Gender Equity and Diversity Policy for the Workplace

The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. The document is titled "Integrating Gender and Nutrition within Agricultural Extension Services" and is a tip sheet for gender responsive extension services. Developing a gender equity and diversity policy for the workplace is crucial for organizations committed to promoting gender equality. The goal is to maintain a diversified, dignified, and empowering working environment. The organization is committed to promoting gender equality in all of its work and values the contributions of women and men farmers to their families, rural life, and societies. The organization is committed to supporting both women and men in the pursuit of equal rights, opportunities, resources, and rewards. It aims to facilitate the equitable engagement of women and men at work and among its beneficiaries. All partners endeavor to provide fair and equitable treatment for all people without regard to gender, race, religion, sex, age, disability, affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The organization has made specific commitments to promote gender equality, including ensuring fair and comparable work, undertaking recruitment and retention campaigns that target both women and men, and ensuring diversity, inclusion, and representation in meetings, training programs, and workshops. The organization also aims to promote women's active participation in meetings, provide opportunities for leadership and professional development, and implement policies to prevent discrimination and harassment. The organization has also committed to creating a working environment that promotes and supports gender equality, equal opportunity, and a positive working environment for all employees. This includes setting aside sufficient funds for promoting gender equality, women empowerment, and diversity, and implementing policies to prevent all forms of violence in the workplace. The organization also aims to ensure zero tolerance of sexual harassment and provide guidelines for reporting such incidents. The document references the 2014 Gender Equity Policy developed by the Climate Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods project implemented by Winrock International in Bangladesh, and the 2015 Gender Equity policy developed by Farm International. The document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License and was prepared by Andrea Bohn, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in July 2016.