CIB Knowledge Hub on Gender Equality & Inclusive Governance

Let's start by understanding the key concepts.

Fundamentally, gender equality is a matter of human rights and social justice, and it lies at the core of sustainable development. It is a concept that goes beyond mere gender balance and strives for equal opportunities, rights, and responsibilities for all individuals, irrespective of their gender. Gender equality refers to the equal enjoyment of rights, opportunities, and resources by individuals, regardless of their gender identity or expression. It signifies that all genders, particularly marginalized ones such as women and non-binary individuals, should have equal access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and participation in decision-making processes. Achieving gender equality is not only a matter of justice but is also essential for creating inclusive and prosperous local communities and societies.

If gender equality is the overarching goal, gender mainstreaming is the process to achieve it. Gender mainstreaming is a strategic approach aimed at integrating gender perspectives into all policies, programs, services, and actions, across all sectors and levels of an organization. It seeks to identify and address the different needs, interests, and experiences of women, men, and non-binary individuals systematically.

When you look at gender equality from the perspective of local government associations, it is evident why it is imperative for LGAs to mainstream gender equality into their services and operations. LGAs play a pivotal role in shaping the lives of local communities by facilitating cooperation and providing various services to their member municipalities. As national organizations representing the municipal sector, LGAs bear the responsibility of advocating for national policies and legislation that should promote and protect the rights and well-being of women and marginalized gender groups. An example of this is the role of LGAs to demand their national governments to enforce international agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) or to align national programs with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG #5 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Furthermore, LGAs have the capacity to influence and provide support to their members – the local governments themselves – to locally adopt policies that address the specific needs of women and marginalized groups, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and responsive approach to local governance at the community level.

But to effectively serve as gender-sensitive, service-oriented organizations, LGAs must first prioritize internal gender mainstreaming within their own leadership, structure, and operations. This internal commitment serves as an example for their member local governments, encouraging gender equality at all levels of governance. By practising what they advocate, LGAs not only provide more relevant and credible support to their members but also enhance their capacity to advocate for gender equality effectively with national governments and other stakeholders. LGAs, through the integration of gender equality within their structures, are better equipped to drive meaningful change and significantly contribute to advancing gender equality in local governance.

Below are examples of how the United Nations and other organizations in the local government sector have defined gender equality and gender mainstreaming: