Handbook on Integrating Gender in Peacebuilding and Statebuilding

This handbook has been designed to offer guidance on how to integrate gender issues into peacebuilding and statebuilding policy and programming in fragile and conflict-affected contexts (FCAS). It is intended for a range of stakeholders working in this field, such as donors, governments, civil society, researchers, and policy makers.

As explained in the guide, “[O]ver the past two decades there has been increasing acknowledgement of the different ways that violent conflict and building peace impact on men and women, as well as a growing understanding of the roles, identities and relationships that influence how they are engaged in and influence these processes.  Nevertheless, there is a general lack of understanding of exactly why integrating a gender perspective matters. Setting out a clear rationale, practical actions and concrete measures to be taken will help to ensure that opportunities to strengthen peacebuild ing and statebuilding will not be missed.”

The key objectives of the handbook are to:

• Increase awareness of why integrating a gender perspective is important and how it can strengthen peacebuilding and statebuilding processes;
• Synthesise existing evidence to enhance understanding of key issues, policies and principles relevant to gender, peacebuilding and statebuilding in FCAS;
• Inform the development and implementation of more gender-sensitive policies around peacebuilding and statebuilding in FCAS;
• Provide the tools needed to integrate gender in all stages of the project cycle from analysis through to program design, monitoring and evaluation; and
• Document examples of good practice and effective programming to promote sharing and lessons learned.

The handbook can be used by different stakeholders as follows:

• As a reference guide: to deepen understanding of key issues by offering a synthesis of latest evidence and learning on these issues; and an overview of relevant policy context.
• As a practical tool: for providing guidance in all stages of project cycle; tip sheets and how to guides in carrying out analysis, design, monitoring and evaluation to ensure gender-sensitive peacebuilding and statebuilding (PBSB).
• As a training and capacity-building resource: to provide the knowledge and tools needed to increase understanding and awareness of these issues as well as build the skills needed to apply it.

In brief, the handbook covers the following:

• Gender, peacebuilding and statebuilding: Understanding the policy framework - An overview of the rationale for integrating gender into peacebuilding and statebuilding and brief analysis of the most relevant policy frameworks.
• Gender-sensitive conflict analysis - An overview of frameworks that could be used to ensure a gender-sensitive approach to conflict and political economy analysis.
• Gender-sensitive project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in FCAS -  Making the case for and providing step-by-step guidance on undertaking gender-sensitive data, monitoring and evaluation in peacebuilding and statebuilding contexts.
• Financing for gender-sensitive peacebuilding and statebuilding - Overview of the current state of financing for gender-related activities in fragile and conflict-affected contexts and guidance on how gender budgeting and other strategies could be applied to leverage greater financial and technical resources for this work.

Each section also includes a number of tip sheets that are short, practical, and user-friendly summaries that support users in applying the concepts and tools outlined in the handbook. The handbook has been designed in a way that allows users to dip in and out of the sections that they are interested in or find more relevant, and the tip sheets can be downloaded individually or as part of the complete handbook.

Finally, two annexes provide an overview of key policy frameworks and a comprehensive list of further resources to direct practitioners to additional reading and materials to deepen understanding on key issues.