The Win-Win of Gender Integration

Bringing a gender lens into Global Wildlife Program (GWP) projects is a win-win: it adds value to counter illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and biodiversity conservation projects, while advancing gender equality. Across its national projects, the GWP is working on an impressive and diverse range of activities to close the gender gap in women’s access to and control over natural resources, improve women’s participation and decision-making, and generate socioeconomic benefits for women. 

This webinar series aimed to support GWP projects to improve project outcomes and promote gender equality. Led by GWP gender advisor Dr. Joni Seager, the webinars offered practical guidance for GWP projects (and other interested GEF projects interested) on the following topics:

• Integrating a gender lens to improve GWP projects (webinar #1)
• Tools and techniques for measuring and reporting on gender (webinar #2)
• Gender best practices for the field (webinar #3)

Key takeaways from the sessions include:

Integrating a gender lens to improve GWP projects

• Gender norms and roles shape and drive people’s relationships to wildlife, conservation, environment, IWT, and reducing IWT. Developing an understanding about the gendered drivers, actors, impacts, and responses in a project can improve project outcomes.
  
• Through surveys and interviews, project teams can systematically investigate the different attitudes that men and women hold toward wildlife and IWT in their project areas and use this information to shape more effective activities.

Tools and techniques for measuring and reporting on gender

• Annual progress reports and midterm reviews are opportunities for teams to reflect on their gender mainstreaming activities and identify adjustments.
  
• Including women in project consultations, activities, etc. is critical, but presence does not equal participation. Project teams should intentionally plan how they will engage women. Techniques such as engaging women champions, “zebra” protocols, and “speaking chips” can be used.

Gender best practices for the field

• Take a gendered lens when planning activities and track good practices for knowledge sharing with other GWP and GEF projects.
  
• Gender disaggregated data collection and analysis helps project teams understand what is really going on in the field.

The GWP also provides one-on-one gender technical support to project teams on an ongoing basis.