to find
who has access to the resources, who has control, who is likely to benefit, and who
might be impacted negatively by a program (GAC, 2016).
◦ It is also used as a tool to understand local context and to promote equality by
ensuring equal participation and partnership between men and women (GAC, 2016).
(Equality, 2015)

3. When to use it?
◦ Ideally, ender analysis must take place throughout the entire process i.e. at the planning,
implementation, monitoring and the evaluation phases.
◦ This recommendation is based on the understanding that a project takes place in existing “social, cultural,
economic, environmental, institutional, and political structures of a community, country or region” (GAC,
2016).
◦ An example of a Canadian development initiative (GAC, 2016)-
◦ Servico Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (SENAI), the National Industrial Apprenticeship Program in
Brazil, used gender analysis to respond to the under-representation of females in their technical training
program. As a result of the analysis, a part of the program was dedicated to showcasing female role-
models in non-traditional workplaces. This resulted in a 17% increase in enrollment of women over 7 years.
◦ Three elements of gender analysis to keep in mind are (GAC, 2016):
◦ It requires adequate resources and skilled personnel
◦ Local expertise is an asset
◦ The findings must be included in policy and program design

4. Process (Meyers & Jones, 2012)
Preparation
Define the scope of work to narrow
context and purpose of study.
Define research questions based on
objectives, client priorities and
secondary data collected.
State your deliverables. E.g. work
plan, report, action plan,
presentation, charts etc.
Timeline can vary from 6 to 9 weeks (2
weeks for writing work plan, 2-3 weeks for
fieldwork, 2-3 weeks for analysis and
reporting).
Fieldwork
Fieldwork must be preceded by
identifying skilled staff and training them
on gender inclusive strategies.
Ethical considerations: respect
informants, minimize harm and
maximise benefits.
Identify and involve target groups
and stakeholders, to increase
engagement, buy-in and support.
Methods: Quantitative surveys, key
informant interviews, focus groups,
observation etc.
Action
Analyse data on ongoing basis
through each step. Renew your
understanding once all data is
analysed.
Organise the data by identified themes
and trends. Determine how the themes
answer the research questions.
Develop charts and figures that allow a
basic understanding of the findings.
Create recommendations and validate
with stakeholders.
Identify specific actions to be taken,
responsible staff, timeline and targets
to ensure completion.

5. Gender Analysis Frameworks
(UNDP, 2001)
Description Comments
Harvard Analytical Framework (HAF) Collects data on gender roles in community
vis-à-vis economic activity. 4 key indicators-
activity profile, access and control,
influencing factors and project cycle
analysis.
Easy and adaptable to ascertain division of
labour at micro-level. Is a needs-assessment
process. Fails to focus on the power relations
in a community.
Moser Framework Divides women’s work as productive,
reproductive, and community activities.
Reveals access to resources and decision
making.
Highlights unpaid labour but assumes
women as a homogenous group without
intersections with race, class, ethnicity etc.
Gender Analysis Matrix Community based technique to find
different impacts of intervention on time,
labour, resources of men and women.
Bottom-up analysis. Includes men. Can be
used as a transformative approach through
community participation.
Equality & Empowerment Framework Helps planners identify practical meaning of
women empowerment, and effectiveness of
the intervention.
Highlights gender relations but fails to include
rights, claims and responsibilities.
Capacities and Vulnerabilities
Framework
For humanitarian and disaster relief
intervention. Focuses on building strengths to
support long term development.
Used both for planning and assessment to
track changes. Adaptable but no clear
focus on women’s empowerment.
People-Oriented Planning Adaptation of HAF to refugee situations.
Ensures equitable distribution of resources to
target aid.
Lack of participation from stakeholders.
Social Relations Framework Focuses on development as human well-
being, social relations, and institutional
analysis.
Identifies systemic issues that lead to
inequities. Complex analysis. Large
institutions are hard to change.

6. Tools for Gender Analysis
(Meyers & Jones, 2016)
Description Use
Activity Profile- Gender Roles and
Responsibilities
A tool to gather information about the
division of labour in marketing, production
and business practices in a supply chain.
Agriculture, livelihoods, and value chain
contexts.
Examining Value Chain Relationships Examines relationship between actors in a
value chain, and determine the effect of
gendered norms and behaviours on these.
Agriculture, and supply chain management
contexts.
Gender Communication Profile Identifies different communication methods
used by men and women to access and
share information in formal and informal
settings.
Community and household level analysis
with beneficiaries. Adaptable to different
contexts.
Daily Activity Clock Determines different kinds of activities
performed by men and women during
different times of the day.
Agriculture and occupations with different
workloads between men and women,
Involve beneficiaries.
Cooperative and Farmers Organisation
Gender Equity Data Tool
Conducting interviews and focus groups to
determine a. number and percentage of
women and men in leadership positions b.
extent to which members and spouses
participate in cooperatives c. extent to
which they benefit from participation.
Ascertain gender gaps in cooperatives and
farmer-based organisations.
SCORS Identifies successes, challenges,
opportunities, and risks of a project or policy.
Gender mainstreaming, multiple stakeholder
engagement, collective brainstorming.
A detailed analysis of various tools used in gender analysis can be found at http://goo.gl/IRj4Eu

