Curated Studies: Donor and Resource Mapping in Gender Equality and Female Empowerment (GEFE) Key Findings and Recommendations 2018

It recommends both innovative and traditional ways of engaging with partners and other actors, with a view to building collaboration to maximize GEFE impact. Programmatic Objectives Need to Bring Incentives to Change. There is a lack of evidence-based approaches to GEFE activities. It also links to a further identified gap, related to understanding how social and cultural norms, as well as economic and community patterns of life and behavior affect GEFE in everyday life. This gap highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the complex factors influencing GEFE. Need to Focus on Adolescents and on Engaging Men/Boys in Promoting Gender Equality. This was raised several times during interviews, particularly by USAID staff. Further discussion should be stimulated about the best way to ensure men's engagement is considered in the cross-cutting approaches. Engaging men and boys in promoting gender equality is crucial for creating a more inclusive and equitable society. Need to Bring Gender in on a Sector-By-Sector Basis. It is essential to look at how GEFE can be better integrated across sectors. This approach will enable a more comprehensive understanding of the intersections between GEFE and other development areas, such as education, health, and agriculture. By integrating GEFE into sectoral programming, USAID can maximize its impact and create more sustainable development outcomes. How we Use Funds to Address Gender. Realistically, there is unlikely to be very much funding space to start up GEFE-focused activities, and so maximizing the impact that GEFE-mainstreaming is vital. This requires a strategic approach to resource allocation, prioritizing activities that have the greatest potential to drive GEFE outcomes. By leveraging existing resources and partnerships, USAID can amplify its impact and create more effective GEFE programming. Need to Strengthen our Relationship with MGCAS (Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action) and Share Information through Meetings. Important for alignment between what some USAID representatives think and the recommendations from other stakeholders. Strengthening relationships with key partners, such as MGCAS, is critical for ensuring that USAID's GEFE programming is aligned with national priorities and strategies. Points of Reflection on USAID From Non-USAID Respondents. Lack of knowledge of what USAID is doing in GEFE, except for four participants who are familiar with USAID's work in GBV. This highlights the need for greater awareness and communication about USAID's GEFE programming, both within and outside the organization. Cross-cutting recommendations include focusing on Communication for Behavioral Change relating to barriers to GEFE, Female Economic Empowerment-FEE, particularly in rural contexts, and geographically considering focusing GEFE activities in the north of the country. Education recommendations include expanding education programming with a gender focus, targeting drivers for girls' drop-out and lack of transition, as well as risks in school such as Gender-based Violence-GBV or pregnancy. Health recommendations include focusing on the thematic area of GBV, both prevention and response, building on lessons learned from prior and current USG work and from others. Agriculture recommendations include reviewing mainstreaming of GEFE in agriculture, locating and refreshing available tools, and liaising with other agencies on studies and learning available.