Under the banner of gender mainstreaming in institutional practice, there have been many examples of positive outcomes for women’s lives over the past decade. But these examples are not the norm. Governments, civil society organizations , the United Nations and bilateral agencies all acknowledge that gender equality is critical to development and peace… yet all consistently under prioritize and under fund gender equality work.

Organizations have not changed in the fundamental ways necessary to support women’s voices, participation and influence. Nor have they built the enabling conditions for implementation of development priorities and accountability to women’s constituencies. All too often, top leadership takes the position of “add women and stir”. They fail to question basic assumptions, strategic objectives, or procedures.

This means that women’s rights and the development priorities that are contingent on gender equality (such as poverty eradication, health, freedom from violence, and education) are not being met.

Our mandate is help ensure that organizational structures – and the institutions or ‘rules’ which guide them – change to benefit women’s interests and are held accountable for their actions to a broad women’s constituency.