genderresponsive

Gender-responsive, sometimes referred to as gender responsiveness, is an approach to policy, planning, and practice that deliberately considers the different needs, roles, experiences, and constraints of people of different genders. The goal is to promote gender equality and reduce gender-based disparities by ensuring that programs and services respond to actual conditions rather than assuming uniform needs. A gender-responsive approach also seeks to address power imbalances and to avoid reinforcing stereotypes.

Origin and use: The term emerged in development and humanitarian contexts as part of gender mainstreaming and feminist economics. It is used by international organizations, governments, and civil society to transform budgets, service delivery, and governance. Notable applications include gender-responsive budgeting, which allocates resources to address gender gaps, and gender-responsive procurement, which considers supplier diversity and access.

Principles and methods: Core elements include collecting sex-disaggregated data, consulting diverse stakeholders, and designing interventions that meet specific needs across genders. Monitoring and evaluation should track outcomes for different groups and allow for course corrections. The approach often emphasizes intersectionality, recognizing how gender interacts with age, race, disability, and income.

Applications and challenges: Sectorally, gender-responsive approaches inform health, education, social protection, and climate resilience programs, as well as labor markets and public services. Challenges include data gaps, limited capacity, political resistance, and the risk of reducing gender to binary categories or to women only. Effective governance and genuine participation are essential for meaningful impact.