THIS WORKING PAPER outlines the main components of a recently developed gender audit methodology, specifically designed to assess the implementation of gender policies, strategies, programmes and projects. Its purpose is to provide useful guidance for those seeking to undertake gender audits, as well as to show the uses of gender audits within the broader development field of meeting the Millennium Development Goals. The gender audit methodology described here was elaborated during the gender audit process carried out in response to a request by the UK Department for International Development Malawi’s office to assess its policies, strategies and activities in terms of their implementation of DFID’s gender-mainstreaming strategy. It is primarily intended to help staff working in the donor agencies, government departments and civil society organizations that implement initiatives towards the Beijing Platform for Action objectives of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The paper consists of five sections. Section I introduces the objectives of a gender audit and provides a brief background to its origins. Section II provides some contextual background to gender audit through short descriptions of the main components of gender evaluations and the more specific objectives of participatory gender audits. It also explains the terms of reference designated by DFID Malawi for the assignment of a gender study. Section III examines the objectives of gender audits, which relate to the assessment of gender equality and gender-mainstreaming. It then discusses how gender-mainstreaming can be “measured” in gender audits. Section IV focuses on the components of a gender audit, the coverage and methodology for implementation, the structure and contents of an audit document and related measurement issues, as well as the methodology for the consultative process and action plan. Section V concludes on the main methodological components in undertaking a gender audit.