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, and 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 poverty and social inclusion statistics

At the EU level, relevant databases and indexes have been developed to address the dimension of poverty. Poverty and income inequality indicators aiming to measure access to resources (income, material deprivation) are based on the assumption of equal sharing of resources within the household. Therefore, those indicators only partially capture the gender dimension of poverty.

As stated by the European Parliament in the 2011 Resolution on the face of female poverty in the European Union, there is a need to find more appropriate methods of measuring poverty among women (art. 17). This should include the collection of systematic sex-disaggregated data and information (art. 18), and the introduction of new individual indicators in respect of women and poverty as a tool to monitor the impact of broader social, economic and employment policies on women and poverty (art. 19).

Examples of studies, research and reports

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

Examples of gender analysis

Examples of gender impact assessment

Integrating gender into poverty and social impact analysis

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.

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

Plan

In this phase, it’s appropriate 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 poverty and social exclusion

Examples of indicators for monitoring gender and poverty and social inclusion

When planning, do not forget to establish monitoring and evaluation systems and indicators that will allow the measurement and comparison of the impact of the policy or programme on women and men over the timeframe of its implementation. Remember to define the appropriate time to monitor and evaluate your policy.

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

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 poverty and social inclusion

Example of gendered language in poverty and social exclusion

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

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 a follow-up of progress and remedying possibly unforeseen difficulties. This process 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 a gender monitoring and evaluating poverty and social inclusion

The evaluation of the ReGender project, a key part of Oxfam’s UK poverty programme, provides an excellent methodology for conducting a gender evaluation in this sector.

Read more about it here

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.