Checklist for Building Gender Equity into Project Design and Implementation

Project Design And Preparation

Preparation

Which population groups are served by the project (women only, men only, men and women, other groups)?
What information is already available about each population group and women in particular?
Has information on women and men's work in the household and community been used to design the project?
Has there been consultation with people whose lives will be affected by the project, and what attention has been given to women in this process?
Are women involved at all levels in the planning and implementation of the project?

Objectives

Have both men's and women's opinions been sought in the identification of activities and outcomes?
Are women's and men's roles reflected in the project's objectives?
How do the objectives address the needs and concerns of women and men?
How will the inclusion of women help to achieve the objectives?
How will the activities include women's participation?
In what ways will the activities benefit women?
How will women have access to the opportunities, which the project provides (training, agricultural extension, new allocation of land rights, credit arrangements, membership in cooperatives, employment during construction and operation)?
Is the project likely to have adverse effects for women?
What social, legal and cultural obstacles could prevent women from participating in the project?
What plans have been developed to address these obstacles?
Through what organization(s) will the women be involved?

Project Implementation

Project Stakeholders

Are project stakeholders familiar with gender issues?
Are project stakeholders willing to seek women's participation in implementing the project?
To what extent are female Volunteers prepared to provide assistance to men?
To what extent are male Volunteers prepared to provide assistance to women?
If approach by male Volunteers is not culturally acceptable, will the project make provision for female intervention?

Operation and Maintenance

How will the project ensure that women have equitable access to, and control of, material and technical resources and technologies?
How will women participate in, and contribute to, the maintenance of equipment? Will training be provided?
How will the project affect women's time?
- Will their workload increase/decrease as a result of innovation or changes (mechanization, new agricultural inputs and cropping patterns, withdrawals of labor by other household members, changes in distance to farms, workplaces, water supply, firewood supply)?
- If their workload is decreased, does this involve loss of income for women?
Do the technologies introduced by the project require changes in women's work pattern?

Institutional Framework

Does the partner agency demonstrate gender sensitivity?
Does the partner agency have adequate power to obtain resources from its own and other institutions to enhance women's participation in the project activities?

Monitoring and Evaluation

Are separate data collected on women and men?
Does the project have a functioning M&E system that distinguishes outcomes for men and women?

Adapted from The Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA)(1996) Gender and Development: The CEDPA Training Manual Series Volume III: The Center for Development and Popultion Activites. ICE Number WD 133, pages 66-68.