This technical note presents the work done under the Trade and Gender Initiative led by the Integration and Trade Sector (INT) of the Inter American Development Bank. The technical note emphasizes the process of incorporating a gender perspective into trade operations conducted by the Bank and in knowledge generation in the trade and gender area. INT’s work in the trade and gender area produced the following lines of action, partly based on initial research on experiences in gender and trade in the region as described in this technical note:
- Development of knowledge on trade and gender, supported by building partnerships and collaboration with specialists in the topic in the region (supported by the Community of Practice on Trade and Gender, an online tool for communication and knowledge dissemination);
- Elaboration of methodological tools to help stakeholders in trade become familiar with gender mainstreaming and introduce a gender perspective into the practice of trade operations; and
- Incorporation of the gender perspective in various INT operational initiatives, promoting a process of internal awareness among sector specialists.
These lines of work are already producing concrete results:
- Production of a manual on how to incorporate a gender perspective into specific trade operations to be used by specialists of the Bank and the region
- Creation and administration of the Community of Practice on Trade and Gender, encouraging fluid communication between various experts on gender and trade
- Introduction of a gender perspective in to the Aid for Trade Fund strategy and in various INT operations in design or implementation phase
- Identification and design of specific trade and gender projects for the Bank’s technical cooperation pipeline for 2011 and 2012
- Awareness activities with sector officials
- Incorporation of gender criteria in the call for proposals for the Regional Public Goods Program
This technical note is divided into three main parts. The first part compiles and presents the conclusions of the literature review on representative initiatives in the trade and gender area implemented in the region, which are the basis and guide for gender mainstreaming in INT operations, and identifies opportunities for future intervention by the Bank.
The second part presents the process of gender mainstreaming in three types of trade interventions in INT. The last part outlines the knowledge and dissemination products, besides this technical note, that have been developed to supplement the knowledge and methodological needs identified: (1) a manual for mainstreaming gender in trade interventions; (2) a working paper on mainstreaming gender in the process of preparation, negotiation, and implementation of trade agreements; (3) analysis of specific trade agreements and proposed preparation of clauses with gender perspective; and (4) the Community of Practice on Trade and Gender.
