The elusive gender audit 3 November 2016

Associate Professor Susan Harris Rimmer,

Graduate Institute Visiting Fellow

@femint

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

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)

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.

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)

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

Frameworks

ILO 3 ‘S’ approach

Staffing

Substance

Structural issues

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.

Challenges Perceptions!

Plausible deniability

Decorative only

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