This Evaluation Report assesses the results of DFID’s policies and programming on gender equality and women’s empowerment and their effects on poverty reduction. Whilst DFID has made important contributions to gender achievements at policy and practice level, results have varied across sectors, countries and partnerships.
There is a continuing need and justification to pursue the goal of gender equality and women’s empowerment in its own right and as a key factor in poverty alleviation and pro-poor growth. There is growing appreciation amongst DFID staff and partners of the links between equal rights and opportunities for women and men on the one hand, and economic and social development on the other. However, this understanding needs to be developed further to dispel the notion that gender equality is in competition with other development objectives.
The main findings of the evaluation are as follows:
- A shift to country-led approaches has accentuated the lack of appreciation of DFID’s gender policies and guidelines, which are regarded as optional. This has caused fragmentation in the application of approaches and an uneven impact.
- The disbanding of the project approval committee, who vetted all project proposals for coherence within DFID policies, has weakened compliance with gender policies.
- DFID’s role in the international effort to address gender issues has been significant in terms of policy leadership and knowledge development. However, these strengths are not reflected at country level, where there is no evidence of a corresponding pattern in the division of labour.
- DFID’s systems for knowledge sharing have contributed to limitations in gender mainstreaming results. DFID is at the forefront of funding for gender-specific research but dissemination remains a challenge.
- The impact and contribution of DFID’s policy and practice on gender are more pronounced in gender-explicit interventions. Nine out of ten interventions evaluated were found to be contributing to gender equality goals.
- Gender as a cross-cutting issue does not feature prominently either in the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) or Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) agreements. This is a missed opportunity, and cause for concern, given the increased weight to be given to PRBS in the future.
The report offers four main recommendations:
- DFID’s gender policy objectives are taking place within a new context for international development. DFID needs to allow its staff to find the appropriate balance between their own policy objectives and country-led approaches to development.
- DFID’s commitment to the multi-dimensional definition of poverty needs concerted application with regard to gender equality. This will help build the evidence base on gender in DFID’s operating environment.
- Accountability measures, such as Public Service Agreements (PSAs), need to be broadened in order to better anchor the gender equality strategy institutionally within DFID.
- Management at DFID headquarters and country offices need to demonstrate continued commitment to the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment. This will serve as a powerful incentive for staff.
