Unit 1: A conceptual framework for gender analysis and planning:needs assessment

International Labour Organization
SEAPAT
South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
ILO/SEAPAT's OnLine Gender Learning & Information Module

Unit 1: A conceptual framework for gender analysis and planning

What is gender analysis?

Tool: Participatory Exercise in Gender Analysis: Needs Assessment

The following tool is a participatory exercise that may be used when conducting gender analysis with the participation of client communities. It helps assess gender-based differences in needs.

Purpose: To collect information, raise awareness and understand the priority needs of women, based on their different tasks, concerns and responsibilities.

Time: 1 hour

Audience: Primarily community members (men and women); also useful for trainers, project staff and field workers.

Materials needed: At least ten cards that depict women performing various daily tasks, such as: feeding a child, leading a meeting, relaxing, working in the field, harvesting, carrying water, bathing, cooking, sewing, hoeing, carrying firewood, sweeping, visiting a health centre. Blank cards should also be provided for drawing additional tasks.

How to conduct the exercise:

Place the cards on the ground in full view of the participants.
Explain that the cards show women performing different tasks.
Ask the participants to discuss the tasks and then categorise them into three groups: most difficult to perform; easiest; most time-consuming. If consensus is not achieved, note the minority opinions.
Allow the participants to take over the discussion as much as possible. For example, the picture of a woman and her child at the health clinic can lead to a discussion of the distance from the village to the clinic, the problems encountered when transporting pregnant women in a safe and timely manner to the clinic, and so forth.
Ask participants to consider which problems they can solve using the resources available in the community.

[Note: The same activity can be repeated focusing on men's needs by redrawing cards with male figures and activities. Cards can also be drawn to show some activities being carried out by men and some by women.]

[Adapted from Deepa Narayan and Lyra Srinivasan, Participatory Development Tool Kit: Training Materials for Agencies and Communities, World Bank, Washington, D.C., 1994]

Module Homepage

For further information, please contact the South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary
Advisory Team (SEAPAT) at Tel: +63.2.815.2354 or Fax: +63.2.812.6143
E-mail: seapat@ilo.org

This page was revised by SF. It was approved by WRB. It was last updated on 2 November 1998.