Helpdesk

Question
Gender and Conflict Assessments: Please provide a summary of key documents related to a) the methodology, and b) key examples of country Gender and Conflict Assessments.

Helpdesk response
Key findings: Guidance for carrying out gender and conflict assessments is not well-developed; conflict assessments and gender assessments exist as separate types of analytical documents but there are comparatively few examples of gender and conflict assessments, and no established methodologies for doing them. Guidance for undertaking such assessments is drawn from three broad sources: a) instances where gender has been mainstreamed or integrated into conflict-related analysis, or vice-versa; b) conflict assessment frameworks and analyses; and c) gender assessments and analyses. The following are identified as important elements of gender and conflcit analysis:

• the need to identify the country or region’s conflict status: is it pre-conflict, conflict, or post-conflict (based on a retrospective spanning a discrete number of years)?
• the importance of conducting a comprehensive mapping of conflict and gender in relation to actors at national, regional and international level.
• the importance of using local actors in conducting an assessment, whether this be in data collection, initial consultations or to provide feedback on a draft assessment
• the importance of keeping track of data gaps, and trying to remedy these if possible
• the need to include a wide variety of country office staff
• the possession of a clear idea of how information gathered in the assessment will be used to inform project and programme planning, design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

Full response: http://www.gsdrc.org/docs/open/HD670.pdf