Social Development and Public Governance > Gender Equality in Development
Gender Mainstreaming at the IDB
Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies and programs in all areas and at all levels. Gender mainstreaming is a strategy to make women's as well as men's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs in all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally, and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal is to achieve gender equality (E.1997.L.10.Para.4. Adopted by ECOSOC 17.7.97)
In pursuing its policy mandate, the Bank has been following a dual approach, i.e.: (i) a mainstreaming approach, aimed at integrating an analysis of the implications of IDB actions on women and men, and addressing women's and men's differential interests and needs in Bank financed programs and projects; and (ii) an innovation approach, geared to expanding and renewing the Bank's scope of action in areas that are critical to addressing women's and men's priority needs and reducing gender inequalities. The two approaches are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
