Achieving gender and diversity (G&D) equity is a clear milestone for development. True development, across economic, social, political, and cultural spheres, is only possible if societies do not limit opportunities based on gender, race, ethnicity, disability status, gender identity or sexual orientation and actively work to promote G&D equity with a focus in reducing inequalities and gaps in social and economic outcomes.

This Sector Framework Document (SFD) argues that to achieve progress towards a more inclusive and equitable region, three challenges that form the deep roots of the persistent inequities experienced by women and diverse groups must be addressed:

(i) structural inequities that perpetuate processes of exclusion; 

(ii) unequal treatment for the same characteristics; and

(iii) weak institutional capacity to design and execute G&D policies.