Gender Lens in Social and Behavior Change Guidelines

SBC can be pivotal in promoting gender equality, by transforming attitudes and norms that perpetuate gender-based discrimination. At a minimum, all SBC initiatives should be gender-sensitive, aware of and informed by existing gender norms and inequalities, and progressively should aim at being gender responsive and ultimately gender transformative.

This guideline outlines key steps for integrating gender into SBC interventions and making specific gender considerations at all stages of SBC program design, from
situation analysis to evaluation.

Last modified: March 30, 2023

Language: English

Source: UNICEF

Year of Publication: 2022

Gender Integration in Social and Behavior Change

This document is a review of recent SBC-focused program literature that highlight the integration of gender considerations into health and non-health SBC interventions. Eight promising gender integration practices were identified and found to be operationalized at different levels of the Socio-Ecological Model for Change and were mutually reinforcing. When employed, these practices can strengthen gender integration and mainstreaming efforts in SBC programming.

The practices are as follows:

1. Use a gender lens throughout the SBC program cycle to improve outcomes.
2. Synchronize gender strategies to ensure the inclusion of men and women, and boys and girls.
3. Address gendered health disparities that affect the use of services.
4. Reduce harmful traditional practices.
5. Ensure community involvement and accountability for the promotion of gender equality.
6. Consider gender dimensions during emergency preparedness and response.
7. Account for the intersecting gendered vulnerabilities that influence health and development outcomes.
8. Build organizational capacity and systems for gender integration using a continuous learning approach

Last modified: March 30, 2023

Language: English

Source: Population Council

Year of Publication: 2020

2023 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) affirms that gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment are fundamental for the realization of human rights and key to effective and sustainable development outcomes. For societies to thrive, women and girls, men and boys, and gender-diverse individuals must have the agency, social support, and structures to make their own choices and live free from violence and abuse. They must have equal rights and opportunities, as well as equal and safe access to and control over resources. Achieving gender equality in society will improve the overall quality of life for all people throughout their lives.

This policy provides the vision for USAID’s work to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world—establishing our strategic objectives and driving investments across our operations and programs in order to achieve these aims.

Last modified: March 29, 2023

Language: English

Source: USAID

Year of Publication: 2023