Development of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Gender Standby Capacity Project (GenCap)

Project Context

It is a well-established fact that gender issues matter greatly in humanitarian situations. And yet, the different needs and capabilities of women, girls, boys, and men in situations of crisis are more often than not overlooked in the rush of emergency responses. The evident lack of systematic gender perspectives in humanitarian assistance has evoked a sustained effort by the Interagency Standing Committee's (IASC) Sub-Working Group on Gender in Humanitarian Action to introduce gender expertise into humanitarian situations through the Gender Standby Capacity Project (GenCap).

GenCap is a pool of highly-qualified senior gender advisers to be deployed on short notice to support the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator (HC/RC), the humanitarian country teams (UNCT) and gender networks in the initial stages of humanitarian emergencies. On behalf of the IASC, the Norwegian Refugee Council has the responsibility to establish and maintain this pool.

Project Objectives and Outputs

To ensure a positive impact of the GenCap program on humanitarian action, the IASC planned for a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework since the project’s inception. GPPi was assigned to develop and implement this Framework in close collaboration with the IASC GenCap Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and all gender advisers. The M&E Framework had a threefold purpose: First, it was designed to enhance GenCap’s accountability vis-à-vis beneficiaries and donors; second, to monitor the project’s progress; and finally to serve as an organizational development and management tool.

The main aspect of the M&E project was the development of a computer-based M&E framework and a corresponding process. The framework consisted of three tools: a baseline assessment, scorecards and a final assessment. Its aim was to measure the effectiveness, relevance and impact of the gender adviser and to establish a mechanism to gather good practices and lessons learned. In addition, the computer-based framework allowed the systematic collection and comparison of data related to the overall gender performance of the humanitarian relief situations to which the respective gender advisers were deployed. The planning journal, a tool that helped the gender advisers to plan and manage their activities, complemented the M&E Framework.

Further project outputs include an interim report and a final report.

For more information, please contact Andrea Binder.