Macro-economic Stabilization and Reform (MESR) Activity Gender Analysis

The document was prepared by DAI for the MESR Activity, which aims to address the impact of macroeconomic policies and reforms on different segments of the population to ensure equitable outcomes. The MESR Activity is designed to work with the Government of Egypt (GOE) to address gender from both policy and programmatic perspectives. The project's activities are designed to address the impact of macroeconomic policies and reforms on different segments of the population to ensure equitable outcomes. MESR will work with the Ministry of Planning (MOP) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on several levels to address inclusion and develop a broad gendered approach. The project's overall approach employs a 'people, processes and systems' framework, which includes three dimensions: people, processes, and systems. Within each dimension, activities are designed to represent a continuous, sustainable cycle of improvement to achieve the project's two objectives: 1) Improved Public Investment Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring; and, 2) Increased Effectiveness of Public Financial Management. The MESR team's staffing is reflective of the priority it places on incorporating gender in its programming, with over 50% of staff being women. The technical teams within both Objectives will undergo training in this area, including sessions on MESR's gender analysis, gender budgeting and gender impact analysis, and gender dimensions of the Sustainable Development Strategy 2030. The project will engage GOE counterparts to outline the highlights of MESR's gender approach, determine the current status of women working within the MOF and MOP, and identify new entry points for multi-stakeholder dialogue among government institutions and with private sector organizations. Coordination with the Egyptian National Council for Women will also be established to create a sustainable focus on issues related directly to the economic integration of women. The MESR Activity will assist the GOE in developing gendered processes, including training on gender budget techniques and gender impact analysis. The project will also support systems improvements that reflect gender realities, including data quality assessment techniques to ensure accurate data on gender is used in MOP/MOF systems. Monitoring and evaluation will also incorporate gender approaches. The project's foundational activities include starting with the MESR team, engaging GOE counterparts, and coordinating with the Egyptian National Council for Women. The project will also engage with other donors and donor-funded projects to ensure that gender-related interventions are sustainable and effective. The MESR Activity will have a significant impact on the economic integration of women in Egypt, particularly in the areas of public investment planning, implementation, and monitoring, and increased effectiveness of public financial management. The project's focus on gender will ensure that the benefits of economic reforms are equitably distributed among all segments of the population, including women.