Reviewing the progress achieved in making gender a central concern in the development progress, this book evaluates selected leading bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, including the World Bank, which have played a critical role in shaping the development agenda.

Reviewing the progress achieved in making gender a central concern in the development progress, this book evaluates selected leading bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, including the World Bank, which have played a critical role in shaping the development agenda. It suggests an innovative conceptual framework for analyzing WID objectives and strategies, and establishing indicators for assessing progress. Policies and measures to promote gender equality and women's advancement are reviewed in a variety of development contexts. The book argues that, despite significant advances, the fundamental objective of transforming social and gender relations and creating a more just and equitable world is very far from being achieved. Why, then, has progress been so elusive, for women in particular? The book is aimed at policy-makers and scholars.

Introduction: women's agenda
perspectives from the South
the donors' response
analytical framework
data
organization of the study. The policy objectives and advocates: the policy objectives and approaches
policy targets
policy advocates. Institutional strategies: responsibility
accountability
co-ordination
monitoring
evaluation
personnel policy. Operational strategies: guidelines
training
research
special projects
analytical tools
country programming
macro policies
policy dialogue. Measuring progress: mainstreaming women in agency resources
mainstreaming women in agency discourse
gender equality
empowerment. Future challenges: achievements
future priorities.