7. Challenges
◦ Conceptual Challenges (Runnels, et. al.,2014)
◦ Lack of clarity around concepts of ‘gender’ and ‘sex’
◦ Concerns about integrating constructivist approaches in systematic reviews
◦ Dealing with diversity and heterogeneity of populations
◦ Methodological Challenges (Runnels, et. al.,2014)
◦ Lack of accessible tools and checklists for diverse contexts
◦ Technical challenges in moving from idea to action
◦ Data acquisition (Runnels, et. al.,2014)
◦ Quality of data reporting/ under-reporting prejudice
◦ Policy Challenges (Runnels, et. al.,2014)
◦ Sensitive topic, can attract resistance
◦ Lack of context in umbrella policy measures
(Gender Identity, 2016)

8. Tips for planners (Meyers & Jones, 2012)
◦ Diverse participation: Gender analysis should be a participatory process involving clients,
stakeholders, staff members, funders and target groups. They should be given ample
opportunities to voice experiences and make recommendations throughout the process.
Planners can use participatory observation to guide reflection and self-analysis which will reveal
deeper thoughts and emotions.
◦ A means to an end: Findings and recommendations should be shared with stakeholders once
compiled. Feedback should be incorporated to showcase the true participatory nature of the
process. Action planning becomes as necessary as the data collection and analysis for
improvement to truly occur.
◦ Continuous commitment: Gender analysis can be a start to a more in-depth process if followed
by gender assessment (highlighting success and gaps in programming), and a gender audit
(determines integration of gender into program and policies at organisational level).

9. Beyond the binary
◦ Traditionally, gender analysis has been done to understand the difference in role men and
women but has failed to address ‘gender beyond the binary’
◦ Gender is a social constructed concept that is monitored and enforced by our socio-cultural
context on a regular.
◦ It should be viewed as a spectrum i.e. continuum of possibilities as opposed to male vs female.
◦ Tools of conducting gender analysis must be revised/ recreated to account for diverse
definitions of gender and include the LGBTQ* community.
◦ Questions to consider:
◦ How will addressing concerns of women and improving equality across
genders strengthen the efficiency and sustainability of a project?
◦ Do the current tools and methodologies of gender analysis take into
account intersections with race, ethnicity, sexuality, culture and class?
◦ How to reduce stigma around conducting gender analysis especially
in scientific and technical occupational spaces?
(Gender Neutrality, 2016)

10. References
◦ Gender Equality. [Online image]. (2015). Retrieved from https://lindseymetter.wordpress.com/
◦ Gender Identity. [Online image]. (2016). Retrieved from
http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/actualitate/articol/gender-real-thing
◦ Gender Neutrality. [Online image]. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-
us/events/2016/february/beyond-binary-sexuality-and-gender
◦ Global Affairs Canada [GAC]. (2016). Gender Analysis. Retrieved from
http://www.international.gc.ca/development-developpement/priorities-priorites/ge-
es/index.aspx?lang=eng
◦ Meyers, L. & Jones. L. (2012). Gender Analysis, Assessment and Audit Manual & Toolkit. Gender
Integration: ACDI/VOCA. Retrieved from
http://acdivoca.org/sites/default/files/attach/legacy/site/Lookup/ACDI-VOCA-Gender-Analysis-
Manual/$file/ACDI-VOCA-Gender-Analysis-Manual.pdf
◦ Runnels, V., Tudiver, S., Doull, M. & Boscoe, M. (2014). The challenges of including sex/gender analysis in
systematic reviews: a qualitative survey. Systematic Reviews, 3(33). DOI:10.1186/2046-4053-3-33
◦ United Nations Development Programme [UNDP]. (2001). Learning & Information Pack: Gender Analysis. Gender
in Development Programme. Retrieved from
http://acdivoca.org/sites/default/files/attach/legacy/site/Lookup/ACDI-VOCA-Gender-Analysis-
Manual/$file/ACDI-VOCA-Gender-Analysis-Manual.pdf