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2023 IGWG Plenary Brief—Breaking Barriers: Recommendations for Program Implementers Addressing Gender Inequities Facing Global Health Workers

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The 2023 Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG) Plenary, Breaking Barriers: Addressing Gender Inequities Facing Global Health Workers, explored how gender transformative programs can better address workplace inequities affecting health workers, and improve health and gender outcomes. The plenary highlighted research examining gender inequities faced by health workers and showcased promising practices and lessons learned from innovative programs working to address gender barriers in the health system workplace. The event aimed to better equip IGWG members to examine gender inequity in their own organizations and to promote more equitable and inclusive workplaces—both within and outside the health system.

Drawing upon the rich discussion points that emerged from the 2023 IGWG Plenary, this brief provides examples of common gender inequities facing global health workers and offers recommendations and resources for program implementers on how to address these inequities based on evidence-building practices. Recommendations provide guidance on how to:

  • Address gender discrimination in health sector human resource practices;
  • Address gender-based violence and harassment in the health workplace;
  • Foster leadership commitment and accountability to promote intersectional gender equity for health workers;
  • Fill the data gap on gender inequities faced by health workers; and
  • Involve health workers in creating a safe, equitable workplace.

Want to learn more about the 2023 IGWG Plenary? Access event materials, including webinar recordings and slides, here and read IGWG member reflections—collected ahead of the event—on their personal experiences facing and addressing gender inequities and barriers in the health workforce here.

Lessons Learned in Gender Transformative Health Programming: A Rapid Literature Review

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In the past two decades, use of the term gender transformative by policymakers, donors, implementing agencies, and civil society actors has increased dramatically. Many health donors, bilateral and global institutions, and implementing agencies have endorsed their commitment to realizing gender transformative programs, although the definitions used by global health institutions vary.

At the same time, research on the effectiveness of gender transformative health programs as it relates to health and gender equality outcomes has increased in the past two decades. As implementers and researchers use the term gender transformative as evaluative criteria for gender equality programs, with expanding evaluation data and evidence, the need for a clear understanding of what meets the definition becomes increasingly important.

At the 20-year anniversary of the Gender Integration Continuum, the Interagency Gender Working Group has developed a research brief addressing the following questions:

  • How effective is gender transformative programming?
  • What program elements are key to successful programs?
  • What questions or limitations have emerged about the implementation of gender transformative programs?
  • What lessons and conclusions can we take away from programming that aims to change gender and social norms, advance gender equality, and sustain improvements in health?

This research brief summarizes the methods, findings, and conclusions of a rapid literature review of systematic reviews of evaluated gender transformative health programs. It sheds light on how best to achieve gender equality and health outcomes through gender transformative programming. The brief also provides recommendations for program implementers, policy advocates, and funders for improving the effectiveness and sustainability of gender transformative health programs.

Read the Research Brief Here

Translating Gender-Based Violence Policies Into Practice: Lessons Learned From Uganda

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Translating Gender-Based Violence Policies Into Practice: Lessons Learned From Uganda

View presentations and the event recording here.

How can governments, international nongovernmental organizations, and multilateral organizations effectively collaborate to strengthen a country’s response to gender-based violence in policy and practice?

Join the IGWG’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Task Force and representatives from the Uganda Ministry of Health, the Uganda Ministry of Gender, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Policy Plus (HP+) project for presentations and a discussion of Uganda’s successful experience.

The Government of Uganda developed stronger policy frameworks for addressing GBV, rolled out those frameworks within the health sector, and monitored their implementation with technical assistance from WHO. HP+, funded by the United States Agency for International Development, then assessed the extent to which Uganda’s health system implements GBV policies and operational guidelines, and whether those policies are implemented to the scope and depth needed to generate positive GBV and family planning outcomes.

Uganda’s case study provides the foundation from which presenters from the Ugandan government, WHO, and HP+ will discuss the process of integrating international guidelines into national and subnational policies, drivers and barriers to policy implementation, and lessons learned for other countries working to combat GBV.

Featured panelists:

  • Maggie Kyomukama, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Republic of Uganda
  • Miriam Namugeere, Ministry of Health, Republic of Uganda
  • Olive Sentumbwe, World Health Organization/Uganda
  • Avni Amin, Technical Officer, Violence Against Women, World Health Organization
  • Elisabeth Rottach, Senior Technical Advisor, HP+, Palladium

(Webinar) Addressing Gender Through Integrated Population, Health, and Environment Approaches

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Gender and gender equity play an important role in the health and well-being of people, their environment, and their communities at large. Integrated Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) approaches work to address interrelated challenges, and often address some gender indicators in the process. In this webinar, Kathryn Farley (International Center for Research on Women) will speak about the importance and methods of measuring gender indicators; Dorah Taranta (Pathfinder International/HoPE-LVB Project) will speak about experiences from a PHE project in Kenya and Uganda; and Craig Leisher (The Nature Conservancy) will speak about integrating gender into forestry, fishery, and conservation.