Resources: gender

Incorporating gender into your NGO

N. Wassenaar, 2006. Incorporating gender into your NGO, Networklearning.

The fact that gender is a very common term with an unclear meaning is the first issue highlighted in this manual, which provides background information on the meaning of the term and guidelines on how to engender a non-government organisation. The manual is relatively short (31 pages), so it does not include lengthy discussions on complex issues related to gender, but it provides examples and explanations that go straight to the point and facilitate understanding. It includes also a list of references and useful resources.

The manual starts with a beautiful and meaningful poem aimed at helping readers understand the concept of gender better, and it is divided into two parts: ‘Gender: key concepts and definitions’ and ‘What to do and how to do it’. The first section clarifies some concepts, such as the difference between sex and gender, productive, reproductive and community gender roles, practical and strategic gender needs, and gender mainstreaming and analysis. The following part instead focuses on strategies that can be used to incorporate gender into a non-government organisation, underlying that for this to be successful it is important that the organisation as a whole is aware of the need to change and willing to act consequently.

© 2009 People and Development.