Does Gender-based Programming Really Lead to Empowerment? A Discussion on Unintended Positive and Negative Impacts

Session Objectives To discuss positive and negative impacts of interventions on gender. To identify how impacts have been measured. To identify potential recommended practices to mitigate negative impacts and promote positive.

Case Study In Uganda, a program was implemented to empower women by providing them with support to improve banana yields. Women harvested their bananas and had improved yields. What do you think happened next?

Interventions with unintended gender-related consequences Ag training was designed to reach men, but women attended instead (time, migration issues). The result: women trained, but unable to implement. Men never trained. A women’s cooperative was given training and became very successful. The result: they were outcast from their village. A new staple variety is introduced to men. The result: It grows well, but the women do not like to cook with it. Example from the group: mulching can reduce labor for women. An intervention designed to provide healthy snack options for school children fails to recognized the creation of a small business for women.

Discussion With your partner(s), share a situation where there were unexpected positive or negative gender impacts. How was the impact measured? In a group, discuss some of the gaps. What information or tools would have been helpful to have to mitigate negative impacts or amplify positive ones? The way forward...

This presentation was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Save the Children and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.