1. Integrating Gender into Rural Development M&E in Projects and Programs
Module 7
Integrating Gender into Rural Development M&E in Projects and Programs

2. Learning Objectives
At the end of this session participants will be familiar with:
steps and checklists for integrating gender into project M&E
a tool for integrating gender into the project Logical Framework

3. Why Integrate a Gender Dimension into M&E?
Gender-sensitive M&E:
Reveals the extent to which a project has addressed the different needs of women and men
Assesses the impact a project has made on their lives and overall social and economic well-being
Improves project performance during implementation, allows for midterm corrections, and makes it possible to derive lessons for future projects.

4. Contents of the Toolkit:
Rationale for gender in M&E, definitions
Key activities to undertake at different stages of the project cycle
Gender Integration into Levels of the Project (Figure 1)
Checklists of Key Issues to consider throughout the project cycle
Rationale for gender in rural development and in M&E, definitions
Key activities to undertake at different stages of the project cycle
Identification and Preparation
Design and Appraisal
Implementation
Implementation Completion-Evaluation
Gender Integration into Levels of the Project (Figure 1)
Participation in M&E

5. Contents of the Toolkit (continued)
Example of gender integration into the project Logical Framework
Key Questions to ask when “Engendering” the Logical Framework
Suggested Data Collection and Analysis Methods
Fact sheets for six areas of rural development
Fact sheets for six areas of rural development, containing:
Rationale
Examples
Checklists of gender-related issues and activities during the project cycle
Suggested Gender-related Indicators

6. Monitoring vs. Evaluation
Monitoring is the continuous assessment of project implementation in relation to agreed schedules and of the use of inputs, infrastructure, and services by project beneficiaries
Evaluation is the periodic assessment of the relevance, performance, efficiency, and impact (both expected and unexpected) of the project in relation to the stated objectives
See Endnotes in page 7 for definitions

7. Steps to Integrate Gender into M&E
Throughout the project cycle, promote participation and consultation among stakeholders
Effective gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation requires undertaking the following key activities at different points of the project cycle:

8. IDENTIFICATION & PREPARATION
Ensure benchmark survey or baseline study are gender-sensitive
Conduct gender-sensitive social assessment
Identify gender-related goals and priorities
Assess institutional capacity for integrating gender into development activities.
Steps to Integrate Gender into M&E: STAGE I - IDENTIFICATION & PREPARATION
Ensure benchmark survey or baseline study are gender-sensitive
Undertake initial gender study or analysis to identify potential negative impacts of project intervention on women and men
Identify gender-related goals and priorities based on available information and consultation with stake-holders
If possible, conduct gender-sensitive social assessment to broadly cover social, cultural and economic aspects,
Assess institutional capacity for integrating gender into development activities.

9. DESIGN & APPRAISAL
Integrate gender into goals and objectives and set clear targets
Plan for developing capacity for gender sensitive implementation and M&E
Set up a monitoring and evaluation system
Organize reporting and feedback processes
Ensure gender is integrated into goals and objectives and set clear targets
Plan for developing capacity to address gender issues and to monitor and evaluate progress
Set up a monitoring and evaluation system
Adopt and “engender” the Logical Framework as in the Project Summary of the PAD (Annex 1)
Identify and select key gender-sensitive indicators for input, output, outcome and impact
Develop/select the “best” data collection methods and decide on timing (Annex 2)
Organize reporting and feedback processes, clearly identifying
who will collect and analyze information and when, and
who will receive it.

10. IMPLEMENTATION During Supervision: During Mid-term Evaluation:
Build capacity for gender-sensitive implementation and M&E.
During Supervision:
Collect gender-sensitive data
Monitor the progress against targets and feed back results into the system
During Mid-term Evaluation:
Assess progress and make corrections if needed to obtain expected gender-related outcomes.
Carry out training and capacity development for integrating, and for monitoring and evaluating, gender-related issues.
During Supervision:
Collect gender-sensitive data based on the selected indicators
Monitor the progress against targets set, and feed back results into the system to allow for midterm corrections.
During Mid-term Evaluation:
Assess progress and make corrections if needed to obtain expected gender-related outcomes.

11. IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETION
Assess impact of gender integration in the overall project context
Assess impact of project interventions on men and women
Derive and share lessons that can feed into the overall sector goals and objectives

12. Key Issues to Consider throughout the Project Cycle (pages 4-5)
Identification and Preparation
Design and Appraisal
Implementation
During Supervision
During Mid-term Review
Implementation Completion

13. Key Questions to ask when “Engendering” the Logical Framework
Narrative Summary
Performance Indicators
Means of Verification
Important Assumptions
Development Goal
Do gender relations influence in any way the goal at the policy/national level?
What measures can verify achievement of the gender-sensitive goal?
Are there sex-disaggregated data for verifying and analyzing the goals, objectives, outputs and activities in terms of gender?
What important external factors are necessary for sustaining the gender –sensitive goal?
Project Objectives
Does the project have gender-responsive objectives?
What measures can verify achievement of the gender responsive objectives?
What gender analysis tools will be appropriate?
What important external factors are necessary for sustaining the gender- responsive objectives?
Components/Outputs
Does the distribution of benefits take into account gender roles and relations?
What measures can verify that project benefits accrue to women as well as men, and to different groups of women?
What important external factors are necessary for project benefits (especially for women)?
Sub-components/Activities
Are gender issues clarified in the implementation of the project?
Inputs:
What resources do project beneficiaries contribute to the project?
Are women’s as well as men’s contributions accounted for?
Are there external resources that account for women’s access and control over resources?