Assessment of policies and organizational measures in women in development adopted by DAC member countries : theme 2 of the assessment of WID policies and programs of DAC members

This evaluation of the success of DAC members in institutionalizing these principles into their development activities is based on a desk review of DAC/WID monitoring reports, a survey of 21 member countries (Canada and Australia also made available assessments of WID policies by their own country agencies), and case studies of 5 DAC member organizations. Chapter 2 makes a comparative analysis of the success of each DAC member organization in incorporating the WID principles into its mandates and policies, administrative measures, and implementation procedures, as well as in coordinating and sharing WID information with other development organizations. Chapter 3 identifies factors that were enabling to the adoption and implementation of the principles, and those which were constraining. Chapter 4 draws conclusions. In general, DAC's WID principles have been institutionalized within all DAC member agencies, and resulting WID policies and measures have succeeded in increasing women's participation in development; institutionalization of WID has been enabled by the inclusion of WID as a development priority, support from high-level management, the development of an operationally feasible WID policy, and action plans that included useful administrative measures, collaborative, professional relationships among WID and other agency staff, adequate funding and staffing, and international networking. Two factors outside DAC's purview also had a positive influence on institutionalization: a strong domestic WID lobby, and a strong national policy on gender equality. The paucity of data on WID projects is due to the fact that donors have not yet established quantitative and qualitative measures by which to track the progress of WID achievements. The chapter includes recommendations.