Developing Gender-Responsive Education Sector Plans
The importance of identifying and addressing gender issues through education sector plans (ESPs) is emphasized in the Education Sector Analysis (ESA) Methodological Guidelines prepared by the UNESCO International Institute for Education Planning (IIEP), the World Bank, UNICEF, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and the GPE-IIEP Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Preparation and Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Appraisal. This guidance for developing gender-responsive education sector plans (“the guidance”) supplements these guidelines, providing additional information, case studies and recommendations to help readers understand and apply the core principles of gender equality to developing ESPs. It is meant to be a practical tool to guide planners and practitioners in addressing gender issues in ESPs. It is intended to serve as a guide for exploration rather than prescribe a single approach. In particular, it is designed to help those who are not gender specialists recognize and address gender issues in their work. The intention is to make the concepts and practice of gender analysis and integration accessible to a wide audience and clarify when to call in specialist help.