Guidance materials for mainstreaming gender perspectives into model-based policy analysis

There is growing recognition of the importance of considering equity issues in development policy and research. Not only do the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) explicitly include a goal to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”, but numerous gender-related indicators have been identified to track progress on all 17 goals. Achieving gender equity – and, more broadly, social equity – in the implementation of the SDGs will require new tools and approaches. SEI works regularly with decision-makers in developing countries to support sustainable development.

This guidance document, an output of SEI’s Gender and Social Equity Programme, examines how those interactions can provide a platform for advancing gender equity and inclusion in particular.

SEI’s mission is to bridge science and policy, and a significant part of our work entails providing scientific tools to analysts and planners in developing countries, as well as training them to use the tools. SEI has developed numerous tools, for basin-scale water resources management, energy planning and supply-chain and input-output analysis, among others. Modelling work using these tools, which often involves extensive interaction with government agencies and key stakeholders, provides significant opportunities to encourage them to better recognize gender dimensions in their work, and help begin to address them.

The guidance builds on our experience working with two tools in particular: the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) and Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) systems, both developed, managed and applied worldwide by SEI. Informed by this work and by the literature on mainstreaming gender issues, it provides preliminary guidance for researchers on how to embed gender considerations into model-based research and collaboration.