Document: Gender Mainstreaming in LED Strategies - A Guide

Taking into account the needs, priorities and opinions of both women and men of the territory, ensuring that both benefit equally from social change and economic growth, and that gender inequalities are eliminated, are all essential for the success of any local economic development (LED) strategy aimed at creating decent work opportunities. However, in societies where women’s participation in public affairs is severely restricted by tradition, economic disadvantage and lower education this is easier said than done.

Obtaining the full participation of women in an LED process will require overcoming deeply entrenched discriminatory attitudes and challenging existing power structures. Where women enjoy relatively equal access to decision-making structures and resources, the LED approach will serve to strengthen their participation in the private sector, paying greater attention to their needs in terms of business development services (BDS), access to financial resources, association-building, knowledge about rights, rules and regulations, etc.

While national policy should provide an enabling environment for gender mainstreaming, it must be accompanied by targeted interventions at the local level. These, if carried out consistently over a certain period of time, generally yield perceptible results.

This guide is designed to assist LED practitioners – staff from international organizations, international development agencies and local authorities– in identifying and addressing the sometimes different needs and priorities of women and men, facilitating their full participation at every stage of the LED process, and contributing to gender equality objectives and outcomes.