The project “Supporting the monitoring of aid effectiveness with a gender perspective”, implemented by UN-INSTRAW, now part of UN-Women, with financial support of the Office of Development Planning and Policy Evaluation (DGPOLDE) of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC), strives for a greater introduction of measures that can strengthen gender equality and the empowerment of women in the financing for development process.

The project includes three main components. The first entails the need to monitor, evaluate and document progress on the impact of aid flows on gender equality and women’s empowerment in six selected countries (Cambodia, Guatemala, Morocco, Mozambique, Peru and Viet Nam) according to the Paris Declaration (PD) and the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA). This evaluation will also allow assessing the role that civil society plays in the monitoring of aid flows from a gender perspective and in demanding accountability from governments.

Secondly, the project considers that both donors and aid-receiving countries must build egalitarian policies for better development results. Through the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005), donors and partner countries have committed to manage and implement aid in a harmonious way, thereby strengthening communication mechanisms between them and civil society. The project seeks the initiation of a political dialogue between key actors and the formulation of gender equality initiatives, together with the government and civil society, to achieve greater introduction of measure for gender equality in the financing for development process. Based on this premise, the project aims to build alliances with key stakeholders (universities, women’s coalitions, movements and other civil society organizations related to gender equality) from each country under study and to open new forums to address international, regional and national commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

Lastly, the project plans to strengthen the capacities of civil society to monitor aid flows and demand accountability from governments. It has been proven that women’s organizations and non-governmental organizations are not simple observers in the context of changing approaches to the delivery of aid and that they can play an active role in advocating on behalf of poor and excluded groups. Nevertheless, it has been noted that women’s organizations and non-governmental organizations need ongoing support from donors, and a forward-looking agenda, if they are to remain active and vital in effectively engaging in the development process. In order to provide them with enough tools and resources to be successfully involved in policy dialogue as well as in the implementation and monitoring of aid flows, and to assist them in developing a better understanding of the changing aid and policy making environment, the project includes a wide range of capacity building activities. All in all, the intention is to ensure women’s organizations and non-governmental organizations remain responsive and accountable to the population they seek to represent. 

Bearing in mind the above-mention data, it is essential that this project be presented to the civil society in general, to women’s organizations, universities, research institutes and centers, coalitions and non-governmental organizations working on gender equality and aid effectiveness and invites them to take part in this evaluation, capacity-building and political dialogue process from the onset.  

Likewise, coordination and articulation with governments, donors as well as local and international agencies working on the advancement of women in each country is crucial in order to harmonize efforts and foster relations to achieve gender equality in the financing for development process.