Define

In this phase, it is recommended that information is gathered on the situation of women and men in a particular area. This means looking for sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics, as well as checking for the existence of studies, programme or project reports, and/or evaluations from previous periods.

Did you know that EIGE has a Gender Statistics Database? Check whether there are relevant statistics to feed into your analysis.

Examples of gender and agriculture and rural areas statistics

Examples of studies, research and reports

Examples of gender analysis

One of the first steps to take when defining your policy/project/programme is to gather information and analyse the situation of women and men in the respective policy area. The information and data you collected will allow understanding of the reality and assist you in designing your policy, programme or project. Specific methods that can be used in this phase are gender analysis and gender impact assessment.

Did you know that EIGE has a resource and documentation centre? Check whether there is relevant information to feed into your analysis.

Examples of gender impact assessment

Examples of stakeholders that can be consulted

Consider consulting stakeholders (e.g. gender experts, civil society organisations) on the topic at hand, to share and validate your findings and to improve your policy or programme proposal. This will enhance the learning process on the subject for all those involved and will improve the quality of the work done at the EU level. The stakeholders consultation process will start in this phase, but could also be considered as an important method to be applied along all the policy cycle’s phases.

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, visit EIGE's website on Gender Mainstreaming.

Plan

In this phase, it’s relevant to analyse budgets from a gender perspective. Gender budgeting is used to identify how budget allocations contribute to promoting gender equality. Gender budgeting brings visibility to how much public money is spent for women and men respectively. Thus, gender budgeting ensures that public funds are fairly distributed between women and men. It also contributes to accountability and transparency about how public funds are being spent.

Example of gender budgeting in agriculture and rural development

When planning, don’t forget to establish monitoring and evaluation systems and indicators that will allow measurement, and compare the impact of the policy or programme on women and men over the timeframe of its implementation. Remember to define the appropriate times to monitor and evaluate your policy.

Examples of indicators for monitoring gender and agriculture and rural development

When preparing calls for proposals in the framework of funding programmes, or terms of reference in the context of public procurement procedures (notably for contractors to be hired for policy support services), don’t forget to formalise gender-related requirements. This will ensure that the projects and services which the European Commission will fund are not gender-blind or gender-biased.

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, visit EIGE's website on Gender Mainstreaming.

Act

In the implementation phase of a policy or programme, ensure that all who are involved are sufficiently aware about the relevant gender objectives and plans. If not, set up briefings and capacity-building initiatives according to staff needs. Think about researchers, proposal evaluators, monitoring and evaluation experts, scientific officers, programme committee members, etc.

Examples of capacity-building initiatives about gender, and agriculture and rural development

Training course gender inclusion in rural areas (GIRA)

The training course gender inclusion in rural areas (GIRA) involved 28 youth workers from SEE and EU Countries working in geographically isolated areas. It was financed by the European initiative Youth on the move. The aim of GIRA is to provide information, perspectives and resources for empowering youth living in rural areas, focusing on young women especially.

During the implementation of your policy or programme, publications, communications, press releases might be issued. Don’t forget to give visibility to gender issues and to pay attention to the language and visuals: these can convey gender stereotypes and gendered concepts, but they can also contribute to deconstructing stereotypes, thus underlying the importance of using gender-sensitive language.

Examples of gender language in agriculture and rural development

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, visit EIGE's website on Gender Mainstreaming.

Check

A policy cycle or programme should be checked both during monitoring – and at the end – evaluation, of its implementation.

Monitoring the ongoing work allows for the follow-up of progress and remedying unforeseen difficulties. This exercise should take into account the indicators delineated in the planning phase and realign data collection based on those indicators.

At the end of a policy cycle or programme, a gender-sensitive evaluation should take place. Make your evaluation publicly accessible and strategically disseminate its results to promote its learning potential.

Example of monitoring and evaluation on gender and agriculture and rural development

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, visit EIGE's website on Gender Mainstreaming.