11. Gender sensitivity
Applying the Capacity Assessment Methodology to Anti-corruption Agencies
The Organizational level
Emerging evidence attests that “corruption disproportionately affects poor women because their low levels of economic and political empowerment constrain their ability to change the status quo or to hold states accountable to deliver services that are their right.” Hence, reducing the gendered impact of corruption calls for a greater understanding of the relationship between corruption and gender.
A capacity assessment should pay attention to whether the organization has a strategy on gender equality as reflected in the work units’ objectives, program, budget and human resource management. The use of gender-disaggregated data in the agencies’ programs and communication materials must also be covered. Similarly, the assessment must look at specific capacities—for example the capacity to investigate sexual exploitation and extortion—that often remain under-reported for fear of intimidation.
Box 13: Organization’s mainstreamed strategy on gender equality: Some guiding principles:
- Is gender equality integrated into the work unit’s program objectives, and if so how?
- Do the policies and strategic objectives show that gender is understood as concerning women only or as concerning both sexes and the relations between them?
- Are gender equality objectives formulated and translated into performance indicators and targets at the program and budget level?
- Are financial resources available to carry out activities promoting gender equality issues (gender-specific and mainstreamed)? Are these adequate?
- Are gender equality objectives incorporated into the work unit’s work plans?
Source: Adopted from ILO, ‘A Manual For Gender Audit Facilitators’, 2007